Dear Mystic Storyteller Backer,

Mandy here! I'm thrilled to announce that I've just received the finished first draft of Mystic Storyteller: A Writer's Guide to Using the Tarot for Creative Inspiration!

I'll be spending the next few days reading through and catching last-minute edits before Stacey sends the book to print. In the meantime, I wanted to share how grateful I am for the support of everyone who rallied to help bring this book and tarot deck to life.

The following is a preview of my Mystic Storyteller Acknowledgements, and as you will see, YOU, my dear Backer, are at the very top of my list. I appreciate your support more than I can express.

Additionally, in the spirit of giving back and celebrating the work of my fellow creatives and peers, I've added links where you can explore their work, if you so choose.

******************************************************************************************************
Mystic Storyteller Acknowledgements

All books start out as ideas, and most end up with one or two names on their covers, but the reality of bringing a book to shelves, hands, and hearts depends on a team of dedicated supporters. Mystic Storyteller would not have been possible without several Muggles and magickal folk.

To Shederal, the love of my life and my favorite Emperor, thank you for your listening ear and pointed feedback while I was crafting this book. Your unbiased nature and unconditional love and support not only make me a better writer but a much better person. Thank you, also, for changing the way I think about The Emperor, because before your warmup suit and sneakers, he felt like a stodgy old curmudgeon.

To Jalan and Devan, my Knights of Cups and Pentacles, you are my best work and my favorite gifts. I’ll never create anything as beautiful and meaningful as you, but with your love and support, I’ll never stop trying.

To Stacie, my Six of Pentacles, my closest friend and Sister, thank you for patiently and genuinely listening to me while I used our dinner tables and road trips as whiteboards for piecing together this book. Like your card, you are generous with your time and resources, and none of my books could have been written without you.

To Grisel, my Six of Wands, my editor and cherished Sister, you walked into my life the most incredible, magickal gift. Your fiery determination and spirit have ignited my world in ways I never imagined before the day we met. Thank you for lighting the path for this book and tarot deck to find their way.

To Stacey, our Queen of Wands, your work provided me exactly what I pray this book and these gorgeous cards do for others: a calling to create fearless, authentic stories that change hearts and minds. I am indebted to the Universe for its synchronous magick in crossing our paths.

To Shannon, our Queen of Pentacles, I’m grateful every day to have found your work. Your wisdom and insight nourished my soul while drafting this book, and I’m incredibly lucky to call you my friend.

To Weslyn, our Death Rider, and Roz, our illustrator, thank you both for your keen eyes and hands, along with your imbuing the Mystic Storyteller project with the highest intentions for creative transformation and abundance.

Enormous gratitude goes to Theresa Reed. Your words and chill energy were most instructive and appreciated while writing this book. And that you read and reviewed it? Wow! I’m honored and humbled. Thank you for making the tarot accessible in a way that resonates in every ‘hood and on any street.

Many special thanks go to my Sisters, friends, peers, and fans who supported me during the writing and publishing of Mystic Storyteller: Maria, C-Mac, Debbie, Erika, Nancy, Thomas, Sonja, Mandi, Jillian, Lisa, Christiana, Connie, Mimi, Victoria, Cyndera, and many, many more.

And, finally, to Pixie, Pamela Colman Smith, for her tremendous contribution to tarot, and to Pinkie Perideaux, my very own High Priestess who brought her work to my imagination. Thank you.

******************************************************************************************************

Stay tuned for printing and shipping updates coming soon!!!

All my best,
Mandy

Amanda Hughes
www.HaintBlueCreative.com
[email protected]

Hi Backers!

It's me, Stacey, from La Panthere Studio and I have some news to share with you about the Mystic Storyteller: Book and Tarot deck! There is so much going on behind the scenes with the Mystic Storyteller, I thought I'd collect all the info here and make a little video explaining it all.

Please click on the link here to hear my message, and then also have a read-through of the FAQ we made below. Hopefully this will give you a window into what we're doing over here to get the books and decks to you soon.

First, the video 🎞️  (about 3 mins) >

(Although, no one has asked us any questions at all, ha! Thank you all for being patient. But these are the questions I bet you'd like answered) 😉

Q: When will we get the books and decks?
A: That's the big question right? Well, if you've watched the video, you'll know we are caught up in the trade war. The decks and books are finished, they are beautiful, but everything regarding international shipping is in a tangle right now, so we have to navigate carefully.
I will say: If our plan works, and we get the decks by late May, we can get them to you in June and July. But that assumes we pass customs.

Q: Why are the shipments running late?
A: Well it's not really that late, the issue is more about uncertainty. The tariff war hit only after we sent this project off to printers we know and trust, and with whom we already have an established process. But that was 2024 and here we are. The threat now is the danger of confusion and unexpected tariffs at the border. We simply do not have the funds to pay thousands of dollars in tariffs, nor should we have to (I talk about this in the video).

Q: What's the plan?
A: I explain it in the video, but basically we have learned that printed matter such as books, leaflets, artwork and even cards are supposed to be exempt from all taxes, due to laws protecting the free flow of information. We are living in times of such great uncertainty and chaos... but at the end of the day, we're just going to GO FOR IT, we are asking them to ship in the next week or so. May The Odds Be Ever In Our Favor, as Katniss would say.

Q: Will we have to pay more in shipping?
A: I don't think so, and it is nowhere in our intentions to ask for more money from any of you. We are over budget, however, and if we end up with shipping costs that we never dreamed of,—nor could ever have budgeted for— Well, if that happens in a major way, a discussion will have to be had. But no, we will not charge anyone's card without permission. I would never, ever allow that to happen.

Q: Stacey! How am I supposed to write this novel without Mandy's book on my desk?
A: I feel this, believe me. I have a novel in progress too, actually, and I'm simply dying for mine as well. I hope all of you saw that Mandy has made her Substack blog free for all? Which is so awesome... Please join her community and enjoy all the tidbits she has been sharing to help authors along on their journeys.

If I missed your question please ask it!

We love you guys!

Stacey, the La Panthere squad, and Mandy Hughes

Dear Backers,

Annoucements!

This is by far the most important update, and one that we hope reaches every single one of you.

Remember, the surveys are the way you communicate your address to us, which we do not have, and also pay for shipping, based on your location. Note, the international orders may have new tariffs or rates that we didn't anticipate in 2024 (how could we have?) so do your own research on that, please.

We send surveys within a month or two of shipping so we can ensure that we have your info locked and loaded, and also to ensure that if there are payment issues with shipping etc, we have time to get them resolved.

If you know that you will be moving to a new address in the next couple of months— say, before March 31— please give us the new address instead.

We are so pleased to say that thanks to you, the Mystic Storyteller products are IN PRODUCTION! We had to pause for a solid month to allow for delays at the factory that were out of our control, but the machines are humming again.

All of the card illustrations were completed by Roz Kazaz in December, as promised. One of my favorite "new" cards is our Devil... 

She's a biggie!

In case you missed the last update... Here's a sneek peek of the book. Honestly I dunno ho he's holding it with just one hand.

The books are expected to be complete by the end of February, and by then we should have a sample of the decks, inner booklet and box by then as well. Once we approve those, they will take a few weeks to produce and ship by surface freight as well.

I know, the wait is excruciating! But we'll have them in our hands by Spring. When the birds are singing.