Meet the Character:

Meet the Character: Zoe Andrews

Every story begins with a character, and for Where There's Smoke, that character is Zoe Andrews.

If you've read the book, you already know she's the kind of person who runs toward danger with minimal regard for self. If you haven't met her yet, I'm pleased to introduce you.

First Impressions

At first glance, Zoe seems confident, capable, and completely in control. She's a firefighter and paramedic who thrives under pressure. She doesn't hesitate when someone needs help.

But beneath that confidence is a woman who's learned that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's choosing to keep going despite it.

She's fiercely loyal, deeply compassionate, and willing to sacrifice for the people she loves.

Those qualities make her an incredible first responder.

They also make falling in love a little more complicated.

Who Is Zoe?

Zoe has built a life she's proud of in Hammond's Bend. She loves her job, trusts her crew, and has found purpose serving her community.

She's not looking for someone to rescue her.

In fact, she'd probably tell you she doesn't need rescuing at all.

She's independent by nature, practical in the way she approaches problems, and more comfortable helping others than asking for help herself.

Like so many of us, she's stronger at carrying other people's burdens than sharing her own.

What Inspired Zoe?

Before I became an author, I spent many years working in emergency services.

During that time, I had the privilege of working alongside, and making lifelong connections with many firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, nurses, and law enforcement officers. I watched ordinary people make extraordinary decisions every single day.

Most of them would never call themselves heroes.

They were simply doing the job they loved.

That quiet courage has stayed with me as I transitioned from the profession, and into my writing career. It's something I wanted to capture in Zoe.

She's not fearless.

She's simply willing to act when someone needs her.

A Few Quick Facts About Zoe

• Occupation: Firefighter/Paramedic

• Coffee Order: Cream and sugar with a touch of coffee.

• Favorite Stop in Hammond's Bend: Roberto's Italian Restaurant.

• Favorite Season: Fall.

• Greatest Strength: Staying calm when everything around her is falling apart.

• Biggest Flaw: Trust doesn't come easily.

Without Giving Away Too Much...

Every character reaches a moment where they have to decide what matters most.

For Zoe, that moment comes when doing the right thing could cost her everything she's worked for.

The biggest battles she faces aren't always the fires.

Sometimes they're the ones inside her own heart.

My Favorite Thing About Zoe

One of my favorite things about writing Zoe is that she doesn't see herself as extraordinary.

She doesn't wake up thinking she's going to be someone's hero.

She simply shows up.

To me, that's what real courage looks like.

It's often quiet.

It's rarely glamorous.

And it usually belongs to ordinary people doing the best they can.

Behind the Character

One thing that surprised me while writing Where There's Smoke was how quickly Zoe found her own voice.

I may have created her, but it didn't take long before she started making her own decisions—some of which completely changed the direction of scenes I'd carefully planned.

If you're a writer, you probably understand exactly what I mean.

Sometimes characters have better ideas than we do.

I'd Love to Hear From You

What quality do you admire most in a heroine?

Is it courage?

Kindness?

Determination?

A sense of humor?

Tell me in the comments—I always enjoy hearing what readers value most in the characters they love.