Announcing RACE THE SANDS!!!

I'm beyond excited to announce that I sold two new books, RACE THE SANDS and an untitled second novel, both epic fantasy standalones for adults, to my fantastic editor David Pomerico at Harper Voyager, via my amazing agent Andrea Somberg!!!

RACE THE SANDS is about two women, a disgraced trainer and her young student, who are vying to be champions of their sun-soaked land's most beloved sport, monster racing. They are drawn into the complex politics of the emperor's succession when they discover their monster is the murdered emperor reborn.

I've been wanting to write RACE THE SANDS for a long time now -- it's been one of those ideas that just kept tugging on my imagination -- and I can't wait to finally write it! It's monster racing time!!!

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/77279-book-deals-week-of-june-18-2018.html

 

Wall Street Journal Review of THE QUEEN OF SORROW

Eeeeeeep!!! My latest book, THE QUEEN OF SORROW, was reviewed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal!!! My husband randomly found the article online and ran out to 7-Eleven to buy the paper (and some milk -- we were totally out :) ). Thanks, WSJ!

"The Renthia trilogy stands old beliefs, and even old myths, on their heads. Ms. Durst has given us a refreshing, provocative and ultimately convincing remake of modern fantasy conventions. The wonder is that we ever saw things the other way round." -- The Wall Street Journal

BookCon 2018

Had a wonderful and exhilarating time at BookCon yesterday!!! So great seeing so many awesome people who love books! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by my panels and signings! It was wonderful meeting you!

HarperCollins BookExpo Party 2018

At the HarperCollins BookExpo party last night: me with my awesome agent, Andrea Somberg; me with my amazing publicist, Caro Perny; and a warm chocolate chip cookie with a shot of milk. Had a fantastic time!

 

WORD Bookstore Event 6/6

On Wed June 6 at 7:30pm, Peter V. Brett and I will be at WORD Bookstore in Jersey City discussing all things epic fantasy and celebrating the release of THE QUEEN OF SORROW, the final book of my Queens of Renthia trilogy! Come join us for some Wednesday night bookish fun!

https://www.wordbookstores.com/event/word-presents-sarah-beth-durst-and-peter-brett-queen-sorrow

My BookCon 2018 Schedule

This Saturday, I'll be at the Javits Center in NYC for BookCon!!! Here's my schedule. If you'll be around, please stop by and say hi!

Birthday chocolates

Birthday chocolates!!! I ate a few for breakfast.....

Stone Girl on the Shelf

My husband bought me new bookshelves, so now a stone girl is sitting with her story.....

THE STONE GIRL'S STORY at Books of Wonder

Tomorrow (Sat 5/19) at 3pm, I'll be at Books of Wonder (the new 84th St store) talking about THE STONE GIRL'S STORY, with Lauren Magaziner (WIZARDMATCH) and Rebecca Behrens (THE LAST GRAND ADVENTURE)! If you're in NYC, come join us!

 

Happy book birthday to THE QUEEN OF SORROW!

I was raised on fresh raspberries, whole milk, and epic fantasy -- Terry Brooks, Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, David Eddings, Guy Gavriel Kay... Growing up, I read my favorites over and over again, and I dreamed of writing my own trilogy someday, filled with grand adventure and deadly magic. I wanted it so badly that I barely ever talked about it -- it felt like a wish made on birthday candles, and I was so desperate for it to come true that I didn't want to do anything to dispel the power of that wish.

Today I am so happy and grateful to be able to share that wish-come-true with you! Today my very first epic fantasy trilogy is complete!!! It's the pub day for THE QUEEN OF SORROW, Book Three of The Queens of Renthia, published by Harper Voyager. I wrote these books out of love for the stories that shaped me and out of a wish to add my own brand of badass women to the genre.

Renthia is a world of extreme beauty: sky-piercing mountains, endless glaciers, and towering trees with cities nestled in their branches, all thanks to an overabundance of nature spirits. But the spirits who created all this glorious beauty aren't sweet, frolicking pixies. These spirits want to kill all humans, and only certain women -- the queens -- have the power to control them.

THE QUEEN OF SORROW concludes the stories of Daleina, Naelin, and Merecot, as the three determined queens clash over two countries plagued by bloodthirsty spirits.

If you're interested, more information can be found on my website, including the first three chapters.

To those of you who have come with me on this journey -- ziplining through the trees of Aratay and running with the wolf Bayn -- thank you so much for joining me! It means so much to me to share this adventure with you!

And to those of you who are new to Renthia... Welcome! Happy reading! Just watch out for the trees. They bite.