It may be snowy outside in Lichfield, but you can almost feel the warm glow as Don Male hands to Ruth Tinsdeall a copy of the life story written by his wife, Jan, before she died of cancer last year. “The moment I read Jan’s book, I knew I wanted to write my life story too,” says Ruth. Over the next few months, Ruth started her own writing adventure. Little did she realise that it would lead her to set up her own business, This is me, whereby she offers support to others who wish to write their life stories but are maybe unsure where to begin. As a Life Story Writing Coach with a background of teaching and using counselling concepts and skills, Ruth aims to make writing not only a creative, but also an enjoyable and sociable experience: growing stories together.