I’ve written quite a few forewords to tarot books and in the process have looked at forewords to other books to create a checklist for what I appreciate most in them and might want to include in my own foreword. I welcome comments and suggestions from others to add to my list of what makes a good foreword.

  • First, you need to read the work! In some cases, you might be able to skim over certain sections, like the meanings of all of the 78 tarot cards (but read several in each category carefully to understand what the author is providing). If there are exercises or meditations, try out at least some of them. Pay specific attention to statements of purpose and conclusions as well as what makes this work special and unique in its field.
  • Something about me. Why was I, in particular, asked to write this foreword and my connection to the author and/or work. What is my knowledge, background and interest in the subject.
  • Something about the author. What are his/her/their qualifications and abilities, and/or a story about what makes them special or the ideal person to have written this work. You can include brief quotes from the author that you feel are especially notable. [As I am known for writing biographies I am sometimes chosen specifically to include a short bio of a deceased author and give info about the place, time and circumstances in which they were writing.]
  • What’s in it for the reader? Who will benefit from or enjoy this work, what can they get from it (that they won’t get elsewhere), and how best for the reader to use or approach the work.
  • Something about the work itself. What is its true worth and value. I might reiterate the author’s stated purpose or what I believe is the purpose it serves, point out its most important premises and points, give a little historical context, or note how it builds on or is different from other works. [When writing forewords to reprints of classic works by deceased authors I might point out known weaknesses and strengths, note why it is being reprinted, and suggest ways the reader can best handle out-of-date and even offensive or culturally inappropriate material. And I may bring something up-to-date based on current knowledge.]
  • A little something extra – the lagniappe or New Orleans 13th donut in a dozen. Great care should be taken here that our additions do not suggest any lack on the part of the author. Some of the most valuable writings of famous authors are found in the forewords they wrote to books by others! For instance, Carl Jung’s major work on divination is found in his foreword to Wilhelm’s book on the I-Ching. Such essays are priceless! Can you give some background behind the work or in the field, or briefly expand on something the author just touches on? [One example is that I might include a very brief, simple technique that helps people use all their senses in visualizations – if the book relies on visualization practices that would benefit from this. Or I could recommend it to the author if at a stage when it could be included.] I always check such additions with the author and give them permission to cut it if they find it inappropriate.
  • I must confess that I once, long ago before the internet, I corrected an author’s clearly wrong information regarding tarot history and received an extremely angry response that the encyclopedia he had consulted was far more knowledgeable than I was about the subject. So I amended my foreword and included a left-handed compliment that would clue in those-in-the-know to my disappointment in the author. I am not proud of doing this, and so I made sure I am never backed into a corner again by having to write a foreword before seeing the material! I have turned down doing both endorsements and a foreword for a variety of reasons.

FOREWORDS are traditionally paid by the publisher and can range from as little as $100 and up to several hundred. Not all independent publishers pay, so you can waive the fee if you wish to help the author who would be expected to pay otherwise. You should receive at least one copy of the book when published, but you may need to ask for it.

ENDORSEMENTS (usually 1 to 3 sentences) are NOT paid, but you do get to read (or skim through) a pre-publication manuscript. You should be endorsing a book because you truly find it of value and not just because it gets your name out there. Usually authors are asked to endorse books from their own publisher or will be asked by an author. It is perfectly fine to decline to write an endorsement if you don’t have the time or interest, or if it’s a work on which you don’t want to stake your own reputation.