Read. Write. Now.

Read. Write. Now. That’s my mantra. You can usually find me with my nose in a book or my fingers on the computer keys. And here you can find info on Layla Dog Press and Blank Slate Communications, books I've written or co-written, books I'm working on, books and other projects by family members, books I've helped publish, and books I've edited or designed or laid out or just plain, flat-out loved.

Early Readers Say:

“This is my very favorite kind of book, grounding imaginative fantasy in fascinating research. The Alchemist of Aleppo breathes fresh life into old legends. Makansi performs her own alchemy by transforming her meticulous research into a tale of undying love that spans centuries and continents. Writers from Longfellow to Trollope have already told the tale of the Luck of Edenhall, a Islamic glass beaker on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, but Makansi’s unique connections to the cup open up new windows on both Islamic luxury glassmaking and the forbidden secrets of alchemy. I loved every minute of it.” —Erica Obey, author of The Lazarus Vector

A twisty, spellbinding tale of love, both its undying light and its darkest corners. A moving exploration of what happens whenmagical alchemy offers lovers hope of rejoining each other across the centuries, and they discover, too late, the unintended sacrifices. We like to believe that love transcends time, but what if it really did?
—Judith Starkston, author of Priestess of Ishana

Are you a book blogger, reviewer, librarian, or other book lover extraordinaire? Check out THE ALCHEMIST OF ALEPPO on NetGalley now.

Available FOR PREORDER NOW!

the alchemist of aleppo

An ancient goblet unlocks the secrets
of a centuries-old love story

When Michael Samaan and Kat Musgrave meet by the display case of a fourteenth century glass goblet at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, they know immediately that they are deeply connected—to each other and to the goblet. But neither one understands what that connection means. Through a series of uncovered books and recovered memories, Michael, a British art historian, and Kat, an American geneticist, work together to peel back the layers of history—and their past lives—to find answers. Ultimately, they discover that the goblet’s mysterious maker, known in the past as the Alchemist of Aleppo, infused the glass with the essence of his and his dying wife’s souls and with the magical promise of love renewed at some future date. But the two scholars aren’t the only ones enthralled by the museum piece and the goblet isn’t the only magical object created in the alchemist’s furnace.

Spanning centuries, THE ALCHEMIST OF ALEPPO bends the space-time continuum of souls forever bound together and embodies our fascination with what science can’t explain and money can’t buy.

For fans of The Cloisters by Katy Hays, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Winter Sea by Susannah Kearsley, or The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose.

Go to NetGalley Book Page Now

Available now!

the trouble with roommates

Sometimes second chances are the best chances.

Three years after the kiss of a lifetime in a public parking lot followed by months of online and in-real-life stalking and misogynistic bullying from tech bro Gabriel Landon’s fan boys, journalist Aria Turner returns home from a year abroad in London just as the world starts to shut down due to Covid-19. Problem is, her condo has been subleased to her arch nemesis: Gabriel Landon. And just when Gabriel is getting his feet back under him, mending fences with his sister, and starting a new business in New York City, a new unwanted roommate for his subleased condo shows up: Aria Turner.

So, the man who almost ruined Aria’s life and the woman who nearly destroyed Gabriel’s career are stuck together in a shared condo, watching in horror as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolds around them. But amidst the escalating case numbers and death tolls and despite the deep-rooted animosity, the connection between them only grows stronger leading both to re-evaluate their beliefs about love at first sight, the gift of second chances, and the power of forgiveness.