Interview with Author Zahra Woods

Author of Contemporary Romance

AUTHOR INTERVIEWCONTEMPORARY ROMANCEINTERRACIAL ROMANCESTEAMY

Kaleidoscope Romance

2/27/20263 min read

Describe yourself in three words.

Funny, Passionate, Dedicated

What are three facts about you?

I have twins (b/g)
I love to bake but burn most things
I love to read

What is your favorite book from childhood?

Where the Wild Things Are

When you read, which authors are your go-to authors?

Erica Spindler
Linda Howard
Jayne Krentzm
Sandra Brown

What book has made the biggest impact on your life?

Erica Spindlers Forbidden Fruit

Do you have any book related tattoos?

Nope, but getting one

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

Sherlock Holmes 2019 TV version
House Sitter

What subject could you talk about all day?

Writing and how smut/spice/steam/erotica were introduced wrong into the reader world yet no one corrected it.

What is your dream vacation destination?

Greece

What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?

LOL! That's cute... I am always writing. But, acting out a scene.

Are there any causes you support or which are important to you?

Anything regarding the Black community, Black readership, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

How did you discover writing as a possible career?

Last year, 2025, I told myself to just do it, try, put yourself and your characters out there. So, I did and when I got some reviews, joined groups, found that indie authors were making a living (even if its smaller and just covering their bills) they were doing it. I learned a lot within a few months, prayed/manifested, and have just been going.

How did you choose your pen name?

Brainstorming all night one night. I wanted it to read contemporary, modern, yet something that still spoke to me.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

In my head, outdoors, when I am talking to someone, listening to the TV in the background, author prompts.

What is the weirdest fact you've found when researching for a book?

Don't know...That Vermont is one of the most progressive states.

What trope is your favorite to write?

HE FALLS FIRST AND HARD!!! FAVORITE!

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Getting my stories/characters out there.

What is your writing process?

I brainstorm a lot - all the scenes, act them out, think about the book flow, write out a detailed outline/guideline, and then I write.

What time of day are you most creative?

Evenings until early mornings.

What is your ideal writing environment?

Tv on, monitor on my right, laptop in the middle, a cherry Pepsi, couple of chocolate chip cookies.

As an author, what challenges do you face?

Marketing, branding, and being consistent with those.

What is your least favorite part of being an author?

Marketing, branding, and being consistent with those.

If there was one thing you could change about the writing/publishing industry, what would it be?

The way trad publishing houses pick authors. How hard it is to "breakthrough". From a Black readers/authors POV, it can be hard to even be seen. Then, you have publishing houses that think they know what they want, but then an indie author does better than a trad author and then they want them. I just wish access was easier.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Keep writing, keep going. But, also start marketing yourself. Get with other authors who write your genre and newsletter swap. Work with other authors who work on different genres and learn from them.

What is something you’d like to write, but haven’t yet?

Romantasy

Which parts of yourself are reflected in your characters?

The women for sure. They are Black, strong, independent, but want love, but aren't needy.

Which of your characters have special meaning to you?

Naomi and Wyatt, Campaigning for Her Heart

How do you come up with character names?

Google, baby names online, and then something the characters have just decided on their own.

What kind of readers enjoy your books?

My ideal readers are women who love romance that feels real, emotionally grounded, warm, and deeply human. They want love stories about grown folks with full lives, histories, responsibilities, and desires (and yes, sometimes just regular jobs).

They’re drawn to seeing Black women as romantic leads, not side characters, not lessons, but women who are loved fully, softly, passionately, and without apology. My readers care about connection built through conversation, small moments, laughter, and care, not unnecessary drama or cruelty.

They love a good slow burn, meaningful intimacy, chosen family, and relationships that feel safe, affirming, and earned. When they close the book, I want them to feel comforted, seen, and hopeful, that love is still possible, still tender, and always worth choosing.