I taught myself to tat when I was 16 years old. I found a tatting book in a store window with a tatted doily on it, and said I just have to do that, it was soooo beautiful.
That was "Coats and Clark's Learn How Book" I have also seen some other books in which I found tatting instructions, but by careful scrutinizing, found that I would not be able to learn it from those instructions.
All you need to do it is some good cotton tatting or crochet thread and a shuttle. That's probably why it is not promoted much. Stores don't make much money selling supplies.
I have hundreds of tatted snow flakes and small doilies that I hang on my Christmas tree each year. One year I left the tree up the whole year so I could look at the beautiful snowflakes all year.
I have also given away hundreds of them and given several classes on tatting.
I wish we were closer. I would love to help you.