Who is the Tattooed Governess?

Have you ever wished there was a way to keep learning forever? To go back to school, but to the school of your dreams where you choose the reading lists and the subjects? Consider this a portal into that school, with a reading room where we can hang out with coffee and notebooks and stationery. We'll swap recommendations on our favorite books... and write the ones that don't yet exist.

This is your refuge, where you can cast story spells, knit by the fire, and share all your imagination holds.

Join the community

Book Alchemy is now the Tattooed Governess. After several years of writing here, the name of the community started to itch. It no longer felt like a bespoke garment with smooth seams cut and sewed to fit us all perfectly. It felt tight and limited.

The Tattooed Governess is the fairy godmother teacher, who points out books you’ll love, and encourages you to follow your fascinations deep into the stacks of the library. She’s got a massive knitting basket and makes all her own clothes because stores don’t sell what she loves to wear.

If you’ve always run to books for company, consider your journals and notebooks your friends, and can’t resist a stationery store, this is the place for you. If you struggle to fit in a world that’s often too loud and too bright, and your special interests could fill an entire library, your people are here.

This is where gushing over books and new discoveries is not only welcome, but encouraged. Want to join us?

As a free subscriber, you’ll receive:

• Monthly Footnotes issues

As a paid member, you also receive:

• Letters from the governess on books, crafts, and creative living in Berlin.

• Twice-annual Slow Reads { Jane Eyre begins in February 2026! }

• Monthly member live fireside chats with the governess

• Surprises yet to come

About the governess

I’m Caroline Donahue, Book Witch. I’m a writer, writing coach, and literary tarot reader. For the past twenty years, I’ve combined my Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts with my experience in writing, books, and publishing and the tarot to make an ongoing in-depth study of the creative process and lifelong learning.

I’ve used my methods to support private clients, students in my online courses, and myself as I’ve written my own work. I’m the author of the Story Arcana guides: The Author’s Journey and, most recently, Writing through Fear.

What students and readers say:

“Caroline shares her knowledge, advice, opinions but is not judgmental or strict in how to do something. And yet she isn't vague or ambiguous. She gives really specific ideas and questions and exercises which have honestly been life changing.” —Corinne

“Caroline is a wonderful teacher and coach who manages to skillfully balance theory with practice, and assign exercises that provide both useful insight and the fizz of possibility, all whilst sharing a wealth of stories, examples, resources and wisdom.” —Rachel

“Caroline is very supportive, and assures the writer that this is not an elite club that only certain creators have access to-it is something that anyone with the will to create can access.” —Ashley

“If you have ever felt as if all you need is a bit more discipline and accountability to meet your creative goals, Caroline offers a gentler approach.” —Joy