About Us
“My driving passion is to help you write a memoir–to leave a loving legacy for family and friends.
A memoir is an extraordinary gift reflecting the culture and values of the time.”
Patricia Benesh
How 7 Memories Started
From Patricia Benesh …
7memories was born of my urgent wish to encourage you to tell and write personal stories–your own–and those of your relatives. Our method gets you started with a manageable slice of life–just 7 memories. Please capture these rich memories before it’s too late.
In my case, I waited too long. When the first grandchild was born into our family, I felt compelled to regale her with stories about her great grandparents–my parents. Both were immigrants whose journey took them from oppression and poverty to freedom and prosperity; from riding in a horse and buggy to watching a man walk on the moon. Alas, they were no longer here to tell their stories. Instead, I patched together a photo memoir and wrote a child’s version of their life together. My brother’s grandchild delights in it.
Click below to see a slideshow of this memoir at Youtube.
Our Philosophy…
“Your memories are precious to me.”
You are putting a great deal of time and thought in creating your memoir. As we work together to enhance your writing, I will honor your words and your intuition.
Here’s what to expect:
- prompt and courteous service
- an understanding of your goals for writing your memoir
- a knowledge of your target readers and their expectations
- a focus on tone and content for clearer and more compelling writing
- respect for your creativity and your fundamental belief about your memoir
- personal attention to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of your memoir.
Meet Founder and Owner, Patricia Benesh, Ed.D
From theSan Diego Union-Tribune
By Arthur Salm, Book Editor
The fun part of my business, says owner Patricia Benesh, “is seeing people just blossom, seeing them take ideas and run with them.”
Patricia Benesh runs a very personal business. That it happens to be almost entirely on the Internet turns out to be beside the point.
“You become intimately involved with them. You become really good friends,” Patricia said of the writers she works with. “In some cases, I’ve met them, but in most cases I haven’t. We exchange pictures, even recipes. I’ve seen into the souls of these people, because I’ve seen the writing in its original form, and it comes from the heart.”
For more than a decade, Patricia has been the visionary and energy behind AuthorAssist.com, helping English-speaking writers around the world. Clients include: Thomas Steinbeck (son of John Steinbeck), whose anthology, Down to a Soundless Sea, was published by Ballantine; Kerry Cohen-Hoffman, author of Easy (Simon and Schuster) and Loose Girl (Hyperion); Beth Rubin, whose novel, Split Ends, won first prize at the Maryland Writers Association Contest; and James Wray, whose award-winning short story, “Dark Toast,” was published in the West Wind Review. AuthorAssist has provided online literary services to more than 350 new writers. She leads workshops and seminars at writers’ conferences.
Patricia’s articles have been published in numerous books, journals, and business periodicals. She is a former professor at The Johns Hopkins University in the field of Human Communications, specializing in neurological disabilities and readability. She holds a doctorate from Johns Hopkins and advanced degrees in counseling and business administration. She has spoken at numerous US and international conferences and is recognized in Who’s Who in Education.
Meet Associate, Allison Bechill, M.A.
Allison Bechill, M.A.
Since childhood, Allison has been fascinated by people and their stories—a passion that led her to study literature and creative writing and seek out opportunities to share those stories with the world. Her work has been published in publications large and small—from People Magazine to small community newspapers. She has extensive experience in corporate and nonprofit communications, including grant writing, marketing, copyediting, and social media. As an Associate with 7 Memories, Allison works with clients to craft meaningful memoirs for themselves and their loved ones. When not working with others to share their stories, she devotes time to her own creative pursuits and is a voracious reader of mysteries, foreign literature, and short stories.
Meet Associate, Carolina Bracamonte, M.S.W.
Carolina Bracamonte M.S.W.
Carolina, a native speaker of English and Spanish, brings her extensive bilingual skills to offer English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English translation of memoirs. Her experience extends from her conversational skills with Spanish-speaking relatives in Mexico to translating significant legal documents in California. As social worker with a Master’s degree, she brings a beautiful spirit of empathy and insight to her work. In addition, Carolina will be assisting with our intergenerational programs.
Meet Emmy-Award Winning, Jeanne Rawdin
Video producer, Jeanne Rawdin
Video producer Jeanne Rawdin has more than 20 years of experience as an 16-time Emmy Award-winning TV news journalist and community storyteller. She is a top-notch video producer who can also help you write and craft your video story. She is passionate about connecting family members through generations to preserve the rich history passed down and then preserved. Jeanne brings her expertise and talent to produce 7 Memories Video Memoirs.
Watch the 5-minute video memoir of 97-year-old BJ
Links to Jeanne’s other work: