Testimonials
Testimonials
“If it had been left up to me, I might still be hunting amongst my photos. I gradually found the process to be addictive, and the more I wrote, the more stories that came to mind . . . I have no doubt that it was the prompting and encouragement from Pip McKay that got me to the end of this project. Pip’s quiet support and advice kept me focused when frustrated, and her setting of timeframes and targets really helped. All the team at Life Stories have helped me put together the jigsaw puzzle of information and photos, and so as well as Pip, thanks to Maria de Jong and Julie Swasbrook for their guidance and skills.”
Stephen Boock, ONZM, former NZ cricketer and president of NZ Cricket
Left: Stephen Boock bowling in the New Zealand v England test at Eden Park, 1984
Bouquet for the Life Stories NZ team from the Harker family
“To the Life Stories NZ team, I truly appreciate the input each member has had towards recording and documenting our family history – thank you! And to you Maria, it’s been a wonderful journey and an absolute pleasure to work with you. The most amazing book – Turbulence to Tranquillity – has been created, it is truly beautiful and well written – well beyond anything I thought possible. We’ll be forever grateful to you.”
Ruve Baker
“I wanted to find a way to record our father’s inspiring and somewhat unconventional travel adventures …I engaged Life Stories NZ to interview Father and create this book. When I first suggested the idea to him he was sceptical, in fact, it’s fair to say he was extremely reluctant to embrace the idea. It was not until August 2023 that he finally agreed to meet with Pip McKay. Pip shared with me that as the project gained momentum, Father became more animated. In our phone conversations he expressed how much he enjoyed sharing his stories. I am grateful that he had the chance to look back on his incredible adventures, and that he was able to read the final draft and savour his own unique story. Remarkably, this happened just a week or so before he passed away on 12 November 2023. … This account provides a snapshot of his unique personality and may even be an inspiration for others to explore this world in a less conventional way.”
Jo Gould
“I loved listening to Dad’s stories when I was young and learnt so much about my Dad, especially of his escape from China, hardships as a teenager and establishing a successful business. Maria has formed a special connection with Mum and Dad and documented their lives. I am so happy to have created this book [In Search of the Gold Mount] for my children and future generations. This has been a wonderful project.”
Jacinta Chow
“Maria, What a voyage of discovery you took us on. Your patience, empathy, persistence and care have rewarded us with a story that will last for generations. Mum [Clare] has shared her life with you and that requires a deep trust. You have been an absolute joy to work with and we wish to convey our sincere thanks for the work you have done.”
Gray Maingay
“Now that our book writing journey is complete, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you [Maria] and Ruth for a wonderful experience. It has been quite a journey for Mum and Dad recalling their past history and going back in time, and we really appreciated the patient and sensitive approach Ruth took to the whole process. It felt unhurried and unfolded naturally and progressively. We were also impressed with Ruth’s ability to build a narrative and flow to our parents’ story which ensured the book did more than just capture their past but also produced a story that was a captivating read. You and Ruth made the whole journey very easy, you both were a pleasure to engage with and we are extremely happy with the result.”
Melanie Matthews and Gregor Baker
After all the hard work it’s time to celebrate!
WHY YOUR STORY MATTERS
Your memories, experiences and history matter. Let us help you preserve them in a beautifully written and crafted book that can be shared for generations to come.