There are all kinds of milestones in your life that deserve a book. Maybe you want to celebrate the first years of your child’s life in a memory book, or mark your partner’s ‘big’ birthday. Perhaps someone you know achieved something special – did they build up a business or organisation, travel far and wide, create artworks or enjoy a long and happy marriage? Perhaps you did – and it’s time to think of your autobiography. Or maybe you lost someone precious. All of these are great subjects for a beautiful book to share with those who mean the most to you.

Every Bespoke Books book is completely unique to you. The book is made to suit your material and budget, not made to fit an online book design template. It will be hand-crafted to a high standard, with as much input from you as you wish. The ongoing personal consultation ensures you get a carefully edited volume that says exactly what you want it to say, in a beautiful design.

You already have! Looking at your old photographs and thinking about bringing them into the light of day is the beginning of the journey. The next step is to contact me for a free initial consultation on what the possibilities are for your bespoke book.

Please see the How It Works section to see how to make a book in easy stages with Kate Horgan Bespoke Books.

It’s up to you – your book can be any size and shape, with any number of pages. It can be hardback or soft back. Contact me and tell me what you have in mind, and I will take it from there, offering expert advice on all aspects of the book’s production. If you have no strong preferences, I can suggest what kind of book will best suit your project, based on past experience.

As each book project is unique it is not possible to give general figures here, but please contact me for a quote. I charge a fixed hourly rate for my time, estimated carefully in advance so there are no unpleasant surprises when the final bill is drawn up. If the project grows and the price needs to be revised, this will be flagged well in advance and agreed between us.

There are also printing and binding costs for the book itself, which vary according to how the book is produced.

When you choose to make a book with me, we will discuss all aspects of book production to get the best fit for your project. These include the choice of paper, the type of cover (hard or soft), the binding and any extras such as slipcases, as well as the number of books to be printed. All of these choices affect the final cost, but I will advise you every step of the way.

Every book is different, and the length of time to make it depends on many variables. Generally, people who make Bespoke Books books genuinely enjoy the process and like being involved every step of the way. This is not a task to rush, it’s a journey to savour over a couple of months or more.

All kinds! Old negatives (colour or black and white) and slides can be scanned. Prints can also be scanned. Digital files are welcome too. And if you need a new photo added in to help tell the story, I can take one for you.

Yes! For me, this is the most enjoyable part of the whole process – selecting your finest images and putting them together with a narrative thread that makes a coherent and enjoyable story.

I am not a writer – although I am very good helping with photo captions if needed. If you want help with text, I can refer you to experienced and sensitive writers to put into words what you want to say.

You will have as much input as you wish into the design. After our initial consultation and once I have some images to work with, I will draw sample pages for your approval. I find that most clients are happy to have a few samples sent to them, after which they let me go ahead with the finer details of the book’s design. I will also consult with you on the all-important cover design.

Yes – I will send you a full PDF (electronic copy) of your book before it goes to print, so you can see exactly how it will look. If you are based in Dublin or nearby, it is also possible to see a proof copy of the printed book before the final print run goes ahead.

Yes you can, but please note Kate Horgan Bespoke Books is not a publisher. You, the client, are the publisher and you are solely responsible for all content and all rights.