Let me be clear: I’m not complaining; it is what it is. And ultimately, it’s not even about me.
I am an independent writer and Tarot deck creator.
I created my first deck, the Unified Esoteric Tarot, in 2017, and I decided to self-publish it.
It won the best self-published deck category at the 2018 CARTA Awards, and it earned me the honour of serving on the judging panel in subsequent years, until I decided to resign after the 2024 competition.
Between 2018 and 2020, I created and self-published over 10 decks, and created a couple more, but kept them in my drawers. I submitted none of my work and preferred to keep my work “independent,” with all its ups and downs.
Likewise, I wrote and self-published several books using Lulu. One of the main reasons I have chosen Lulu is that they print locally. They don’t print in China, but use various printing companies near the customer who has submitted their order.
All my “products” are print-on-demand, making the manufacturing costs considerably higher.
I am also aware that most publishers would likely have rejected my work for its original, non-traditional content. I have no issue being the black sheep. As the song goes, “It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.”
Coming back to the self-publishing of Tarot decks, after Read more The trials and tribulations of an independent creator ›