Amazon's Best YA Books of 2026 So Far

So thrilled, honored, and grateful to share that THE FARAWAY INN was selected as one of Amazon's Best YA Books of 2026 So Far (#8)!!! Thanks so much, Amazon Editors! And thanks so much to all the incredible readers who made this possible by reading and sharing this cozy book!

https://www.amazon.com/b?_encoding=UTF8&node=5522563011

Jane Yolen

I love this photo because I was so ridiculously incandescently happy to be sitting between two of my childhood heroes, Jane Yolen and Tamora Pierce, that I look like I'm about to levitate out of my chair and straight up through the roof. This is from Boskone in 2008, about half a year after my very first book came out. 

I first met Jane in 1999. Just looked up my notes from back then -- I was a baby aspiring writer at the time, and I kept notes whenever I went to book events -- and I'd written down one of the things she said: "Great books that resonate forever are those about the getting of wisdom." I also wrote underneath that: "I'm starstruck."

Jane Yolen wrote many, many great books (450, to be precise), including my favorites WHERE HAVE THE UNICORNS GONE? (illustrated by Ruth Sanderson) and DRAGON'S BLOOD (The Pit Dragon Chronicles). And she touched countless lives with both her wisdom and her kindness. She was a light. 

I last saw Jane in 2024 with her daughter Heidi Stemple, and I am so very grateful for the memory of every single time I've had the privilege of seeing her. She was wise, kind, funny, smart, and wonderful. She lived her life filled with words and love, and I can think of no better way to be.

What a profound loss for the world. What a tremendous legacy she leaves behind. She was so loved and will be so missed. 

Sending so much love and sympathy to her family -- to Heidi Stemple, Adam Stemple, and Jason Stemple -- and to everyone who loved her.

Walmart Exclusive Preorder Campaign for SEA OF CHARMS

STICKERS!!! Walmart is running a preorder campaign for SEA OF CHARMS! If you preorder SEA OF CHARMS from Walmart.com via this exclusive deal, they'll include with the book a pack of 6 sticker sheets featuring images from the Spellshop series! They have a limited number of these sticker packs, so this offer will only be available while supplies last. If you're interested, you can preorder here: https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/20339724200

Big Ohio Book Con 2026

I'm headed to the Big Ohio Book Con this weekend!!! My schedule:

Friday at 8pm - Author Keynote: Sarah Beth Durst and TJ Klune, moderated by Jennifer Mandula, followed by book signing (on the Main Stage)

Saturday at 10pm - Panel: "Spells & Small Towns: The Ultimate Cozy Fiction Panel" with Sarah Beth Durst, Ashley Poston, Breanne Randall, and Erin Sterling, moderated by Molly Harper, followed by book signing (on the Main Stage)

Saturday from 2:30pm-4pm - General Admission Signing (at the Headliner Author Tables)

Sunday from 11am-12:30pm - General Admission Signing (at the Headliner Author Tables)

Hope to see you there!