S.2 Ep. 39: The Coziest Fantasy Taking Over BookTok: Sarah Beth Durst on The Spellshop

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where magic feels like a warm cup of tea, stories wrap around you like a blanket, and sometimes the smallest moments are the ones that save your heart.This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with beloved cozy fantasy author Sarah Beth Durst, the brilliant mind behind The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse. Sarah is joyful, insightful, and deeply passionate about storytelling, and we dive into the quiet power of cozy fantasy.Sarah reflects on a lifelong love of books that quite literally shaped her identity, sharing how she went from a child hauling stacks of library books home to a writer who sees storytelling as essential as food, water, and shelter. She opens up about writing from joy rather than pressure, the importance of stubbornness over talent, and why the act of writing itself is the most magical part of all. We also dive into the heart of The Spellshop, a cozy fantasy built on comfort, community, and a sentient spider plant who has stolen readers’ hearts. Sarah shares how the story began not with plot, but with a feeling — a desire to create a book that feels like a hug — and how that intention shaped every element of the world, from its gentle pacing to its sensory-rich details.Along the way, we explore Sarah’s philosophy of storytelling: that books should heal, that joy is a powerful creative force, and that cozy fantasy is not about lowering stakes, but about shifting them inward. Instead of saving the world, her stories focus on saving hearts, and in doing so, they offer readers something just as powerful.🩸 What if the most important story isn’t about saving the world, but saving yourself?🌿 Can a quiet, gentle story still carry emotional weight?☕ And what does it mean to create a world where readers can finally rest?This is a must-listen for cozy fantasy lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who believes stories should comfort as much as they captivate.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Why writing is driven by joy, not just discipline or talent. ✨ The role of stubbornness and consistency in building a writing career. ✨ How cozy fantasy emerged during a time when readers needed comfort most. ✨ The inspiration behind The Spellshop and writing stories that feel like a hug. ✨ Creating Kaz, the iconic sentient spider plant readers adore. ✨ The difference between cozy fantasy and epic fantasy pacing. ✨ The importance of sensory details in creating immersive, comforting worlds. ✨ Worldbuilding through “vibes” while still maintaining structure and rules. ✨ Expanding the Spellshop world with The Enchanted Greenhouse. CONNECT WITH US:🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill📚 Sarah Beth Durst – @sarahbethdurst✨ If this episode felt like a warm hug, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.