ICYMI: The Lustrous Dark is available to request on Netgalley!! Early reviews help create a pre-launch buzz and bring books to the attention of booksellers, librarians, and journalists! I (and my editor in mischief) would be so grateful if you considered reviewing TLD!💜
If you are new around here, hi, I'm Loretta! My debut, The Lustrous Dark, is a whimsical horror fantasy about a midwife’s apprentice who leaves everything behind to help her long-lost mother overcome her addiction to Snow: a deadly drug that temporarily awakens women’s ancient magic, only to be betrayed when the woman abandons her in a haunted forest.
After seeking safety with seven oddly endearing ghouls, she begins to uncover the truth about how women’s magic was stolen and the powerful men who threaten every woman in her realm.
The lush world of This Woven Kingdom + a dash of Tim Burton!
Coming out May 19 2026 from @peachtreeteen
For readers who like:
🖤Haunted forests
✨ Lush worldbuilding
🖤 fighting the patriarchy
✨ Ancient magic
🖤 toxic mothers
✨ Cinnamon roll love interests
Character art by @nadya.ez
#2026debuts #bookstagram #femaleragebooks #bookreccomendations
ICYMI: You can pr3-ord3r the hardcover edition of The Lustrous Dark now! Pr3-ord3rs signal to publishers that they should invest in authors and their books and tell booksellers to stock their titles on shelves! Plus, it's like a gift to your future self!!💜
If you are new around here, hi, I'm Loretta! My debut, The Lustrous Dark, is a whimsical horror fantasy about a midwife’s apprentice who leaves everything behind to help her long-lost mother overcome her addiction to Snow: a deadly drug that temporarily awakens women’s ancient magic, only to be betrayed when the woman abandons her in a haunted forest.
After seeking safety with seven oddly endearing ghouls, she begins to uncover the truth about how women’s magic was stolen and the powerful men who threaten every woman in her realm.
The lush world of This Woven Kingdom + a dash of Tim Burton!
Coming out May 19 2026 from @peachtreeteen
For readers who like:
🖤Haunted forests
✨ Lush worldbuilding
🖤 fighting the patriarchy
✨ Ancient magic
🖤 toxic mothers
✨ Cinnamon roll love interests
#2026debuts #bookstagram #femaleragebooks #bookreccomendations
Can you do me a favor that takes only a few minutes and is absolutely free? Please request The Lustrous Dark for your local library! Growing up, libraries were my safe space, and I would love teens to find my book there!!💜
If you are new around here, hi, I'm Loretta! My debut, The Lustrous Dark, is a whimsical horror fantasy about a midwife’s apprentice who leaves everything behind to help her long-lost mother overcome her addiction to Snow: a deadly drug that temporarily awakens women’s ancient magic, only to be betrayed when the woman abandons her in a haunted forest.
After seeking safety with seven oddly endearing ghouls, she begins to uncover the truth about how women’s magic was stolen and the powerful men who threaten every woman in her realm.
The lush world of This Woven Kingdom + a dash of Tim Burton!
Coming out May 19 2026 from @peachtreeteen
For readers who like:
🖤Haunted forests
✨ Lush worldbuilding
🖤 fighting the patriarchy
✨ Ancient magic
🖤 toxic mothers
✨ Cinnamon roll love interests
#2026debuts #bookstagram #femaleragebooks #bookreccomendations
Did you know The Lustrous Dark is a duology? Look for more info coming soon!! 😊
Author journey, publishing journey, authors of florida, ya books, horror books, book recommendations, May books, debut authors, Muslim authors
3 DAYS TO GOOOOOOO!!!!!
As authors, we draw both from imagination and experience, and often, little pieces of our hearts (sometimes bloody) and souls (sometimes sparkly) are sprinkled through our pages. Read about three of the inspirations that influenced The Lustrous Dark below!
1. Midwifery: Shay is a midwife's apprentice. I really enjoyed adding this element to the story because of my history with midwifery. I used a midwife for both of my son's births, and I used to work as a certified doula and lactation consultant!
2. Addiction: If you have seen my previous post, then you know that Shay's relationship with her addicted mother draws from my own experience of growing up with an addicted parent, making this the most personal thing I've ever written. I wanted to explore this topic in a fantasy story because I have not seen a lot of fantasy books that address real world struggles such as this. I believe that fairy tales offer a safe space where people, especially teens, can process heavy emotions.
3. Morocco: The Lustrous Dark is set in a fantasy world, with its own unique history and politics. But it is also based on Moroccan folklore, and incorporates the food, clothing, and festivals of Morocco. Morocco is a country that is very dear to me. The first time I visited it, I was immediately impressed by the hospitality, generosity, and warmth of its people. They had a light on their face that we call Noor in Islam. I didn't know that's what it was called then, because I hadn't converted yet. But as soon as I returned home, I checked out every book I could find about Islam. I wanted to know what made these people so full of light. I kept reading until eventually I converted. I hope I imparted some of this beautiful spirit in my debut. 💜
Thank you so much to @secondstorybartow for hosting my pr3ord3r campaign!! Signing books before they are mailed off today was one of the most surreal moments of my publishing journey so far. I am truly forever grateful to everyone who has believed in my writing and in this book along the way and helped me get to this point where my words will soon be in the hands of readers!!! 💜💜💜
When searching for a good signing pen, I came across a pack of black zebra clickart retractable markers at Daiso. They work SO GOOD! Unfortunately, I ran them dry while practicing my author signature (thanks, dyspraxia). At the last minute, I was scrambling, because they weren't in stock locally, and I couldn't order them online anywhere that will deliver them before my launch event!!! 😅
Luckily, I was able to pick up a multicolor pack at Walgreens this morning. I bought the whole pack, for the one black marker inside!!!😂
Anyway, I highly recommend this marker, (and that you stock up on them in advance!) 😭
Author journey, publishing journey, authors of florida, ya books, horror books, indie bookstores, may books, debut authors, Muslim authors
2 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER this Goodreads giveaway!!! My publisher is giving away ten gorgeous copies!!! Thanks to everyone (over 4k people, WHAT???) who entered so far!!!💜💜💜💜
Kid's lit books, YA books, horror books, debut authors, book reviews, writers, May books
@2026debuts
Thank you the Bulletin of the Center for Children's books for a thoughtful review of The Lustrous Dark! 💜💜
Kid's lit books, YA books, horror books, debut authors, book reviews, writers, May books
Welcome to your summer reading destinations: a haunted forest, a sentient wood, a carnivorous swamp, and a primeval woodland. To enter:
🌲 Like this post
🌲 Follow all four authors
🌲 Comment by tagging the friend you are taking with you into the trees!
🌲 Share to stories for a bonus entry (please tag lorechefwrites to make sure I see it!)
The winner will receive a signed (THB will include a signed book plate) finished copy of all four books:
The Lustrous Dark by @lorechefwrites
The Redwood Bargain by @markellegrabo
Under a Carnivore Sky by @brijett
The Hanging Bones by @zipitelle
The giveaway will run through the end of the day on May 30th. One winner will be randomly chosen. OPEN TO THE US ONLY (sorry!), and must be willing to provide me with a mailing address through DM. 💜
Okay....who wants to celebrate the debut of yet ANOTHER great local Tampa Bay author with me?!
Join me on Tuesday, May 19th to celebrate the launch of @lorechefwrites debut novel, The Lustrous Dark! I’ll be in conversation with Loretta at @secondstorybartow at 7pm and you won’t want to miss this!
Join us for the chat and stay to pick up your copy of her book, get it signed and grab a photo or two 🤩 Of course, we will also have copies of Lion of Fire, the first book in my Romantasy series, The Fire Prophecies available for purchase and signing too 🥰
Click the link in bio to register now and snag your copy of The Lustrous Dark! Can’t wait to see you there 😍
#authorevents #floridaauthors #romantasy #booksta
A little treat for your ears today! ✨✨✨
@rashazam 's voice just soothes my soul!!💜
You can pr3-ord3r the audiobook now from audible, Google Play, or libro.fm! Out on May 19th!
@prhaudio@2026debuts
To everyone who has pre-ordered a copy of The Lustrous Dark (or requested it from your library!), thank you from the bottom of my heart. My greatest hope is that you find something in this story that heals a little piece of you the way the best books do.💜
If you have been on the fence, there's still time for you to help a girl out!!!! 😉 And if a whimsical horror fantasy is not your cup of tea, please support other authors with debuts coming out this year by pre-ordering!! 💜 Follow @2026debuts to learn more about all the fabulous books coming your way!!
