Storyteller: Loretta Chefchaouni

Loretta Chefchaouni lives in Florida with her husband, two young adult children, and two cats, all of whom she adores though she’s allergic to at least three. A former early childhood educator, she now spends her days writing young adult books with a little creepiness and a lot of heart. Her novels have placed in competitions such as Revpit (2018 winner), WriteMentor Children’s Novel Award (2019 shortlist) LERA’s The Writer award (2020 finalist), and she is an alum of the PitchWars mentorship contest (2020).

How will Muslim children see themselves in your stories?

“I want them to see characters who gain strength from their faith and are out there being mold breakers and the heroes of their stories, while also dealing with human issues that are relatable on a wide scope.”