Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling Book Tour

Why are we fundraising?

Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens of Romanistan podcast wrote a book, Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling, which is officially released by Weiser Books October 7th, 2024! And we want to do a book tour to help us promote the book and engage with the community. As you may know, we are a bi-coastal creative duo, and our podcast is entirely funded out of our own pockets and by listener donations. We would love to appear at some book events together, and have an opportunity to meet listeners and readers in other states, but we need some help so we can both get to the cities where we've planned events, like Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Salem, MA; Portsmouth, NH; Portland, ME, and more! If you donate, we have some gifts for your investment.

The donation gift tiers

*please note, a donation includes all the gifts from the previous tiers. For example, a $50 donation includes us thanking you on a podcast episode, a book plate, a greeting card tarot reading, and the signed copy!

$20 donation: we read out your name and thank you on one of our Romanistan podcast episodes

$30 donation: a signed book plate (sticker) to stick inside your book to make your book an instant signed copy!

$40 donation: a randomly selected greeting card with a handwritten, one card tarot reading inside by Jezmina.

$50 donation: a signed copy of Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling

$100 donation: a 30 minute tarot reading by phone with Paulina or Jezmina (your choice!)

$150 donation: a 30 minute tarot reading by phone with Paulina and Jezmina (separate readings)

Why does this tour matter?

The Roma, an Indian diasporic ethnic group frequently mislabeled with the slur "Gypsies," have long been associated with fortune telling—a trade they were historically confined to due to relentless persecution in the West. Despite the modern popularity of tarot, palmistry, and tasseomancy, few practitioners recognize these arts' deep Romani origins or the ongoing challenges Roma face, including disproportionate persecution worldwide, and targeted anti-fortune telling laws in the US.

In Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling, Stevens and Von Thiele blend historical insight with personal narratives, providing a how-to guide for divination infused with authenticity and respect. This book offers readers practical tips and a profound understanding of Romani culture and spiritual practices, illuminating the true essence of this time-honored work.