Twilight Turns 20!

Celebrations, special editions, and more

Two decades ago, Forks, a tiny town on the coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, was plucked out of obscurity when Twilight author Stephenie Meyer chose it (sight unseen) as the setting for her novel. She has said she was just looking for somewhere small, rainy, and surrounded by forest when she used Google maps to zero in on the isolated community sandwiched between the Hoh Rain Forest and the Quileute Indian Reservation. 

Next month, the annual Forever Twilight in Forks Festival, held each September, will be marking a significant milestone with the franchise's twentieth birthday. This year's festival will feature celebrity appearances by actors from the beloved movie adaptations, a Q&A and book signing with author Stephenie Meyer, and other special events. Fans from around the world flock to the event to dress up as their favorite characters and visit the now-famous sites like Forks High School, Newton Hardware Store, and La Push Beach.

Twilight: A history

On the morning of June 2, 2003, Stephenie Meyer, a busy mom to three young sons, woke from a vivid dream of two young people having an intense conversation in a meadow. One of them was an average girl, the other a "fantastically beautiful, sparkly" vampire. They were discussing the challenges inherent in their burgeoning love—most notably, the vampire's strong desire to drink the girl's blood.

At some point that day, when she had a moment to herself, Meyer sat down and wrote out the details of this dream. From then on, she wrote something every day, finishing Twilight in just three months despite having very little writing experience.

Three months after that, Meyer had acquired a literary agent and landed a three-book deal with Little, Brown and Company. The editor who signed Meyer said that halfway through the reading of the manuscript, she realized that she had a future bestseller in her hands. 

The original collection

Meyer took inspiration from the classics for the original books in the series. Twilight draws from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. New Moon is based loosely on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Eclipse incorporates aspects of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Breaking Dawn draws from another Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Twilight

After moving from Phoenix, Arizona, to Forks, Washington, to live with her father, seventeen-year-old Bella finds herself involuntarily drawn to a mysterious, handsome boy, Edward Cullen, who turns out to be a vampire. Edward and Bella fall in love, but rival forces threaten their happiness and safety.

New Moon

In an effort to protect Bella, Edward and his family leave Forks. Lonely, Bella develops a strong friendship with Jacob Black, a Native American boy who can shape-shift into a wolf. Edward, now living in Italy, learns that despite his efforts, Bella is still being threatened by Victoria, a fellow vampire bent on revenge. 

Eclipse

Bella finds herself facing a choice between her friendship with Jacob and her romance with Edward—and her decision could change the fate of vampires and werewolves forever. Meanwhile, Victoria continues her quest for revenge and Bella, once again, finds herself surrounded by danger.

Breaking Dawn

Bella and Edward are now married, but their honeymoon is cut short when Bella discovers that she is pregnant. Now Bella faces an agonizing choice. Should she stay mortal and strengthen her connection to the werewolves, or leave it all behind to become a vampire?

Add to your collection

Life and Death

For Twilight's tenth anniversary, Meyer released a bold reimagining of the novel with Edward and Bella gender-swapped as Edythe and Beau.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Newly turned vampire Bree Tanner lives in terror—and must find her way out of untold danger—in this pulse-pounding novella, a companion to Eclipse.

Midnight Sun

Until now, fans have only heard Bella's side of the story. This companion novel reframes the iconic love story in Twilight from Edward's perspective.

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

No Twilight Saga collection is complete without this definitive volume, including character profiles, author insights, genealogical charts, maps, and nearly 100 full-color illustrations.

Twilight: The Graphic Novels

These award-winning manga-style graphic novels were developed in 2010 as a collaboration between Meyer and artist Young Kim.

Special editions and boxed sets

Twilight: Special Editions

Preorder one of two different collectible editions (both slated for Sept. 30 release date) of the original bestselling novel. The 20th Anniversary Edition features stunning inside cover art and a dazzling edge design.

A new vintage-inspired Collector's Edition comes with a foil-stamped slipcase; stunning new cover, interior, and endpaper art; ribbon marker; and a one-of-a-kind interactive gilded edge design. 

The Twilight Saga Complete Collection

This gorgeous paperback boxed set includes the four original novels, as well as The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and Life and Death.

Are you a Twihard? Let us know what you love about the series and how you plan to celebrate Twilight's twentieth birthday!

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon