An Interview with Zoë Archer
Interview conducted c. early 2010s
Introduction
Zoë Archer is an award-winning author best known for her historical and genre-blending romance novels, including Devil’s Kiss, Sweet Revenge, Skies of Steel, and Warrior. Her work frequently combines meticulous historical research with strong, unconventional heroines and emotionally driven narratives that challenge social constraints.
This interview was conducted during a period when Archer was sustaining a prolific output across multiple subgenres, including historical romance, paranormal fiction, and steampunk. The conversation explores disciplined outlining, collaborative story development, thematic intent, and the integration of historical research into character-centered storytelling.
Archer’s responses reveal a storyteller who balances intellectual rigor with emotional momentum. Her approach emphasizes preparation, collaboration, and a clear sense of purpose, treating narrative not as improvisation but as deliberate construction.
This interview is preserved as part of the Better Storytelling Archive, documenting the voices and working methods of contemporary genre creators.
ZoeArcher_Interview
The Interview
Life as a Writer
How did you get into writing?
I began writing shortly after learning to read, but I first considered writing professionally after winning a fiction contest sponsored by a literary magazine. That led to early agent interest, though at the time I was in a doctoral program in literature. I ultimately earned an MA, then an MFA from the University of Iowa, returned to Los Angeles, worked a day job, and wrote in the mornings. After querying agents and submitting manuscripts, one was accepted in 2006. Since then, I’ve published multiple novels and novellas.
When did you first realize that you have what it takes to be a writer?
I’m not sure there’s a single realization. Talent matters, but persistence and discipline are just as important. I think I truly understood it not when I won a contest, but when I received rejections and continued writing anyway.
Premise
Where do you get your ideas from?
From many places, but especially from history. I find the past endlessly rich with stories, often more compelling than the present.
How do you develop your ideas into a story?
Much of my process involves discussion with my husband, fellow author Nico Rosso. We start with an image or a “what if” and talk it through in detail, gradually shaping it through plotting and conversation.
Genre
What kind of stories do you enjoy working with?
I’ve written across several romance subgenres—historical adventure, paranormal historical, science fiction, steampunk, and straight historical. What unites them are strong heroines who operate outside social norms, and heroes who admire and respect that strength.
What genres would you like to explore in the future?
I’ve written a literary novel under my real name and would like to write more historical fiction with less emphasis on romance, though that element will likely always remain part of my work.
Structure
Do you work from an outline?
Yes. I don’t begin drafting until I have a solid outline that includes major plot beats and the emotional journey of the hero and heroine. I do deviate from the outline as I learn more about the characters and voice, but without one, I would feel lost.
Plot
How do you build your story?
Through extended discussion and questioning during the development phase. My husband often proposes elements, and I interrogate them by asking “why.” Because I work in historical settings, historical realities also shape the plot.
Character
For you, what makes a great hero—or heroine?
Drive and determination, even when characters are uncertain about what they want. Ambition creates dynamic, compelling protagonists.
If one of your characters were to describe you, what would they say?
That I should step away from the computer and leave them alone for a few days.
Setting
How much time do you spend researching the setting for your stories?
It varies by project, but it can be extensive. I’m often drawn to unfamiliar subjects, which forces deep research. For speculative genres, research takes the form of worldbuilding—establishing consistent rules that underpin the story.
What settings would you like to explore in the future?
Historical romance often focuses on the British Isles, but I’d like to continue exploring other regions and less commonly depicted periods.
Theme
Do you like to know the purpose of your story before you sit down to write it?
Absolutely. I need a clear meta-level understanding of what I’m trying to explore. Many of my stories address inequality—between genders, classes, and races—and that awareness informs both plotting and writing.
Dialogue
Do you have any favorite lines from your stories?
Yes, particularly dialogue from characters who enjoy verbal sparring. Certain lines capture seduction, wit, and defiance in ways that stay with me.
Writing Process
Do you have a routine?
I write full-time. I get up, ease into the day, and write in the mornings, then return to work after lunch. I listen to music both to establish mood and block distractions. My husband and I share an office, working side by side with headphones.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I encounter blocks during plotting rather than drafting, but I’ve never lacked new story ideas.
Story Development
How do you go about fixing a story?
I rely heavily on feedback from my husband, who serves as a trusted critique partner. We talk through problems until a solution emerges.
How do you know when to stop?
Deadlines help. I tend to be impatient to turn work in and have to remind myself to slow down and give the story the attention it deserves.
Words of Advice
What words of advice would you give to new writers?
You have to sit down and write. Writing is the only way anything gets written. Don’t stop in the face of rejection. Writing is difficult—that’s why so few people persist—but that difficulty is what makes it worthwhile.
Final Thoughts
What’s the best thing you’ve ever written?
There are moments in every book that I’m deeply proud of.
What are you working on now?
Finishing a steampunk romance series and then returning to Victorian England for a new historical series.
Closing
This interview captures Zoë Archer’s disciplined, collaborative approach to storytelling. Her reflections emphasize preparation, thematic clarity, and respect for both history and character, offering insight into how research-driven fiction can remain emotionally immediate and compelling.
Presented here as part of the Better Storytelling Archive, this conversation preserves a voice shaped by rigor, persistence, and a clear sense of narrative purpose.