Tembi Locke Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Tembi Locke

Tembi Locke is an American writer who has built a career across books, television, and film. She is the author of a New York Times bestselling memoir, and she has also worked as an actor and a producer. Her work grows out of a real interest in staying close to the people who read or watch her stories. That interest gives her writing a warm and grounded feel.

One of Locke’s clear strengths as a writer is how she pulls readers into a story without making it feel forced or complicated. She has a natural way of building a narrative that feels both true and entertaining, so people from different countries and backgrounds find something to enjoy. Her voice on the page is steady and easy to follow, and she avoids overly fancy or dramatic language. That simplicity, combined with her energy as a storyteller, makes her work resonate with a very wide audience.

Locke does not need to raise her voice or pile on heavy emotion to keep someone reading. Instead, she uses a direct and friendly tone that feels just as fresh today as it will years from now. Her skill for making a memoir compelling without being flashy has earned her a loyal set of readers around the world. That balance of truth, warmth, and clear writing is what keeps her stories alive in so many people’s hands.

She entertains readers around the world by shaping her real life memories into stories that read like a well paced novel. She does not just list events or give a dry report of what happened. Instead, she focuses on small, vivid moments that carry big feelings, such as a shared meal or a quiet conversation. This approach keeps the reader curious and invested, turning a personal history into something that feels universal and fun to follow.

Looking ahead, Tembi Locke shows no sign of slowing down. She has hinted at new projects in both writing and television. Fans can likely expect more memoirs or scripts that carry her signature warm and truthful style. The future seems bright and full of stories from her.

Early and Personal Life

As a young person, Tembi Locke found an early interest in reading and writing. Like many future authors, she spent time with books that opened up new worlds and ideas. That love of stories helped shape her path toward becoming a writer later in life.

Locke has drawn inspiration from the people closest to her. She lived and worked in Los Angeles, California with her husband, a Sicilian chef named Rosario Gullo. After he passed away from cancer in 2012, she continued to grow as an author by channeling her experiences into her work.

She met a new partner named Robert in 2016, and the two married in 2020. Throughout these life changes, Locke has kept writing as a steady part of her journey. Her growth as an author comes from staying open to real life, with all its ups and downs, and turning those moments into honest stories for others to read.

Writing Career

Tembi Locke began her writing career with her memoir titled From Scratch. This book came out on April 30, 2019 and told the story of her love with her Italian husband and the grief she carried after his early death. The memoir became the foundation for her work as an author and reached many readers around the world.

Later, her book was turned into a limited series for Netflix. Producer Reese Witherspoon and the writer Marguerite MacIntyre helped bring the story to the screen with actress Zoe Saldaña in the lead role. Locke continues to write as an author today, and she has more work ahead of her in the future.

From Scratch

Tembi Locke is the author of the memoir “From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home.” The book was published on April 30, 2019. Simon and Schuster served as the publisher for this work.

The story begins when actress Tembi meets a professional chef named Saro on a street in Florence. His traditional Sicilian family does not approve of the marriage because she is a Black American woman, but the couple moves forward anyway. They build a happy life in Los Angeles, adopt a baby girl, and later reconcile with his family just as he faces a serious illness. The memoir then follows three summers Tembi spends in Sicily with her daughter, where she finds comfort in her mother in law’s food, her husband’s hometown, and the memories of their romance.

Anyone who picks up this book will find a warm and honest story. They will likely enjoy how it moves between love, loss, and small daily comforts. The writing feels personal without being too heavy or dramatic. It is a good choice for anyone who wants a real life tale that still reads like a gentle journey.

Someday, Now

Tembi Locke is the author of the audiobook memoir “Someday, Now: A Memoir of Family, Reclaiming Possibility, and One Sicilian Summer.” This work was published on September 23, 2025. Simon and Schuster Audio Originals is the publisher behind this audiobook release.

Tembi Locke has long cared deeply about family, whether building one, holding one together, or growing within one. She has known many kinds of change in her life, including divorce, adoption, widowhood, and remarriage, but in the summer of 2023, another big shift unsettled her. Her only daughter Zoela was leaving for college, so Tembi rented a house by the sea and flew to Sicily. The memoir follows that sun filled summer as she searches for meaning in big places like the Tyrrhenian Sea and small ones like her late mother in law’s kitchen, with her daughter and later her new husband Robert by her side.

Readers who enjoy honest stories about family will find a lot to like here. The book follows a mother navigating change with warmth and a sense of adventure. It does not hide the hard moments but keeps a hopeful and grounded tone. This is a good pick for anyone who wants a real life journey that feels both personal and welcoming.