Hi everyone,

I wanted to give you another update because I believe you deserve to know where things stand.

First, I’m sorry these updates haven’t come more quickly. I didn’t want to come back with more uncertainty, and I felt it was important to have a clearer plan before posting again.

• I am still working to complete both outstanding productions.
 • I need to finish Anniversary before I can move fully into Nautical.
 • I am now handling work that used to be handled by two people.
 • I am very strapped for time and never expected to be running this completely solo.
 • That is not an excuse, but it is the reality I’m working within.

The past several months have been incredibly difficult.

I was audited by both the IRS and the Commonwealth of Virginia for multiple tax years after large Kickstarter deposits triggered an audit. Through that process, I learned that my taxes had not been handled correctly, which resulted in significant back taxes, penalties, and monthly payment plans.

I’m sharing this because it has dramatically changed my cash flow.

• Money is being automatically withdrawn each month for those payment plans.
 • I no longer have the same funds available to keep everything moving.
 • Sales have slowed dramatically.
 • Etsy is currently down to around two dozen orders per month.
 • Even with heavy discounts, sales are not enough to cover ongoing costs.
 • I am still paying storage costs for a large number of decks.
 • I am also covering Etsy-related expenses, including fees, shipping issues, and replacing lost packages.

That has left me in a very difficult position. I can’t currently afford to keep paying for storage and fulfillment the way I have been.

Shipping itself has become another hurdle.

• I still need to fund the cost of shipping completed rewards to backers.
 • I also need to determine the most cost-effective way to fulfill them internationally.
 • Right now, I simply don’t have the cash flow to pay for printing, fulfillment, and shipping all at once.
 • That’s why my focus is on reducing overhead and raising the funds needed to complete the project in the right order.

Because of that, I’ve had to completely rethink the plan.

• Liquidate remaining inventory as aggressively as possible.
 • Use those funds to pay down storage costs and reduce overhead.
 • Finalize exactly how much is still needed to complete Anniversary.
 • Move Anniversary into final production once the funds are in place.
 • Then move fully into Nautical with a clearer structure and plan.

I’ve also been asked why other creators have been able to finish their projects while mine remain unfinished.

• Many projects finished before production and shipping costs rose so dramatically.
 • Others launched later and were able to build those higher costs into their pricing or shipping.
 • Anniversary and Nautical landed directly in the middle of those changes.
 • That made both projects much more expensive to complete than originally planned.

I also know some of you have asked about digital copies and add-ons.

• I am working on creating web versions of the deck and guidebook.
 • I can’t provide print-ready files due to artist licensing agreements.
 • I do want to give you something you can view and enjoy while I work through the physical production side.

• I understand why people have asked if add-ons can be shipped separately.
 • Unfortunately, it is not as simple as paying postage.
 • I would still need boxes, labels, packing material, and other supplies.
 • Right now, I do not have the funds to do that at scale.
 • I also do not feel right asking anyone to pay additional money for packaging materials.
 • I am still trying to work out a realistic solution.

I know this has taken far longer than anyone expected, including me. I am extremely upset too. This is something I have been dealing with for over two years, and not being able to finish these projects yet has been one of the hardest things I’ve faced.

But I am still here and I am still working on it.

Next steps:

• Continue liquidating inventory.
 • Continue cutting storage and overhead costs wherever possible.
 • Continue working on digital versions of the deck and guidebook.
 • Finalize the amount needed to complete Anniversary.
 • Move Anniversary forward first.
 • Then move fully into Nautical.
 • Share another update once I have finalized costs and a production path.

Thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and for continuing to believe in me through an incredibly difficult chapter.

If you have questions, please email me. It is very hard to keep up with both projects at once, but I’ll do my best to get back to you as soon as I can, especially when I’m not covered in children.

Kayti