Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!

Helllllo from The Writing Cave in At My Desk, Germany, post code: 21,454 (words). I’ve got my tea, my Wednesday market pastry––an apple turnover, and I’m ready. Let’s get this newsletter going!

So, as usual, I was not awake when my book news dropped from/in? Publisher’s Weekly. In my defense, I become “weird” exactly twenty-five minutes before midnight and thus go to bed to keep you all from finding that out. For instance, I’ll start imagining goofy things like pineapples battling watermelons. Pineapples should win, you know, because of the whole spiky hard shell thing and its cute little ponytail of leaves. But watermelons are, in fact, the superior fruit and I’m quite certain more people would join their side. See? Not normal thinking thoughts. Anyway. You’re not here for that, you’re here for the news I didn’t share last night. Which is...

I SOLD ANOTHER BOOK!! My eighth and third collaboration with my lovely editor, Emily Settle at Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan. Check it out:

Here’s the blurb: Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has bought A TASTE OF MEMORIES, a new cozy YA fantasy novel by Alechia Dow. The story follows a witch who allows people to relive their fondest memories by recreating recipes from their past at her magical tearoom, and a warlock who arrives on her doorstep haunted by a dangerous spirit that threatens his future. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management sold North American rights.

As you can tell, I’m entering my Cozy Black Girl Era or CBGE as I call it. There’s a reason for that: I truly believe we need more Black girls getting to be soft, cherished, silly, and quiet in children’s literature, sure, but also life. I could get into that more, I won’t right now. All I’m saying is, there’s a lot going on in the world and I don’t need to tell any of you that. With art, you respond in several ways and for me specifically, either I get angry and write dark, twisty stories or I get gentle and write whimsical magic stories. I’m trying to soothe our souls for a few hours. If I can do that, that would be amazing. And I’m hopeful Until the Clock Strikes Midnight and A Taste of Memories will. I want these books to resonate with you.

A Taste of Memories is based on my love of food nostalgia. The instant ping that happens when you bite into something delicious and it reminds you of the first or last time you ate it. Your mind will try to set the scene; you might recall the emotions you felt, the tidbits of who was there, what you were doing. In this book, you can control that; you can hand a witch the recipe and with just one taste, she can let you relive that memory completely as if you’re really there again. Maybe then you can see someone who is gone from your life who you miss terribly, you’ll see the things you forgot, make the memory stronger to think about later. Isn’t that magical? But what if that witch spent so much time recreating the past for you that she’s forgetting to make her own memories? And what if there’s a warlock whose past is sadness and whose present is slowly slipping from him? What if they met and through food and laughter, found a way to live a life worth remembering?

As with all my stories, there will be Black kids, adorable pets, FOOD (this one will make you hungry), disability rep, and a generous dollop of love. If this sounds good to you, then please add it on Goodreads. It’s coming out in Spring 2027!

Lastly, you all know Until the Clock Strikes Midnight publishes February 3, 2026! PLEASE hold onto your receipts if you preordered or are about to––I’ve got something up my sleeve. And if you can, please encourage your friends and family and libraries to get a copy.

THANK YOUUUUUU!! Okay, see ya later!