Testimonials

Jim Athearn

““Vineyard Stories approached us with the idea that we tell the story of our farm and our family with pictures and recipes. Though we had been considering the publication of a cookbook for years, Jan and John’s clear, concise business proposal plus contagious enthusiasm quickly led us to the decision to do it.

Sadly, John died unexpectedly as the book was getting underway, but Jan proved to be able to pick up his role in the business, in addition to her own, and guided all parties involved in making the book through the various deadlines and on to a well-publicized (understatement of the decade!) launch of the book about a year after we signed the contract. The book was a stunning success.

We discovered that Jan possesses knowledge about the book business that we didn’t even know existed. There are interplays of psychology and graphics, fonts, number of pages, etc. that are part of an art and craft of assembling a book. There are layout tricks we had never imagined.

She knew where to get the books printed and how to manage the contracts. She firmly led the photographer, author, and our own writing and proofreading through a tight time schedule, ignoring our whining that it can’t be done. Jan inspired and created this book and followed through with promotion that raised people’s consciousness of our farm to an unimagined level. Her recipe for a book was a hit.”
—Owner, Morning Glory Farm

Allen Whiting

“Putting together this book about my work has been extremely exciting and quite challenging. Without the humorous diligence and patience of John and Jan of Vineyard Stories, I would never have completed the project.”
—“A Painter at Sixty.”

Arthur Smadbeck

“Promising my mother that I would publish her book was a task I had looked forward to accomplishing. Vineyard Stories took the manuscript and produced the most beautiful book I could have imagined. My brothers and I will be forever indebted to Jan and John for helping me keep my last promise to my mother.”
—Speaking of his mother’s book, “By Gertrude Wilson.”

Gery Conover

“Vineyard Stories was professional from beginning to end. Jan and John managed to show our inn the way we see it, and to do it with style and grace.”
—Owner, the Charlotte Inn