What's a Raconteur?
A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way; a storyteller; a narrator
Raconteur
Meet Olivia
Co-founder / Life Story Writer
Nationally recognized biographer Olivia Savoie is known for creating beautiful life story books based on verbal interviews with her subjects. Olivia has written more than 50 life story books and has been featured by dozens of media outlets, including CBS Mornings, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and TODAY.com. Olivia has written on behalf of philanthropists and farmers, surgeons and stay-at-home mothers, educators and veterans, and many more. She believes everyone has a story that is invaluable to their family and worthy of passing down to future generations.
Olivia grew up hearing her grandparents tell captivating personal stories. After graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor of arts in English and history, Olivia interviewed her grandmothers and became engulfed in their recollections. After she wrote and published their life stories for her family to cherish, she wondered if other families had access to this gift—if other families could open a book tomorrow or in 20 years and read about their beloved family members.
In 2016, Olivia co-founded Raconteur. Since then, she has carved out her place as a master craftsman of family heirloom life story books.
Olivia’s affinity for documenting her subjects’ memories is at the forefront of every life story book. When that love is combined with her interview skills, meticulous attention to detail, and prowess for capturing each individual’s voice, the results are treasured, page-turning narratives.
She selectively works with a few life story subjects each year.
Meet Joshua
Co-Founder
Joshua Savoie graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in both finance and management. After losing two grandparents unexpectedly, Joshua realized how little he knew about their life stories. Now, he is honored to help other families avoid his regret by capturing memories that would otherwise die with their owner. Joshua handles all of our printing.
Meet Sydney
Project Manager
Sydney earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. At Raconteur, Sydney's love of books unites with her love for history. Sydney corresponds with our storytellers and their families, schedules interviews, tends to the meticulous details that go into every heirloom book, and ensures our clients have smooth life story preservation journeys.
Meet Amy
Life Story Writer
Amy, who calls Lafayette, Louisiana home, earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in art history and history from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and a Master of Science in library and information science from LSU. Amy has a diverse writing background, including grant writing. As an avid reader of both history and biography, she knows every person has a story to share and has a family who wants to preserve it. She loves recording individuals' life experiences for future generations to treasure.
Meet Erica
Life Story Writer
Erica attended American University for communication and Parsons School of Design for fine illustration, and all the while, writing has been her constant love. Her work has appeared on HuffingtonPost, National Public Radio, and countless other online or print publications. She is an accomplished writer on grief and loss, being honored by Good Housekeeping Magazine in 2018 for her work as one of “50 Inspiring Women Over 50.” Erica is passionate about biography writing and storytelling. She finds beauty, connection, and life-sustaining humor in everyone she meets.
Meet Carrie
Life Story Writer
Carrie is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who grew up listening to and appreciating the stories shared among her large extended family. As a student, she followed her passion for storytelling, earning a BA in English at LSU and an MFA in poetry at Vanderbilt University. Professionally, she has worked as an editor and as an associate professor of English at Baton Rouge Community College. Her experience with life story writing began when composing her grandfather’s memoir, a project through which she came to understand the life-affirming power of passing down and preserving one’s life story.
Meet Madelaine
Life Story Writer
Madelaine received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in communication studies from the University of Louisiana. Until 2016, she served as the executive director for the LSUE Foundation, as well as an adjunct instructor for LSUE, ULL, SOWELA, and McNeese State University. Her articles have appeared in Lagniappe Magazine, 64 Parishes, and in other outlets, and she has written three published books. She and her husband live on the Atchafalaya River in Butte La Rose, Louisiana, where, from her balcony, she can soak up the art, culture, and history of the region, which often inspires her work.
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Meet Valerie
Editor
Valerie is an editor living in the greater New Orleans area. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Northwestern State University and a Master of Journalism from LSU. She has worked extensively in PR and advertising, as well as held editorial positions for magazines and faculty positions at various universities. She has been published in textbooks, academic journals, and regional and national magazines. Valerie is honored to be part of the process of documenting life stories.
Meet Mary
Book Designer
Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts in history and Master of Arts in public history from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has been designing books for over a decade. Designing life story books bridges her loves for history and design and allows her the opportunity to create gifts that will always be cherished.
Meet Abby
Book Designer
Abby is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana who holds a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications and advertising and a Master of Arts in creative writing, both from ULL. A graphic designer with 16 years of experience, she loves weaving her penchant for design with storytelling. Although she was always intrigued by stories of human connection and believed that every family's story holds points of interest and captivation, after losing her father unexpectedly, she gained an even deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling and memory documentation. She is honored to have a part in the process of crafting family legacy books.
Meet Taylor
Proofreader
Taylor earned her Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Louisiana Christian University. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t absolutely in love with reading. Over the years, she gravitated toward the grammar side of language. This Louisiana native is meticulous and detail-oriented, so the proofreading role fits her flawlessly. She especially loves proofreading life story books, finding it richly rewarding to achieve excellence in lasting family heirlooms.
Contact Raconteur
Are you ready to learn more about preserving your loved one's life story?
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