I Started A Newsletter

First of all, thanks for reading my newsletter! To learn more about me and my books, check out my website or my linktree. Now let’s get this going.

Happy New Year!

New year, new newsletter. Well, first newsletter.

I’ve been hesitant about starting one of these for a loooooong time. While I was big into blogging way back when, I couldn’t imagine anyone actually signing up to hear from me in their inbox. But the times, they are a’changing. While I’m having trouble navigating social media given the state of affairs, I’ve always struggled sharing bits of myself online. Thus, I’ve decided this might be the best method. Be warned though, I’m learning and if I’m not writing or reading, I’m baking. So expect newsletters that’ll be monthly bi-monthly or tri-monthly and recipes. At the moment, I’m making the Neapolitan Cookies from Sarah Kieffer’s 100 Cookies. They’re going to be incredible.

So, as you probably know, I’m a classically trained pastry chef (yep, four years and a BS later) with a master’s degree in Library & Info Science (because why not, am I right?), and the author of a few books featuring Black girls like me at the center: The Sound of Stars, The Kindred (not like Octavia Butler’s masterpiece obviously, just an ode to Black sci-fi. Funny story, I once went into a bookstore to sign copies of my book and the bookseller said, “YOU’RE THE OCTAVIA BUTLER?” To which I responded, “No. She was an amazing visionary whose work changed the publishing game and opened the door for many marginalized creators and…she died some time ago.” You wouldn’t believe the sigh he heaved of disappointment), A Song of Salvation, Just a Pinch of Magic, The Cookie Crumbles & Their Just Desserts—both co-authored with Tracy Badua (my friend and critique partner of almost 9 years. Have you read her books? Hop to it!), and Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, which is coming out February 4, 2026. These are middle grade mystery & contemporary fantasy, young adult science fiction & fantasy. You can buy and preorder the first six of my books anywhere you like.

In the meantime, I have a few projects I’m working on—-three of which are adult romantic comedies, one of my favorite genres. Picture it, blue bespectacled sixteen-year-old Alechia wearing Salvation Army black stirrup leggings with Golden Girl-esque pink sweaters carrying around a backpack stuffed with library books. When I wanted to be sophisticated I’d plop Philip K. Dick on my desk. People thought; wow, what an intellectual teenager. When I wanted to have real fun reading, it was Meg Cabot’s Boy Meets Girl. Don’t get me wrong, I sped through Mary Higgins Clark’s collection, read Dune, Lord of the Rings, did the classics and all that jazz, but it was Meg Cabot who brought me the most joy. Queen of Babble. The Boy Next Door. Size 12 is Not Fat. Then it was Sophie Kinsella. YA hadn’t taken off at the time but romantic comedies were everywhere. Eventually I found one of my favorites: The Last Bite: A Novel of Culinary Romance by Nancy Verde Barr. I vowed one day I’d write a foodie love story. It’s going to happen. Mark my words (in a non-threatening way).

Well, what did you think? Not bad for my first newsletter? If you contact me, you can request topics or ask questions I’ll answer on here. I’m up for craft chats and talking books!

Thank you all for signing up and taking this journey with me. Until next time,

Alechia