Well, it’s definitely been a while, hasn’t it?

I don’t have a new gouache article for you (yet) but I am delighted to announce that the *reason* I haven’t gotten around to drafting anything in almost a year is that I’ve been busy… writing and illustrating my very first book! Technically, it’s an Oracle Deck… but I think 17,000 written words can be considered a kind of micro book, right?

Unusual Animal Messages will be published on November 8th by CICO Books. It’s a very personal project that encompasses so many of the things that I love: animals, science facts, illustration, and holistic well-being. It’s been an amazing experience to merge my hand-painted gouache illustrations with my background in energy work and psychology, and end up with this beautifully realized deck.

The deck and accompanying guidebook feature 52 animal messengers, each with something important to share with us. Some of my favorites include the adventurous tardigrade, strategic cockroach, and tenacious honey badger. 

Anyone who knows me can vouch for my love of all things weird and wonderful—and honestly? The weirder, the better. I spent ages combing through all sorts of oddball creatures to find 52 animals that would pack this deck with maximum weirdness. Every message is inspired by a real trait or characteristic of the featured animal, and I promise you’ll learn at least one fact you didn’t know before. My bet is that you won’t know a lot of them! All that, combined with some powerful life lessons including ones around mindfulness, letting go, finding joy, and accepting yourself unconditionally (we’re all about self love over here 💛).

The deck is available through your favorite bookstore and on Amazon (both in the US and UK) on November 8th! Yay!

In a follow-up post, I’ll go over the inspiration behind the deck, my experience creating 52 gouache illustrations in a little over 5 1/2 months, and how I averted catastrophe at least once a day. Just kidding! It was more like twice a day, at least.

Write soon,

x

Manda