#tarotofbones

So I am currently on the Oregon coast taking a solo writing retreat for a couple of days in a little cottage overlooking the ocean. (Yes, it really is as awesome as it sounds, and much-needed–I haven’t had time off since June!) I am pleased to say that, other than the entries for the card assemblages I haven’t yet completed yet and adding a few more resources to the bibliography, the manuscript for the Tarot of Bones companion book is done! I fleshed out the introductory material a bit more, and finished creating a few sample spreads. There’s also a section dedicated to ideas for further exploration with the deck beyond divination. All in all, while the majority of the book is dedicated to entries on each of the cards, I’ve tried to add some supporting material that isn’t just a rehash of “here’s how you read a card”.

I still have plenty of work ahead of me, though. I’m still writing the entries for each card as I complete the assemblage, but with over a dozen to go there’s typing to be done yet. And then we start the editing process, which is its own special set of challenges, and then laying the manuscript out so CreateSpace recognizes it as a book–oh, and did I mention I’m designing the cover, too?  And that’s also not including all the work that’s left with the deck itself–finishing the last assemblages, taking final photographs of all of them, cropping and image editing and layout, uploading to the printer and waiting for proofs…

…have I mentioned there’s a special flavor of workaholicism that prompts a person to undergo this sort of project?

I have been getting a few questions repeatedly over the past few months, so I thought I’d take a few moments to address them (again):

Are these just temporary arrangements of bones and other materials?

No, these are permanent assemblage pieces. Part of why this is such an expensive endeavor is because I can’t re-use the materials, and I’m putting together almost eighty of these pieces.

Are those real bones?

Yes. You can read more about my choice to use bones here, and more about my commitment to use eco-friendly materials in general here.

Will the Tarot of Bones be available for purchase, or did I miss my window with the close of the IndieGoGo campaign?

Yes, it will be for sale, and no, I am not intending it to be a limited edition. I anticipate my first print run for the deck will be 1,000 (250 of them are already claimed by IndieGoGo supporters) and once those run out I’ll have another batch printed up. I am planning to release the book through CreateSpace, which uses print on demand technology, so I won’t run out of them. You will have the option to buy either the deck and book together or separately.

When will the Tarot of Bones be released?

My production schedule has a Summer 2016 release date. Right now I am almost two months ahead of schedule with the assemblages; however, this does not necessarily mean the set will be released early.

How much will it cost?