Archer works as a registered nurse in Crown Point, Indiana. She lives with her husband in Valparaiso, Indiana. They have six grown children, five grandchildren, and a dog named Snickers.
Archer's speaking experience includes presentations on writing for children, writing picture books, and writing poetry. She has done presentations for students from preschool through high school, college students and adults. She has been a speaker at schools, libraries, and writers' conferences.
As a published children's author, Archer's picture books include:
- One of the Family, Western Publishing Company/little Golden Books 1984
- Turkey Surprise, Dial Books for Young Readers 2005
- Turkey Surprise appeared on the NY Times Bestsellers list for children's paperback books in November 2007 and was on Baker & Taylor's Books for Growing Minds list in 2005. It is on the accelerated reader list at Renaissance Learning.
- From Dawn to Dreams, Poems for Busy Babies, Candlewick Press 2007
- From Dawn to Dreams received a letter of merit from the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant committee in 2002 and was nominated for the 2007 Cybil Award in the category of Children's Poetry.
- Name That Dog!, a picture book, to be released for publication by Dial Books for Young Readers in Summer 2010
Her work for children includes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry and has appeared in the following magazines: BabyBug, LadyBug, Children's Playmate, Humpty Dumpty, Highlights for Children, Turtle, Instructor, and Wee Wisdom. Her work for adults has appeared in Guideposts Magazine, Once Upon a Time, and Indiana and Illinois SCBWI publications.
Archer's professional memberships include:
- Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI)
- Authors Guild
- Indiana Writers' Consortium
Archer is an active member of Indiana SCBWI and has been instrumental in planning conferences for children's writers.
Peggy Archer
