I’m pretty excited about my featured author today. She’s Zoe Archer, and she’s the definition of a rising star in the romance genre. Zoe is not only talented, hard-working, and way smart, she writes innovative, adventurous romance that both readers and critics have clutched to their collective bosoms with enthusiasm. And no wonder – I fell in love with Zoe’s writing just from reading her bio!
From that bio, you will learn that Zoe has been writing since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Many years and many stories later, she found herself in a PhD program for 18th century English Literature, before deciding that what she really wanted to do was write fiction. Her decision was partly influenced by the fact that she couldn’t read French or Latin, a requirement for attaining her doctorate. If I may be allowed to digress for a moment, I understand EXACTLY how Zoe felt. I, too, was once a PhD candidate in 18th century English Literature, and the thought of learning both French and Latin made me weep. Like Zoe, I also left grad school and…ahem. I guess I should really get back to Zoe.
Anyway, Zoe eventually found herself in the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. She graduated with an MFA, moved back to L.A., and began writing. Nose was applied to grindstone, books were sold, and she eventually made her way to Kensington Publishing, where a canny editor snapped up her totally cool adventure/romance series, Blades of the Rose.
Zoe describes her books as “high adventure.” In her own words, the Blades are:
“Exotic settings. Thrilling action. Sexy men in waistcoats and tall boots. Kick-ass women who carried rifles and knew how to use them. Diabolical inventions made of brass, wood and leather. And a bit of magic, just to keep things really interesting.”
Zounds! Indiana Jones meets Victorian England – I am so there!
Zoe has received great critical acclaim for this series, including a Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week and starred review for Scoundrel, and a prestigious RITA nomination for Rebel.
Isn’t that a fabulous cover? Honestly, how can you resist it! Here’s the blurb for Rebel:
On the Canadian frontier in 1875, nature is a harsh mistress. But the supernatural can really do you in…
A LONE WOLF
Nathan Lesperance is used to being different. He’s the first Native attorney in Vancouver, and welcome neither with white society nor his sometime tribe. Not to mention the powerful wildness he’s always felt inside him, too dangerous to set free. Then he met Astrid Bramfield and saw his like within her piercing eyes. Now, unless she helps him through the harsh terrain and the harsher unknowns of his true abilities, it could very well get him killed…
AND THE WOMAN WHO LEFT THE PACK
Astrid has traveled this path before. Once she was a Blade of the Rose, protecting the world’s magic from unscrupulous men, with her husband by her side. But she’s loved and lost, and as a world-class frontierswoman, she knows all about survival. Nathan’s searing gaze and long, lean muscles mean nothing but trouble. Yet something has ignited a forgotten flame inside her: a burning need for adventure, for life—and perhaps even for love…
There are four wonderful books and a novella in the Blade series, so be sure to check out Zoe’s website for all the details. While you’re visiting her website, take a look at her other books, including her Science Fiction novels and her backlist.
For my readers, Zoe will give away a copy of her RITA nominated book, Rebel. Since Zoe’s books often take place in exotic settings, let’s talk about that. Do you like historical romances that take the reader to settings like Mongolia, Canada, or Egypt? Or do you prefer the glittering confines of the London ballroom and the gentility of the English countryside? One person who comments will win a copy of Rebel.
And be sure to stop by the blog on Dec. 8. Zoe will be back here to talk about her new series, The Hellraisers.
I prefer historical romances and LOVE them set in England or The Highlands. However, I enjoy other locals including the American West, Australia, LOL… etc. Your books sound like fun exciting reads! I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the opportunity.
Betty, I think many readers wish for more exotic locales in their historical romances. I’m happy that at least a few publishers are listening.
Betty, I’ve always wanted to visit and write about Australia, ever since I saw “The Man From Snowy River.”
Oooh I love “The Man From Snowy River!” That made me fall in love with Australia as well!
The book sounds really fascinating! I love all kind of places, but it is always nice to visit a more exotic place. Because Regency England or the Highlands are place that are very often used for historical romance settings.
Yes, Regency England and the Highlands are the usual settings. They’re great, but I also love romances set in other parts of Europe, especially Italy. And I love Westerns.
Don’t get me wrong. I love to read about the Highlands and Regency England, but sometimes it is really nice to learn more about other countries as well. Would love to see more Australia or Asian ones.
Thanks, Danny! It’s nice to have a change of pace every now and then!
love the cover !!!
reginamayross@gmail.com
It’s great, isn’t it?
Thanks! The Kensington art department did a great job.
I like to travel in the books I read, maybe because I rarely do and I am not adventurous at all. If anyone is going to suffer on their journey, I’d rather it wasn’t me, but I love to read about it. Romance and adventure are a great mix!
Maggie, as always you are so sensible!
Maggie, I’d much rather have my characters be cold and hungry than for me to be cold and hungry!
I agree with Maggie….I like traveling through my books…cheaper, easier, less stressful and I can afford to go to a whole lot more places in books than I can on a retiree’s fixed income! I have been known to get out my world atlas or Rand McNally US Road Atlas to find places mentioned in the book.
Karen, I’ve pulled out my atlas or gone on Google Earth to get a better sense of the settings in books. It’s fun, isn’t it?
Karen, having the internet is great, too, because I can do a lot more research without having to shell out $$$ on plane tickets. Of course, I’d love to take these trips, too!
If a book is well written, the author can send the characters anywhere and I’ll happily follow. Zoe hooked me with her Blades of the Rose novella, “The Undying Heart” in HALF PAST DEAD and has continued to draw me in with each book she’s published since. I’m looking forward to her December release, DEVIL’S KISS!
Hi PJ! Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m also looking forward to Zoe’s new series.
Hi PJ! Thanks for being a loyal reader! 🙂
I like the exotic locations and love to see how the characters adapt to them.
Debbie, that’s an excellent point about characters being forced to adapt when they encounter unfamiliar settings.
Thanks, Debbie! It’s lots of fun to figure out how the characters deal with their environment and situation.
HR is my fav genre book so i don’t mine if the settings is everywhere. zoe’s book sounds great, my friend said her book full of adventure, mystery and ofcourse there is a romance too so it’s nice to try to read her book 😉
Eli, I think you’d love Zoe’s books.
Eli, my books definitely have all of the above! Thanks for stopping by!
Rebel sounds like a great read! I love to travel, but I too cannot afford to do my own traveling. My books take me to exotic locations and through different points in time and worlds. Without them (books) I think I would be a miserable person to be around 😉
I haven’t read any of Ms. Archer’s books, but I just added them to my TBR list 🙂 I’m also looking forward to hearing more about her new series The Hellraisers.
Gail, I’m a total crab without my books!
Gail, it always amazes me when people say they don’t read. I think, “You don’t want to travel through time, or to distant lands, or have experiences you could never actually have in real life?” Amazing! Thanks for stopping by!
I agree, I don’t understand people who don’t read anything but the newspaper. I just feel sad for them 🙁
BTW How interesting that French & Latin are required for a 18th century english lit doctorate. I would not thought it would be required, but I guess latin is a root language and would be useful. 😉
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Ladies.
I have heard wonderful things about Zoe’s Blade series!! I love it when historicals go to exotic locales. I love London and the famous ton storylines but an adventure in a romantic an thrilling place tips the scales for me. I love suspense and action with my romances. I also love about hearing about other places and what they were like in the past.
Isn’t that what’s awesome about books, Miranda? I love to learn about history and far away places, but with an exciting story to really sink my teeth into. Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like a really good book.
Thanks, Gwen!
Hi Vanessa and Zoe!
Vanessa, I want to tell you how thrilled I am to have won your books from The Romance Dish. I can’t wait to get them 🙂
As for stories I welcome those set in exotic settings. Even England is considered exotic to me even though it’s common in historical romances. I want to be swept off my feet and if a story calls for somewhere exotic such as Brazil, Alaska or Africa my mind is open and ready to be taken there. It’s important that I can connect to the place and characters, which is why I like settings to be vividly described and accurate. It doesn’t have to be overwhlemed with adjectives or facts but have enough that I can easily picture it. That’s the great things about books, getting to visit so many places.
I couldn’t agree more, Na! Thanks for stopping by!
And I’m thrilled you won them! They’re in the mail, so you should get them soon. Let me know when they show up!
You are right, Zoe looks a really exciting author…and such beautiful covers.
Off to investigate, thanks for the recommend – there’s nothing nicer than finding a really good author whose books you can sink into.
Grace x
One of the awesome things about romance readers is how willing we are to share new discoveries. It’s a wonderful community. Thanks for stopping by, Grace!
I LOVE Zoe’s covers. They really pop on the shelves in stores, too, which is great.
Loved this book! The “Matterhorn Bobsleds” scene was spectacular!
Hee! It was fun to write, too! Wheeeeee! (And poor Catullus–he doesn’t take to tumbling down a mountain very well.)
By the way, Honoria Graves, Catullus’ grandmother, is a great character!
LOL! What a great idea for a scene!
Any setting is good for me, as long as there is an amazing romance to go along with it 🙂
I agree, Chelsea. First and foremost, I want good romance!
Yep. First and foremost, the romance. Thanks for stopping by, Chelsea!
Exotic settings have their own mystery to them, maybe even a little extra because we don’t hear of them as often as say London. Don’t get me wrong I love my classic historicals with the ballrooms and estates. But after a while you need to mix it up a little, throw in some heart pounding adventure. This series is one I had never heard of, but I love the sound of it. And yes it has a great cover, his body language says a lot..like he is ready to tackle anything and leap off the cover. Thanks for having Zoe here so I could find out about her books!
Lexi, Zoe really delivers on the heart pounding adventure. And I agree that the cover really conveys a great sense of the book.
You always get great people on your blog. I almost want to tell you to stop so my TBR list can have the chance to shrink! (seriousley though…dont stop)
Lexi, my heroes are definitely ready to face whatever comes their way—especially the heroines! Thanks for stopping by today!
Oh, I like variety so I’m all for anywhere. Once I enjoy the characters, I am happy to go wherever the author takes me!
Catslady, I can definitely promise you variety! Thanks for stopping by!
I must admit that I do love historical romances that are set in and around England but at the same time I enjoy reading about other locations. I recently read one set and China which was a nice change.
Thank you for this opportunity to win Rebel. 🙂
England will always be a favorite, and with good reason–rich history, beautiful landscape, and all those yummy noblemen! Thanks for stopping by!
I like all different settings – it can add so much to the story to have a beautiful or unique place to read about. These books sound really different from any other book I’ve read.
Diane, I agree that the setting can add a whole new element to a story. It can even be its own character. Thanks for stopping by!
I love historicals, for the most part I find them to be set in or around London, and a few in Scotland… But I wouldn’t mind where the book was set, as long as the book has a great storyline and keeps me hooked =D
emilytardy@yahoo.com
HI Vanessa and Welcome Zoe! Love that cover! I must say that I do love the books set in London and the countryside. I would love a little exotic locale like Egypt but haven’t found a writer yet that has written there yet (any suggestions ladies?) But have never read any in Canada, your book Zoe looks like an interesting read.
I am currently reading an Elizabeth Boyle one, first of hers that I am reading, I have a huge TBR list and I actually have 2 left out of a Vikings series and not sure if I can read them. The first I read, I LOVED the story I just didn’t understand some of the words at all. There were a lot of very old scottish (and I am part scottish too) and gaelic words in there and it took me over a month to read it. I feel stupid that it took me so long to read them. I was actually looking the words up lol 🙁
oops darn it forgot my email AGAIN!! tsimon7275@gmail.com
Oh, gosh. Tina, never feel stupid about your reading, especially if you’re taking the time to look up words. That’s so great!
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