Hi, I’m Janette.
I’ve always been drawn to stories—how they connect us, inspire us, and remind us of who we are.
My background spans publishing, marketing, and photography, but the common thread has always been storytelling. I love helping people find their voice, organize their ideas, and transform them into something tangible and lasting.
As a creative director and editor, I bring both vision and structure to the table. My clients describe working with me as collaborative, insightful, and refreshingly easy. My role is to make the process feel clear, creative, and deeply rewarding—from our first conversation to the moment you hold the finished piece in your hands.
Your Trusted Writer, with Years of Experience
I bring years of experience from working with two highly exclusive luxury boutique publishers before embarking on my independent journey.
My passion for publishing ignited when I worked for a small memoir company early in my career. There, I recognized the importance of recording family histories, spending countless hours transcribing interviews with a foot pedal.
My professional journey led me to Germany, where I had the privilege of working with Steidl Publishers, a globally recognized photo book publisher. Under the expert guidance of Steidl, known for his uncompromising standards, I refined my book design skills and cultivated an unwavering attention to detail.
I also served as the Copy Editor and Image Archivist for an NHL franchise, where I managed the team’s historic photo collections and documented significant events, including meeting and photographing the original Stanley Cup-winning members at their 25th reunion. My role expanded to being the in-house photographer, with my work even featured on the television show Jeopardy! through a photo of the team’s iconic arena.
I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Photography from Emily Carr University in Vancouver, Canada, where I immersed myself in traditional film photography, spending countless hours in darkrooms mastering B&W and colour printing techniques.
More recently, I earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Communications and Professional Writing, further sharpening my writing and editing skills.
Educational Background
Why it matters…
With extensive experience in photo retouching, image archiving, writing, editing, and high-quality book production, I am equipped to handle every aspect of your book project.
Each project starts as a puzzle—from deciding which stories to include and structuring them to designing the best layout for your photos. My greatest strength lies in devising creative and elegant solutions for every challenge presented.
Let’s connect!
Books have always been a part of my life.
Growing up in northern British Columbia, we endured long, dark, and cold winters. The log home my dad built for our family was heated only by a wood-burning stove. I spent many of those winter afternoons indoors, reading books and writing stories on my Smith Corona typewriter.
To this day, I regret not keeping any of those typed stories. They might not have been masterpieces, but they marked the beginning of my journey. It would’ve been nice to share them with my daughter someday.
Reflecting on the last four decades of my life, I like to think of different seasons as chapters. Unfortunately, once I close a chapter, I often forget to reflect on it. We’re so ingrained to keep moving toward new goals in life and our careers that we rarely look back to see how far we've come.
For example, some of my chapters might include “Building Forts and Riding Horses,” “Backpacking Through Japan,” and “Learning from the Best: Book Publishing in Germany,” followed by “Finding Hope in Less Vegas,” the first book I ever published.
So now, let me ask you, what would your chapters look like?
Do you ever wish you had saved something sentimental or meaningful from your past, knowing you'll never be able to get it back? Or maybe you’ve lost someone close to you, along with all their memories and stories. I felt this way when my last grandparent passed away.
Our grandparents have so much knowledge and wisdom to pass on from everything they've witnessed and experienced in their lives.
If this resonates with you, know that I've got your back. Whether you’re preserving your life’s adventures or your family history, I'm here for you.
Janette Ryan, CEO and Lead Editor
Get in Touch
editor@storylinelegacybooks.com
+1-403-465-2660 (Time Zone: MST UTC-7)
Monday-Thursday: 8 AM – 4 PM
Friday-Sunday: Closed
International Projects
Yes, we work with international clients! If there’s one thing I’ve learned these past years, it’s how to work on projects remotely without impacting our process or the end result.
Language Options
At this time, we can write and edit projects in both English and German. Please contact me to inquire about other language options.
Book a time that works for you.
Please use the calendar I've included below to schedule a quick call with me. I’ll review the process and timelines so you know what to expect once you decide to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
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To help you decide if our full-service process is right for you, we always begin a new client relationship with an Initial Conversation call to discuss your goals, expectations and timeline.
This brief call will help you decide if our services fit your unique needs.
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Absolutely! We work with clients from around the world.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned these past years, it’s how to work remotely without geographic distances affecting our process or the end result.
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At this time, we write and edit projects in both English and German. Please reach out to us to ask about other language options.
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The average book project will take approximately 4-6 months, including printing and binding. However, your project timeline will depend on the scope of your book. More complicated projects can easily take up to 12 months.
Factors that affect project length include: the number of people involved in contributing to the book, how many interview hours are required to cover your story, how well your documents and photographs have been organized for scanning, whether your photos require any significant digital restoration, and your availability for progress meetings, and approvals.
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We’re glad you asked.
Our legacy books are highly customized keepsakes commissioned by the client, so they vary significantly in price.
The final cost will depend on how many contributors you‘ve decided to include (interview hours plus transcription and writing), whether your images and photos need extensive retouching, and if you choose to include custom graphics designed by us (for example: visual timelines and family trees).
Custom book projects typically start at $5,000. For an estimate on your project, contact us to set up your Initial Consultation call today.
We offer a flexible Pay-As-You-Go payment plan. If you choose to pay as you go, we require payment after completing each step of our process.
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Because we are a small and dedicated team, we will only work on one or two books at a time. This allows us to focus on whom we’re currently working with and what we’re creating for them. It also means that we may have a waitlist when accepting clients, so we recommend starting the process early, well before your project’s print deadline.
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Your health and the well-being of your loved ones comes first. Therefore, depending on how far along we are in the process, we can either put your project on hold until your situation improves or continue with your family or colleagues' help until you can resume work on your book.
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If your book’s deadline moves up, please let us know immediately.
Fortunately, in most cases, we can prioritize your project to meet your new accelerated deadline. However, if we cannot meet your new deadline in print form, we will provide you with a digital version of your book to be presented at your event.
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If you decide mid-process that you would like to change the direction or focus of your book project, please let us know as soon as possible so we can discuss what this would look like and what it will involve.
Our mission is to provide you with a completed book that brings you joy and meets your desired objectives. If you are unhappy with your book's original concept, we will work with you to get it where it needs to be.
Just to let you know, these changes will include additional fees if work has already been completed.
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We handle your photographs and documents with the utmost care.
We’ve built our entire business around professionally handling and archiving your historical photos and documents, and we guarantee that we will return them to you in the condition in which they were received.
Additionally, while your items are stored with us, they are securely locked in a fireproof cabinet until they are returned to you.
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Of course! Before going to print, we’ll need to know how many books you’d like to order. However, if you decide to order more copies after the first print run, we’ll liaise with the printers on your behalf.
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The books we produce are commissioned projects that we complete on our clients’ behalf, and we do not retain the rights for publishing or reproduction without our clients’ written consent.
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We do! And we encourage all our clients and website visitors to read more about our Privacy Policy here. If, after reading this, you have any additional questions on how your personal information is being handled, please get in touch with us directly.