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!

 

Pgh Book Fest 2026

Pittsburgh friends, I'm on my way to Pgh Book Fest!!! On Sat 5/30, I'll be on the "Wings and Whimsy: Cozy Fantasy" panel at 2:30pm in the Lecture Hall, followed by a signing at 3:30pm in the tent outside the Carnegie Library. Hope to see you there! 

Cover Reveal for THE IMAGITORIUM

COVER REVEAL!!! Super excited to share with you the cover and purple sprayed edges of my forthcoming kids' book, THE IMAGITORIUM, a middle-grade fantasy about a girl and her imaginary friend who set off to save a magical factory full of fantastic creatures! Think Willy Wonka meets Howl's Moving Castle meets Build-A-Bear for imaginary friends! Huge thanks to the wonderful cover artist, Alessia Jon Trunfio, and everyone at Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan who graced my book with this gorgeous cover! THE IMAGITORIUM comes out on 3/2/2027 and is available for preorder now!

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250427540/theimagitorium/

THE FARAWAY INN is a #1 New York Times Bestseller!!!

INCREDIBLE NEWS!!! My editor just called to tell me that my YA cozy fantasy THE FARAWAY INN hit #1 on the New York Times YA Paperback Bestseller List!!! This is a monthly list, so it covers all of April! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who read, shared, and told your friends about this book! And huge thanks to my agent Andrea Somberg and my editor Lydia Gregovic, who believed in this book before anyone else did, and the incredible team at PRH/Delacorte whose hard work made this possible! I published my first YA book in 2009. THE FARAWAY INN is my ninth YA book and my first YA to hit the NYT list. To hit at #1 is an unbelievable dream come true, and I am beyond grateful.

One Book, One Borough

Massachusetts friends! A little while back, I was contacted by four libraries in central Massachusetts -- Northborough (where I grew up), Marlborough, Westborough, and Southborough -- with the great honor that they had selected my book, THE SPELLSHOP, as their "One Book, One Borough" community read across all four boroughs! They've been hosting dozens of programs related to the themes of the book, and this Thursday, May 7, at 7pm, I'll be doing a fireside-style chat and book signing at Whitcomb Middle School in Marlborough, MA as the culmination of this four-borough joint venture. I'm so grateful to the wonderful librarians of my hometown(s) for this fantastic honor, and I'm so excited for Thursday night! This free event is open to all, so please join me! If you'd like to attend, registration is requested:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/one-book-one-borough-author-talk-and-book-signing-with-sarah-beth-durst-tickets-1983478058266

Hope to see you there!!!

SEA OF CHARMS Book Tour!

BOOK TOUR!!! I'm thrilled to announce that I'm going on book tour at the end of July to celebrate the launch of SEA OF CHARMS, the third magical adventure in the Spellshop series! I'll be visiting incredible bookstores in Long Island, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Indiana, Denver, Los Angeles, and Portland, in conversation with Aamna Qureshi, Seth (dramakingbooks), Kate Dramis, Rebecca Thorne, Dahlia de la Vega (ofpagesandprint), and Sarah Hawley! I can't wait! Many events are ticketed, so be sure to reserve your spot!

http://sarahbethdurst.com/appearances.htm

Independent Bookstore Day

Hope everyone had a wonderful Independent Bookstore Day!!! I had a blast signing books with Jen Calonita and Tessa Bailey at Northport Books in Northport, NY!

THE FARAWAY INN Book Tour

I had the most amazing time on book tour!!! Thank you to all the readers who joined me on this adventure! I loved meeting you, chatting with you, and celebrating THE FARAWAY INN with you! And thank you to all the wonderful booksellers, my incredible conversation partners, and the awesome people at Delacorte for making this tour so special! I will treasure these memories forever!

 

 

THE FARAWAY INN is a USA Today and #1 Indie Bestseller!!!

Incredible news!!! THE FARAWAY INN hit the Indie bestseller list at No. 1!!! And the USA Today bestseller list at No. 42! (Fingers crossed for the NYT YA Paperback list, which comes out at the end of the month.) I'm overcome with joy and gratitude. Thank you all so much!!!

Happy UK Book Birthday to THE FARAWAY INN!!!

Today is the UK Pub Day for THE FARAWAY INN!!! Happy Book Birthday, UK editions! Pictured is the UK hardback and the export paperback. Check out those edges! I'm so excited for this book to be in the hands of readers across the pond and beyond!

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/sarah-beth-durst/the-faraway-inn/9781035081240

THE FARAWAY INN is out in the world!!!

Happy book birthday to my YA cozy fantasy, THE FARAWAY INN!!!

THE FARAWAY INN is about a  sixteen-year-old girl who, after a devastating heartbreak, decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great-aunt manage her quaint and somewhat rundown Vermont inn -- but then discovers that this fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret.

I wrote this book because I believe everyone deserves a magical escape filled with kindness, comfort, wonder, friendship, love... and a lot of cake! And I wrote it to be a reminder that even on days when it feels as if every door has slammed shut, there's still another door out there somewhere to walk through, even if you don't know how to open it yet.

Thanks so much to everyone at Delacorte and Penguin Random House for bringing this book to life and for gracing it with gorgeous cover art by Lulu Chen (now Lulu Heenan) and glorious sprayed edges! I loved writing this book, and I am beyond excited that it's out in the world!

Happy reading! And welcome to the Faraway Inn!! Your room is ready...

http://sarahbethdurst.com/FarawayInn.htm

B&N Preorder Sale

Barnes & Noble is having a huge preorder sale that is perfectly timed for the release of THE FARAWAY INN!!! Preorder THE FARAWAY INN and/or SEA OF CHARMS on BN.com now through 3/26 to save at least 25%! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-faraway-inn-sarah-beth-durst/1147793835?ean=9798217024308

BookCon 2026 Schedule

Planning your BookCon? I'll be there! Here's my BookCon schedule! Hope to see you!

THE FARAWAY INN Book Tour

So excited for THE FARAWAY INN BOOK TOUR!!! Counting down the days! Only 11 days to go! http://sarahbethdurst.com/appearances.htm

Awesome Con 2026 Schedule

So excited for Awesome Con this weekend!! Here's where to find me:

Fri 3/13 at 1:15pm Panel: "Cozy Reads & Romance Fireside Chat"
Fri 3/13 at 3:45pm Signing at Awesome Con Bookstore
Fri 3/13 at 7:30pm Luminary Ball

Sat 3/14 at 4:15pm Panel: "Sidekicks & Sidequests"
Sat 3/14 at 5:30pm Signing at Awesome Con Bookstore

Sun 3/15 at 1:00pm Panel: "Plot & Pacing"
Sun 3/15 at 2:15pm Signing at Awesome Con Bookstore

Hope to see you there! 

http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/appearances.htm 

Kiela and Caz Plush!!!

PLUSH REVEAL!!! I am unreasonably excited to share that Youtooz has created an absolutely adorable plush of KIELA + CAZ from THE SPELLSHOP!!!!! I lack the words to express how happy this makes me! Goes on sale this Monday 3/9 on Youtooz.com for four weeks only!!!

Announcing THE IMAGITORIUM!!!

NEW BOOK DEAL!!! I'm super excited to announce that I sold a new book! For kids! Welcome to THE IMAGITORIUM! Coming in March 2027.....

THE FARAWAY INN Book Tour

BOOK TOUR!!! I'm so excited to announce that I'm going on book tour for THE FARAWAY INN!!! Starting on pub day, March 31, I'll be visiting wonderful bookstores in St. Louis, Orlando, Charlotte, Boston, Fairfax, Baltimore, New York, and Long Island, joined by incredible conversation partners: Jaysen Headley, Beth Revis, Lydia Gregovic, Diana Peterfreund, Shannon J. Spann, Brigid Kemmerer, Chloe Gong, and Jen Calonita! I can't wait! Many events are ticketed, so be sure to reserve your spot!

http://sarahbethdurst.com/appearances.htm