More Than Merhorses and Raspberry Jam: Sarah Beth Durst on Cozy Fantasy's Secret Ingredient

Winged cats, sentient spider plants, and raspberry jam? Say less. Teaming up with Sarah Beth Durst to create the first-ever officially licensed merch collection for The Spellshop was a joy from start to finish. In this interview, Sarah Beth shares what makes cozy fantasy so powerful, the character who arrived fully formed (ready to steal readers' hearts), and how joy shapes her writing process.

If you haven't visited Caltrey and the vivid world of The Spellshop, be sure to to check it out! If you already love Kiela, Caz, and their friends, head on over to our officially licensed merch collection for The Spellshop!

What was your reaction to knowing you were going to have an officially licensed merch collection for The Spellshop?

Absolutely delighted!!! 

I learned about the possibility while I was at New York Comic-Con last year—Kingdom of Threads had a booth, and I came home with a book dragon notebook, an owlbear, and a lot of excitement!

Have there been any particular delights or surprises as we’ve collaborated on the collection?

A transcript of my reaction to seeing the designs:
“Ooooooh!"
“Eeeeeeeee!”
“Ahhhh!”
“Yay!!!” 

Followed by a very loud: “EVERYONE, LOOK AT THE CAZ STICKER! LOOK AT HIM! HE’S PERFECTION! AND LOOK AT THE MERHORSE! AND THE UNICORN! AND THE WINGED CAT…” 

And everyone in my family replied, “Ooh! Eee! Ahh! Yay!!!” 

Except for my cat, Gwen, who wants to know why she can’t have wings.

Message from Kingdom of Threads: We love when our designs hit perfectly! And in all transparency, we had the exact same reaction to the Caz sticker.

Which of your characters would you hang out with for the day and what would you do?

Caz. Definitely Caz. I love my sweet, loyal, anxious, and book-loving sentient spider plant.

Usually when I create characters, I develop them over multiple drafts, but with Caz… I knew his voice right from the moment he swung with his leaves and tendrils between the library stacks.

As for what we’d do… we’d spent the day reading. I’d snack on bread, cheese, and jam, and he’d find a nice patch of soil. And we’d just read and read until the sun set over the ocean.

Kiela could come too, if she’d like. And the rest of the Pine Cone Coven. And you’re invited too!

What has it been like seeing readers discover The Spellshop? Do you have any favorite reader reactions?

It has been such a joy! I wrote The Spellshop because I wanted to write a gentle book—a book filled with kindness and enchantment (and also merhorses, winged cats, and raspberry jam). I wanted to write a book that felt like a hug. And in return, I have felt hugged by readers’ reactions. I am extremely grateful to everyone who has let these characters into their hearts! 

My favorite reader reaction, though, has to be the woman and her best friend who got matching tattoos of Caz and Meep. Very awesome.

And I am beyond excited for people to read The Enchanted Greenhouse! It’s a standalone set in the same world—different characters, different island, same cozy vibes.

Message from Kingdom of Threads: Gotta say, we absolutely love the merhorses, winged cats, and raspberry jam! So much so that they absolutely had to be a part of The Spellshop collection.

What (and who) are your biggest creative influences and inspirations?

Tamora Pierce. I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was ten years old, but I’d never met anyone who was a writer and had no clue how you became one. Around this time, my friend loaned me a copy of Alanna by Tamora Pierce, a YA fantasy about a girl who wants to become a knight in a land where only boys can become knights.

I have this crystal-clear memory of closing that book and thinking, “If Alanna can become a knight, I can become a writer.”

What are you reading, watching and/or listening to right now?

I have read some amazing books lately! Some recent favorites: The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong, The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber, Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz, and A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna.

All of them are cozy. All of them are fun. And all of them make your heart feel warm and squishy in the best way. Loved them!

We just can’t get enough whimsical, cozy fantasies right now! What are your thoughts on cozy fantasy, why we love it, and where The Spellshop fits? 

I love writing cozy fantasy! Every day, I sit down at my computer and try to pour as much joy and delight into my stories as possible. I think the world could use more joy. And kindness.

That’s really what’s at the heart of cozy fantasy: the concept that kindness is strength, not weakness, and that connection with others is the key to happiness.

Cozy fantasy is a friend (or sentient plant) sitting next to you and saying, “Everything is going to be okay. You’re not alone.” It’s a deep breath. It’s a warm hug.

It’s an escape. And I don’t use that word lightly. People talk about escape as if it’s frivolous or unimportant, but I think it’s essential. When the world is on fire… when life is difficult… when you feel stressed… I think that stepping back and taking a deep breath can sometimes be exactly what you need to have the strength to face it all again.

Shop the collection and explore more from Sarah Beth Durst!

A huge thank you to Sarah Beth Durst for taking the time to chat with us and share some insights and inspiration. You can explore the officially licensed The Spellshop collection right here on Kingdom of Threads!

Can't get enough of the cozy world of The Spellshop? Don't miss out on The Enchanted Greenhouse! Set in the same world, this book follows Terlu Perna. Does that name sound familiar? It should! She created our favorite sentient spider plant, and this is her story. Get your copy from your local indie or Bookshop.org!

Sarah Beth Durst is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded the American Library Association's Alex Award, the Libby Book Award for Best Fantasy, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.