I went into Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois, not remembering the synopsis. I just knew that the story was picked up by Left Unread, an imprint at Bindery Books, and its owner, Michael LaBorn, is widely known for uplifting stories that challenge the systems as we know them. How exciting it was to read and be dropped into an immersive world of the open seas, pirates, queerness, Haitian mythologies, and revolution. The story took control of my life and thoughts for the better part of a week, culminating in a day-long session where I locked myself in my room, read furiously, and did not speak to a single soul. The ending is that good, that powerful, that adventurous. And so, after finishing the story, I promptly asked Jean-Francois for an interview, and they said yes! I truly hope you, dear reader, enjoy this interview and that it inspires you to pick up Devil of the Deep if you haven’t already.
SN: If you want to see me gush about this story, you can watch the mini-review reel here!
1. What inspired you to create this queer story of resistance and religion and Haitian folklore and place it on the Open Seas with pirates and mermaids?
Writing Devil of the Deep was my gift to myself after experiencing professional burnout as an educator. I decided, during a really tough school year, that I needed something for myself, so I started outlining a fun little sapphic pirates and mermaids adventure. I’ve always been drawn to the sea and the freedom that both pirates and mermaids represent. Then, as I was reading up on Caribbean mermaid myths, I discovered mermaids in Haitian vodou mythology and that opened the door to my incorporating elements of my own culture into the story. The more I read, the more the story kept coming together in my mind. I read about the Haitian Vodou ceremony that consecrated the Haitian Revolution, about how Haitian Vodou was suppressed in favor of Christianity, about Haitian pirate queen, Jacquotte Delahaye. I spent so many years believing there was nothing magical about my own country and when I finally found the magic, I wanted to make sure the rest of the world could see it, too!
2. I know you are an educator, but what led you to become a writer?
The two paths have run parallel for me for as long as I can remember. Because of my rocky childhood, I craved stability but my creativity also needed a home. I remember coming home from elementary school and pretending to be my teacher but embellishing actual events with more elaborate and dramatic scenarios for my unfortunate students. When I got to be old enough to start seriously thinking about careers, I didn’t hesitate to put teacher on the list but it took me a long time to see writing as a legitimate path. It was so personal that I didn’t want anyone to know about it, but, at the same time, I dreamed of recognition. Writing and not publishing felt like trying to walk against the pull of a giant rubber band around my waist. Eventually, I had to give in.
3. What was it like going from the self-published work that went viral on TikTok to working with Left Unread at Bindery Books?
Self-publishing Devil of the Deep and doing the work to get it in the hands of thousands of readers remains one of the greatest accomplishments of my life and my dream come true. Working with Left Unread Books and Bindery Books to republish has been the wildest extension of that dream because I didn’t even know it was possible! I would have been happy to self-publish for the rest of my career but getting a taste of the traditional publishing world has taught me so many valuable lessons about publishing and how to advocate for myself. One big lesson I learned was to take myself and my writing seriously. No one has time for me to work through my insecurities when putting a book out. It sounds harsh but the confidence has to come from me and I have to know exactly what I want, even if that makes me incredibly uncomfortable.
4. Pearl is a great example of how influential the system is, even when the home actively works to dismantle it. As an educator, what are some things that folks can do to lessen the system’s influence and increase critical thinking?
One of my favorite quotes is “The mark of an educated person is the ability to entertain an idea without accepting it.” It’s how I try to run my classroom and I firmly believe if more people lived by these words, we’d be better off as a society. We have to be able to evaluate the messages we receive before accepting them as truth. Start with children. This may be a controversial idea in some circles but I think it’s fine for children to ask questions about the things their adults tell them. Some see it as disrespect. I see it as practice for existing in a world where marginalized folks are often manipulated into acting against their own best interests. When you allow a child to question you, you give them practice in evaluating the legitimacy of the messages they are receiving which will help them more easily discern truth from misinformation when they are older.
5. What future do you envision, and how have you ensured that the audience knows where you stand?
Self-determination is very important to me. I spent ten years allowing a religious organization to determine not just the trajectory of my life but my eternal afterlife as well! No one should have that kind of power over anyone. I envision a future in which everyone involved in childrearing does so with the understanding that parenting is love and care so that the child can become their own person, rather than fulfilling the desires of the caregivers. I envision a future where people’s lives are not subject to the beliefs of others. I envision a future in which people accept each others’ differences even if we don’t understand them. I envision a future in which we all lead with empathy.
6. Devil of the Deep is a fantastic standalone, but it does leave an opening for more exploration. Will you write in this universe again?
Oh my gosh, yes! It might take me a while because book burnout is real, but I will be writing more books in this series. Between you and me (and everyone reading this) I’ve been noodling around with the idea of a prequel novella centering Wade and Rain.
7. The action in Devil of the Deep is chair gripping. I inhaled the last section without breaks, ignored all my adult responsibilities, and felt rejuvenated when I finished the book. The myths, the fight scenes, the action. I was LOCKED IN. What was that process like for writing that last section of the story?
It was excruciating! I had to write it so slowly, partially because I was recovering from my hysterectomy and sitting up was a challenge, but also because there was so much coming to a head in those last few chapters and I didn’t want anything to fall flat. So, I took every moment apart in my mind and lived in it for days at a time. I wanted to make sure the story ended in a way that was both exciting and satisfying.
8. I love that you don’t hold the reader’s hand, and everything is normalized. From the Haitian Creole to the amazingness of your queer characters. I don’t have a question here. It just made me smile, especially Lu’s point of view.
I’m so glad! I don’t like to have things explained to me as much as I enjoy finding them out for myself, like little puzzles. I like to think that’s how I write books. I will give you everything you need, but not all at once and not without making you do some work.
9. What is your definition of rest, and how do you apply it to your life?
Rest is anything that restores me after an ordeal. I am a workaholic in the purest sense of the word. My brain is, at times, addicted to the way getting work done feels and it, unfortunately, takes me some time to switch from seeking to simply enjoying. I’m getting better at picking up on the cues that my body sends me to let me know it’s time to rest, though. What I do to rest depends on what has exhausted me. If it’s teaching, I’ll write. If it’s writing, I’ll read for pleasure. If it’s reading for work, I’ll craft. If it’s life in general, I’ll spend time with my loved ones. Very rarely do I sit still.
10. What is something about the story that folks should know that will help them create a better and deeper connection as they read?
Devil of the Deep is my most ambitious writing project to date because everything in this story is intentional. There are no stray details. Every decision, from the color of Pearl’s scales to the names of the Fleet lieutenants who become captains with Lu, holds some significance to the world, if not the story itself, and leaves a door open for more storytelling. I have every intention of walking through as many of those doors as I can as I continue to write in this world.
Falencia Jean-Francois’ Bio:
Falencia Jean-Francois is an author and educator living in Pittsburgh with their wife, two cats, and sassy golden doodle. Their debut queer, Haitian, pirate fantasy adventure and indie hit, Devil of the Deep, will be re-released through Left Unread Books by Bindery Books on April 7, 2026.
When they aren’t working, you can find Falencia taking turns DMing one-shot adventures with their wife, devouring books, and playing The Sims.
You can buy Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois by clicking on the bookshop image below or directly through Bindery Books. The button below is a Bookshop affiliate code that helps power this website and support the author!
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