Sarah

Penner

Bestselling Historical Novelist

IndieNext Pick

Travels from: St. Petersburg, FL

“I could hardly bear to put the book down, such was the need to know the choice each woman makes and the consequences of that choice.” — Sandi Madore, Magnolia’s Bookstore, Seattle, WA

Sarah Penner is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary which will be translated into forty languages worldwide and is set to be turned into a drama series by Fox. With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

Sarah’s second book, The London Séance Society, is forthcoming in early 2023 and is a spellbinding gothic whodunit featuring two enigmatic women who set out to solve a most unusual mystery. Written with alluring suspense and sultry prose, it is an entrancing tale that explores the blurred lines between truth and illusion and reveals the grave risks women will take to avenge the ones they love.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. She and her husband live in Florida.

Sarah's Featured Titles

The London Séance Society

Park Row |

March 7, 2023

Novel

“Sarah Penner brings history to vivid life in this atmospheric and evocative whodunnit steeped in suspense, mystery, and illusion.” –Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestseller of The Maid

From the author of the sensational bestseller The Lost Apothecary comes a spellbinding tale about truth, illusion and the grave risks women will take to avenge the ones they love.

May mercy be upon the man who finds himself the enemy of a vengeful medium…

1873. At an abandoned chateau on the outskirts of Paris, a dark’s seance 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 Seance 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…

Bestselling Authors, Female Author, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

The Lost Apothecary

Park Row |

March 2, 2021

Fiction

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Hello magazine, Oprah.com, Bustle, Popsugar, Betches, Sweet July, and GoodReads

March 2021 Indie Next Pick and #1 LibraryReads Pick

“A bold, edgy, accomplished debut ” –Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to 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.

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

Bestseller, Community Reads, Female Author, Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

A Conversation with Sarah Penner

From Day Job to Daydream: Journey to Publication

How one writer went from thirteen years in finance to being an instant New York Times bestseller.

Business Plans for Authors: Building Your Roadmap

You own your writing career. In this session, we’ll begin building a business plan. We’ll work on defining your brand and author values; identifying your competitive advantages, problems, and needs; and developing a tactical action plan to reach your goals.

Social Strategy: Platforms and Online Presence for Writers

Content and platform strategies to maximize your writing career.

Gone digital! Tech Tools for Landing a Literary Agent

A can’t-miss tech walkthrough for aspiring authors.

The Last Revision Plan You’ll Ever Need: A Writer’s Workshop

A comprehensive micro & macro approach to revising a manuscript.

Canva for Writers: Tips & Tricks for Better Book Marketing

Bring your laptops! Canva 101 for writers looking to market themselves more effectively.

Mastering the Dual-Timeline Story

Telling one story is hard enough. But two? This session will walk you step-by-step in the development of two narratives, and how to effectively layer them together to maximize suspense and keep the reader turning pages.

Unburying the Secrets of The Lost Apothecary: Poison Throughout History

True tales of poison, apothecaries, and the advent of forensic toxicology.

Sarah Penner – Southern Voices 2023

Kayleigh Tschanen-Feasel, Tiffin-Seneca Library
“Sarah told an inspiring story to a captivated crowd about the hard work and self-discipline that it takes to make your dreams come true. She is a natural in front of a crowd and is clearly passionate about what she does. Her conviction about women supporting women was particularly inspiring. I would have her as a speaker again in a heartbeat!”

Tim Paluch, Des Moines Public Library
“Sarah Penner wowed a standing-room-only crowd of 430+ people as the headlining author of the 2023 DSM Book Festival. The event served as the kickoff to the Des Moines Public Library’s annual Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) speaker series, and we could not have asked for a better author to do it. Sarah was warm and gracious with fans and hosts at every step, and treated the massive audience to a funny, educational, and inspiring conversation. Truly an event to remember for the library.”

Southern Voices Festival, 2023
“Sarah Penner is an amazing, eloquent and entertaining speaker. If you like history, mysteries, and strong female characters, then Sara Penner will be on your must-read list for years to come!”

Marlene Haywood, Events Manager, Friends of the Library of Collier County
“Our attendees loved Sarah…one of the best speakers that they have heard.”

Patricia DeGroot, Advisor, Friends of the Library of Collier County
“What a pleasure to have Sarah Penner at our first event for the season. She captured our audience from her first sentence. Sarah’s personality, her love for what she does and her appreciation of her readers was felt by everyone in the room. Thank you Sarah for being such a gracious and giving person. You certainly helped to make our event a huge success.”

Linda Hurtado Bond, Author and TV Newscaster
“Sarah kept the crowd engaged. She is smart, funny and lively and I would certainly ask her to join me again on any stage or platform.”

Alison Nissen, 2022 Florida WritersCon Conference Chair
“Sarah Penner was a featured guest at the 2022 Florida WritersCon. Our 200+ audience enjoyed an honest view of her journey from writer to best-selling author; her presentation was one of the highlights of our weekend.”

Sandi Madore, Magnolia’s Bookstore, Seattle, WA
“A wonderful melding of two timelines told by a trio of female voices. Each woman is standing at a crossroads; one is just becoming a woman, one is anticipating the end of her life, and one the end of her marriage. A small, blue apothecary bottle links the women and the timelines together. Penner skillfully guides us along the path each woman chooses. I could hardly bear to put the book down, such was the need to know the choice each woman makes and the consequences of that choice.”

Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
“A bold, edgy, accomplished debut “

Sarah’s Recent Press Clips

Sarah’s Upcoming Events

For Book Clubs

Forthcoming March 21, 2023. PREORDER HERE.

Honors, Awards & Recognition

The Lost Apothecary
Instant New York Times bestseller, debuting at #7 on the hardcover fiction list
In the works as a drama series at Fox
Book of the Month pick and Book of the Year top 5 finalist
On the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists for 3 months
On the IndieBound bestseller list for 5 months
International bestseller in Canada, Belgium, Sweden and Spain
Sold in forty territories

Notable Speaking Engagements
Florida WritersCon – October 2022 – Keynote speaker
Florida Bibliophile Society – May 2022 – Keynote speaker
Kansas Authors Dinner – February 2022 – Honorary author & speaker