High Five with Loretta Chefchaouni

An interview with the debut author of The Lustrous Dark

Welcome to High Five Author Interviews, our monthly series where we spotlight writers doing the important work of putting stories out into the world that empower readers to find healing.

Today’s High Five featured author is Loretta Chefchaouni, a former early childhood educator from Florida who writes for teens. Her fantastical tales turn grief and fear into magic and monsters and explore all the scary parts of being human within the safe space of stories. She is an alum of the Pitch Wars mentorship program, and the Boyds Mills’ (formally Highlights Foundation) Muslim Storyteller Fellowship. The Lustrous Dark is her debut novel and the first book of a duology. It will be out on May 19, 2026, from Peachtree Teen!

Loretta’s six word memoir: Searched everywhere, found it inside me.

When did you first realize telling stories was important to you?

As a child, I was exposed to traumatic experiences and environments, and through everything, books were my safe place. Reading was more than an escape; it was a survival tool. I grew to love writing, especially poetry, but I never believed I was smart enough to write a novel.

After one of my children was diagnosed with dyspraxia, which led to my own diagnosis, I started to realize that just because my brain was different didn’t mean it was wrong. My son found virtual school worked better for his learning style, and I left my job as an early childhood educator to stay home with him. At the same time, I was working through a complicated and unexpected loss and wanted to create something meaningful from the pain I was feeling.

So, I had two things: time to write, and a reason to write.

It wouldn’t be until four books and six years later that I would be accepted into the Highlights Foundation’s Muslim Storyteller Fellowship, where I discovered my writing purpose: I want to provide the children who pick up my books the same safe space I found in books growing up.

What is your current favorite book? And what others have you loved deeply along your journey?

I always worry about this question because sometimes I really love books no one else has heard of, and there are many popular books I’ve never read.

My current favorite book is The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig. And some others I have deeply loved are: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, Thorn by Intisar Khanani, A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray, My Name is a Memory by Ann Brashares, The Hazelwood by Melissa Albert, Shatter Me by Tahera Mafi, Scythe by Neal Shusterman, Zeroes by Deborah Biancotti, Margo Lanagan, and Scott Westerfeld, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and all of Ann Rice’s books.

What kind of community has sustained your writing along the way?

From the beginning, I subscribed to the idea that you miss all the shots you don’t take. I entered every writing contest and mentorship program I could find. I always learned something, even when I wasn’t accepted. The process of polishing my work and preparing the submissions was valuable in itself, but I also found encouragement and support from other writers. I am so grateful for the mentors who helped me hone my craft, but I was still missing something I needed to reach the next level. I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

It took me until that fourth book to feel confident enough to write a Muslim main character. That’s the book I submitted with my application to the Highlights fellowship, and the community I found there filled a piece of me I hadn’t realized was missing. Beyond encouragement and support, it was a community that made me feel nourished and nurtured. I don’t think I would be where I am now without my Highlights (now Boyds Mills) family.

How did you manage self-care as you wrestled with the tough topics of this book?

I’m not sure I did, at least not adequately. This book took a toll on me, and I was often forced to slow down or take breaks because of how that manifested in my body physically, but it was worth it. The Lustrous Dark has become something beautiful and powerful that I am proud to put into the world.

One thing I did learn was that some stories can’t be rushed. You have to give them the time and space they need, and they will be all the better for it. Also, the settings and side characters in The Lustrous Dark bring in elements of warmth and humor that balance out the darker subject matter. I think readers need that, but even as an author, I needed that touch of whimsy, too.

What other practices or hobbies fill your creative well?

When I’m not writing, I enjoy embarking on outdoor adventures with my two young adult sons, snuggling with my three cats, and playing Words with Friends to unwind.

BONUS QUESTION: What’s bringing you joy right now? What are you loving right now?

Over Ramadan, I started listening to lectures by Dr. Marwa Assar. She has a very gentle way of speaking and explaining the connection between faith and psychology. I’m loving her ideas about recentering our hearts over our minds and egos. So, I’m working on finding internal peace and joy, regardless of what is happening around me.

Thank you so much Loretta! We cannot wait to dive into The Lustrous Dark when it releases in May. Find more information about Loretta and her stories on her website and make sure to follow her on Instagram for updates on her debut novel.

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