Our doorbell never rings in the mornings.
Today, though, the doorbell rings, and UPS Next Day Air delivers two amazing gifts from my publisher:
1) a huge, colorful cutsheet of the cards from my Bright Idea brainstorming deck (an uncut sheet of cards, featuring ten eight-card rows … like a big poster), and
2) a shrink-wrapped printed copy of the final versions of the cards.
I must have spent an hour running in circles and squealing like a little girl.
I’ve seen this artwork (by Canadian artist Eric Hotz) on screen for more than a year. I’ve worked with a virtual version of the deck for months, and have even carried around a dog-eared copy printed on ink-jet card stock since July.
But nothing — nothing — prepared me for the beauty of these final cards. The professional printing process punches up all of Eric’s subtle lighting and shading effects. Every line is sharp, crisp, and clear. The colors are vibrant — almost hypnotic in their intensity.
The samples up at TarotTools.com just can’t capture how these cards really look.
I can’t quit shuffling and fanning and leafing through the deck! I can’t quit giggling! I can’t stop myself from prancing around the room!
Across the room, Clyde grins at my giddiness.
Seeing Putting the Tarot to Work in the bookstore for the first time marked a huge milestone in my life. Holding a copy of Taking the Tarot to Heart in my hands — or, at least, a galley (an uncorrected proof, bound in the real cover, usually sent to reviewers) of it — made my heart burst with pride.
I never dreamed, though, how proud I’d be of this little deck of cards, or how holding them in my hot little hands would make me feel.
Just wanted to say congradulations again on the beautiful card samples and thanks for your reply the other day.
Best wishes and will keep checking for updates. No need to reply.
Cerulean Mari