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. The Lustrous Dark is her debut novel, the first in a YA fantasy duology and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Loretta is a board member of Write to Empower, an organization that supports writers who write on and through trauma and grief.

*In regards to identity, Loretta  is a white convert to Islam. She is committed to seeing more authentic Muslim representation on the shelves, but please be aware that she should not be considered for lists or awards exclusive to BIPOC writers.