UPDATE AUGUST 26, 2025.

We have made the very difficult choice this evening to suspend all shipments to the U.S. with immediate effect.

This will hopefully be a brief pause but there is too much uncertainty around the last minute changes to U.S. tariffs and parcel post rules due to come into effect on August 29, and we do not have enough information to advise our customers on what to expect when their orders arrive at the U.S. border.

Over 20 countries have now stopped all parcel post to the U.S. for this reason.

We, like most businesses, are regretfully taking the unprecedented measure of suspending all new U.S. orders on our website until some clarity emerges.

We are currently exploring options to print and ship U.S. orders from inside the U.S.

September pre-orders of The Beat of Your Own Drum will be dispatched later than planned as soon as we can find a way to get them to you. We will email you as soon as we know when we can dispatch them.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this stressful and uncertain time for small businesses. Keep an eye out for updates in our newsletter (sign up below) – we will be announcing solutions shortly.

FIRST POSTED AUGUST 5, 2025.

Dear valued American Womancraft supporter,

We are reaching out to make sure you are aware of upcoming changes in U.S. import laws.

Last month your president signed an Executive Order expediting the cancellation of the de minimis tariff exemption on parcels under $800 arriving in the U.S. from other countries – starting August 29th.

Historically any personal parcel arriving on your shores, once it was valued at under $800, was not subject to import tax or customs. Now it will likely be taxed at the tariff rate applied to that country.

We are based in Ireland (European Union) where the tariff rate set by your president currently stands at 15%.

As with all his tariff “decisions” there is no guarantee that this will come to pass. However, as it was already scheduled for 2027, we assume that the legal framework is in place – though we don’t know if the customs infrastructure will be.

For more information on this see: Reuters

Please bear in mind the following:

1. We have no control over this – this is a U.S. decision.
2. We make NO money from this – all money goes to U.S. authorities.
3. We cannot pay this for you or on your behalf. It is the responsibility of you, the U.S. importer of goods.
4. We cannot “swallow” the fee, as it is chargeable on the value of the package once it reaches your shores. The dollar price on our books from our website is already 10% lower than you pay from U.S. stockists.

As a courtesy to you, our valued customers, we are informing you of this so that you do not get a nasty surprise when you receive a customs demand for your pre-ordered copy.

As a small independent company, pre-orders are the way we make the most on our new books. And the way we can reward our loyal customers with extras that are not available to buy elsewhere. With the U.S. as our largest customer base this is going to significantly impact direct sales into the future.

We can offer you the following options:

1. Do nothing. The signed copy you pre-ordered from us will arrive in the U.S. in mid September. It may be held by U.S. customs, who may send you a tariff invoice that you must pay in order to receive your book.You will receive your pre-order bonuses by email on the day your book ships from us. By way of thanks we will give you 10% off your next order with us.
2. Cancel your pre-order with us, within the next 7 days, we will refund you in full. You will not be emailed your pre-order bonuses.

If you choose to cancel your pre-order, you can pre-order from Amazon.com (books are unsigned and you do not receive pre-order bonuses) and will be available to purchase or order from large and small booksellers around the U.S. or direct from Red Wheel Weiser from September 20th.

We are doing everything we can to withstand the current Trump administration, the global downshift in publishing and the damage that AI is already doing to our industry.

We are immensely grateful for your support as we weather these storms.

In sisterhood,

Lucy