What is the title of your latest release?
THE DEVIL SHE KNOWS
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A down-on-her-luck pastry chef makes a deal with a crafty demon to win back her ex-girlfriend after a proposal gone awry, only to discover the girl of her dreams might be the devil she knows.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
The book primarily takes place in New York City, though there is a scene that takes place in the third circle of Hell and another that takes place in Louisiana. But more specifically, several key scenes take place in an elevator. It’s where Sam, the protagonist, and Daphne, the demon love interest, first meet. The book takes place over a handful of hours, so I wanted a consistent place where Sam and Daphne would meet after each of Sam’s—failed—wishes. And I wanted the setting to feel otherworldly, to serve as a bridge between Sam’s life in the city and Daphne’s in Hell. The book touches on the concept of liminal spaces and how supernatural creatures sort of thrive in those spaces and so a magical elevator seemed fitting. Also, shows like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie were two inspirations for the overall vibe of the book, and so the inside of the elevator is a nod to Jeannie’s bottle.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I would! Sam is a super talented pastry chef, so I’d love nothing more than to get together and have her bake something delicious. She also has two cats, Nacho and Pumpkin, and I’m a huge cat lover, so we have that in common.
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Stubborn, romantic, loyal.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I love research, it’s one of my favorite parts of the plotting process, and I did a ton of it for The Devil She Knows. I love cooking and baking, but the dishes that Sam makes were new to me, as were a few of the pastry techniques.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I try to wait until I’m totally done, otherwise I’d probably never finish drafting.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Croissants! Especially pistachio croissants. Honestly, anything pistachio. I’m obsessed.
Describe your writing space/office!
I’m super flexible with where I write. I most often write at home and it’s probably not great for my posture, but I’m usually writing from my bed or my couch. But I also find my daily walks to be inspiring, so I’ll jot down dialogue in the notes app on my phone when I’m out and about. I’ve written whole scenes that way.
Who is an author you admire?
I am in awe of Nora Roberts.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Twilight. That was the first fandom I ever wrote fanfiction for and if I hadn’t, I might not have considered, many years later, writing original fiction.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I first got the idea for The Devil She Knows back in, I want to say, late 2021 or early 2022. But I had other books contracted and scheduled, so I wasn’t able to put the proposal for it together until early 2024. I sent the sample pages and synopsis to my agent, and she loved it, so we went on sub to editors in late February. After a whirlwind week of video calls, we ended up in an 11-imprint auction. It was such a pinch me moment, because I was so excited about the book, but paranormal was a new direction for me, so it was really affirming that so many editors were interested.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romance. Contemporary, historical, paranormal, I’m not picky about subgenres. I do love to read to horror, too.
What’s your favorite movie?
I don’t know how I’m supposed to pick just one! So, I’ll just list a few favorites—The Mummy, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Scream, Knives Out, Fools Rush In, and Gone Girl.
What is your favorite season?
Fall. I’m not the biggest fan of hot weather, so I love when the temps start to drop and the leaves change, and I can actually wear my favorite sweaters. And I love autumnal foods—roasted root vegetables, pumpkin spice, apple anything.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
My favorite way to celebrate would be with loved ones and a lot of really phenomenal food. If I could travel somewhere fun, that would be amazing.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
The Hunting Wives on Netflix. There’s only one season so far, but those episodes were WILD. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something sapphic and you support women’s rights and wrongs.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
This is such an impossible question because I just really love food, so narrowing it down is tricky. I’d probably have to say Italian, but Thai would be a close second.
What do you do when you have free time?
When I’m not reading, I love to get out and explore the city, try new restaurants, go to museums, and explore new places.
What can readers expect from you next?
PLAYING FOR KEEPS, my next contemporary romance releases on January 6, and I have another paranormal romance coming out in the fall of 2026.
A down-on-her-luck woman makes a deal with a crafty demon to win back her ex-girlfriend after a proposal gone awry, only to discover the girl of her dreams might be the devil she knows, from nationally bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.
Samantha Cooper is having a day from hell.
In less than 24 hours, her life has unraveled, leaving her single and with nowhere to live. Adding insult to injury, she’s trapped in an elevator with a gorgeous woman claiming to be a demon.
Daphne is not at all what Samantha expected from someone claiming to be an evil supernatural entity. She’s pretty, witty, dressed in pink, and smells nice. And she’s here to offer Samantha a deal she can’t refuse. Six wishes in exchange for one tiny trade—Samantha’s soul. There’s a glaring loophole in their contract, one Samantha fully intends to exploit so she doesn’t fork over her soul. After all, she only needs one wish to win her ex back.
Hell-bent to gather the last of the one thousand souls she needs so that she can be free of her own devilish deal, Daphne grants each of Samantha’s wishes . . . with a twist, so that Samantha is forced to make another.
As Samantha’s wishes dwindle and Daphne offers her glimpses into the life she thought she wanted, the unlikely pair grows close. Perhaps the girl of Samantha’s dreams is actually the stuff of nightmares, but Samantha and Daphne will have to outsmart the Devil himself if they want a chance at happily ever after.
Fantasy | Romance Paranormal [Berkley, On Sale: October 21, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593952504 / eISBN: 9780593952511]
Alexandria Bellefleur is a bestselling and award-winning author of swoony contemporary romance often featuring loveable grumps and the sunshine characters who bring them to their knees. Her debut novel, Written in the Stars, was a 2021 Lambda Literary Award winner and a 2020 winner of The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction.
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