We chat with author Samantha Joyce about Not Today, Satan, which follows the Prince of Darkness’s only daughter―a seventeen-year-old born and raised in Hell, destined to inherit the throne, and constantly enduring the (literal) eternal moans and screams of souls who had it coming.
Hi, Samantha! What inspired you to write Not Today, Satan?
I’ve been fascinated by Dante’s Inferno since we read a single canto of it in high school. I asked my teacher if I could borrow her copy of the book so I could read all of it. Now, I own six different translations.
Dante’s take on Hell and how the punishment fits the sin was what really piqued my interest. I wanted to write my own take on that. But also, being a romantic at heart, I wanted to write a cute little rom-com. Then I thought, “What if I combined the two ideas?” And thus, my quirky little trip through Hell book was born.
What do you hope readers will take away from Not Today, Satan?
Devica really struggles with her identity and what is expected of her as the daughter of the devil. She literally fights her demons at every turn and has to decide what she wants to do with her life beyond what is expected of her.
This is something I struggled with as a teen, and I feel like many young people are always battling what it means to be themselves in a world that tries to tell you what you should look like, listen to, watch and read. Social media and our algorithms constantly play into that, trying to dictate our lives.
I hope readers have a great time with this book. That they laugh a lot, maybe cry a little, stay up late to get to the next chapter, and escape their every day. But most of all, I hope they learn along with Devica that it’s okay to be yourself and want to follow your own dreams. That what makes you unique is what makes you special.
Did you have to do any special research while writing book?
I read Dante’s Inferno. A lot.
I also went to Los Angeles—where a large portion of the book takes place—and visited all the sites in the book. I really like being able to write about places I’ve seen in person, rather than just viewed in photographs. There is a particular park that features heavily in the book, and I stayed there a long time, taking photos and really feeling what it was like to be in that space.
Describe Not Today, Satan in 5 words.
Romantic comedy set in Hell.
What are you currently working on?
I’m hard at work on the sequel to Not Today, Satan. I’m so excited to visit with these characters again that have been such a huge part of my life for so long. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
