Hello, I’m Bec
...and I started Before Now after interviewing my grandma when she was dying of cancer. The book I created from this conversation and her pictures became more than just memories - it became a way for me to connect with her long after she had passed away.
In my work as a social researcher, I've seen first-hand the value of simply sitting down and listening to each other. When we share our stories and the knowledge we’ve gained through them, we learn from our experiences – no matter our age or background.
That's why I started Before Now:
I wanted to make catching up with your loved ones and capturing their stories as enjoyable and accessible as possible. I am from the sort of background where most people cannot afford to spend thousands on creating autobiographical books (and often think they don't have interesting stories to tell!), and so I want everyone to see and access the value of sitting down with the people they care about and asking them questions about their everyday lives.
What makes Before Now different?
It's not just another memory book, or another card game - it's a collaborative life story kit that brings generations together. Its the only product on the market that combines conversation with creating life history books. The conversation cards in each Before Now pack are designed to strike a balance between looking back and looking forward, and between depth and silliness. The aim is natural, flowing discussions about everything from embarrassing haircuts to sage advice!
Once you've recorded your conversations, we can turn them into beautifully printed, bespoke Life Pages that you can order as a Before Now book. What you end up with is something that lasts - their stories, their expressions, their way of seeing the world, captured in their own words – that you can come back to as many times as you want.