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Loretta Chefchaouni
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

The Lustrous Dark is the first in a YA fantasy duology inspired by Moroccan folklore, combining the lush world of This Woven Kingdom with a dash of Tim Burton.

A midwife's apprentice risks her future to save her birth mother from an addiction to Snow, a deadly drug that temporarily awakens women dormant magic. But when she's betrayed and...

A Thousand Nights

Summer 2026

Short Story Announcement!

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

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