Loretta Chefchaouni

Author

Loretta Chefchaouni

Loretta Chefchaouni is a former early childhood educator from Florida who writes for teens. Her fantastical tales turn grief and fear into myth and monsters and explore all the scary parts of being human within the safe space of stories. She is made of coffee stains and cat fur, and if you were to cut her open, you'd find a marshmallow center. The Lustrous Dark is her debut novel.

Books

The Lustrous Dark

Peachtree Teen | Summer 26

For fans of Sabaa Tahir and Guillermo del Toro comes The Lustrous Dark, a sweeping YA fantasy inspired by a Moroccan folktale, in which a young midwife’s apprentice rises up to take back the power that’s been stolen from women.

Orphaned as a baby, Shay has spent her life training as the midwife’s apprentice. Her role grants her stability, yet...

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A Thousand Nights

Fall 2026

Short Story Announcement!

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Praise

Thanks, Loretta! I trust no one!

– Zaynah Q.

One of the most compulsively readable books I've ever read.

– Nadirah A.

Lush and visceral! I love how you infuse religion into your stories in a way that feels authentic and relevant to the plot and characters.

– Sarah W.

Latest Updates

June 22, 2025

Book deal announcement!

I'm so excited to announce that my debut novel, The Lustrous Dark, will be out Summer 2026 from Peachtree Teen.