the CELESTIAL Collection
Our memoirs leave your family and community with an irreplaceable heirloom. We begin with a conversation, listening for which stories most want to be told. From there, we lovingly tailor one of our two heirloom offerings for you, and it is composed by lifelong personal narrative writer Jessica Rios.
Now offering The Living Library workshops for seniors in Sonoma and Marin Counties.
the COSMOS
Our COSMOS Memoir tells the story of a place through the lens of a featured person, with contributions from others. Through interviews and research, we curate a beautiful heirloom book with stories, quotes, letters, photographs and other visuals that celebrate the meaning and significance of this place.
honoring a place
the GALAXY
Our GALAXY Memoir tells the story of one person’s life through their own lens, with contributions from family and community members. We conduct numerous interviews and curate a heartfelt book with stories, quotes, photographs and letters that compose an heirloom album for this person’s life.
honoring a person
Project duration is 4-12 months.
Fees start at $50,000 and typically cap at $100,000.
Printing options vary by format and vision; billed separately.
Travel, when required, invoiced separately.
Transparent pricing, no surprises, flexible timelines.
A memoir is more than a book. It is a bridge of connection for the next generation.
Every life and every place is one-of-a-kind. Our memoirs are collaboratively composed heirloom books honoring the legacy of a person or a place of significance.
Through deep listening and heartfelt conversations, I gather the stories that shaped a life or defined a place, preserving their heart and wisdom for generations.
Each chapter is crafted collaboratively, as I invite a circle of loved ones or community members to contribute words of gratitude, memory, and witness. When the memoir centers on a person, these contributions can be gathered quietly and revealed only when the finished book is placed in their hands, creating a meaningful surprise.
“I don't know anywhere loving presence is embodied as much as it is with Jessica Rios.”
S. Woodley PhD, 30-year clinical psychologist
the Living Library
Memoir & Life Writing Workshops for Seniors
What Is The Living Library?
Every senior carries a lifetime of stories, wisdom, and experience that deserves to be preserved, celebrated, and shared. I, Jessica Rios, facilitate the Living Library workshops, gently guiding participants through the art of reflective writing. No experience necessary, no homework required. Just a willingness to remember.
Each session is self-contained, welcoming new participants at any time, while rewarding those who return with a deepening practice and a growing collection of their own written memories.
How It Works
Each workshop runs 60 to 90 minutes and follows a gentle, consistent structure:
Opening — A brief grounding exercise to settle participants into the space
The Invitation — A theme introduced through a short reading, photograph, or sensory prompt
Writing Time — Participants write freely and privately, guided by tailored prompts
Sharing Circle (optional & always voluntary) — Participants may share a line, a word, or a few lines if they choose
Closing & Takeaway — Each participant leaves with a written prompt to continue the work in their own time
Facilities who partner with me receive…
A meaningful, recurring cultural and wellness program
A gentle entry point for residents who may be socially withdrawn or hesitant to join group activities
A tangible creative output residents can share with family
Programming that supports cognitive engagement, emotional wellbeing, and sense of purpose
A professionally facilitated experience requiring no staff preparation or oversight
What I Bring
A curated workshop plan tailored to your community
All printed materials, prompts, and participant takeaways
Sensitive, experienced facilitation with older adults — 24 years of experience spanning senior program coordination, community building, and memoir writing for several clients since 2015
Flexibility in session length, frequency, and theme selection
Options for one-time events, monthly series, or full seasonal programming
Partnership Options
Single Event: One session
Ideal for a trial or special occasion
$950 - $1,200
Monthly Series: 12 sessions per year
One theme explored per month
$650 - $800
Biweekly Series: 24 sessions per year
Deeper engagement, stronger community
$750 - $900
Seasonal Program: 4 to 6 sessions
A themed arc across one season
$800 - $950
Rates are offered on a sliding scale to make this program accessible to facilities with varying budgets. Custom scheduling is available. Long-term partnerships are welcome.
A Note on Inclusivity
Sessions can be designed so that participants who cannot write by hand may dictate, speak aloud, or simply listen and reflect. The goal is never a perfect piece of writing. The goal is a life recognized, honored, and preserved.
The Workshop Menu
Workshops can be selected and sequenced by the facility to suit the interests and needs of their community. My Foundations workshops are ideal starting points for a new group or a new season. These themes include:
Foundations
A Love Letter to My Life — Reflection and gratitude for the life lived and being lived still
What I Know Now — Distilling a lifetime of experience into deepest personal truths
The Life I Am Proud Of — Examining a life with compassion, honesty, and celebration