Sarah Penner
Writing Coach
New York Times and Internationally Bestselling Author
Over 1 million copies sold
Sarah Penner is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages worldwide, and her debut, The Lost Apothecary, has been optioned by Fox Entertainment for a drama series.
Both of Sarah’s novels were chosen as main picks by Book of the Month, and The Lost Apothecary was a Book of the Year Top 5 finalist. The Lost Apothecary remained on bestseller lists for more than three months and was an international bestseller in Canada, Belgium, Sweden, and Spain. Her second book, The London Séance Society, received starred trade reviews, and LibraryJournal says ‘Penner proves herself again to be a writer to watch.’ Sarah has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and Deadline Hollywood.
Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. She is an avid speaker and regularly gives talks in front of large audiences across the United States. Sarah and her husband live in Florida.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, running, yoga, and cooking. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her local animal shelter.
If you’re writing historical fiction, a mystery or fiction with elements of magical realism, you’ll find Sarah an exciting and encouraging mentor.
When framing the idea for a new book, start by writing a strong pitch. Or said another way: write your query letter before you write the book.
—Sarah Penner
The Lost Apothecary
Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
The London Séance Society
May mercy be upon the man who finds himself the enemy of a vengeful medium…
1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.
Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves…
‘Dark, clever, and wickedly fun...’
—Erika Swyler
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