Alissa Baxter was born in South Africa, and attended St Anne's Diocesan College in Hilton, Kwa-Zulu-Natal. She continued her studies at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, attaining a first class Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and French, before furthering her French studies at the Alliance Francaise in Durban and the Eurocentre in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Alissa then went on to work for Emirates Airlines and was stationed in Dubai. Alissa returned home in 2001 to pursue her first love of writing, before leaving for London where she carried out research for her next novel. Alissa Baxter currently lives in South Africa. The Dashing Debutante is her first novel.