ATLANTA, Ga.— As the weather begins to change and cuffing season approaches, many readers seek to indulge in the wistful atmosphere with a hit from their favorite fiction genre. An ideal night in might feature pouring a mug of hot tea or glass of red wine, wrapping up in a blanket, and reading the latest release from a favorite book series. Now, eager audiences have the chance to scratch their reading itch by cuffing themselves to a satisfying read with the latest romance novel by up-and-coming author Mariah Dietz.
Dietz, a USA Today bestselling author, is already making her mark in the genre, showing a deftness of craft and true emotional intelligence. According to the Romance Writers of America®, the romance fiction industry is worth $1.08 billion annually, meaning this genre accounts for one-third of all the mass media fiction books sold every year. It is a saturated market, to say the least, and one that can prove a daunting obstacle to new talent.
Yet, despite the competitive nature of the romance fiction playing field, Dietz has found her niche in new adult and sports romances. Specifically, she cites thoughtful characterization as the root of her growing success. As an author, Dietz doesn’t just explore the lives and emotions of the two main characters but of everyone essential to the story. She wants to ensure that the world she creates feels real to the readers and that everyone involved displays depth and purpose.
“Characterization is my favorite part of writing, and I think this is because the stories I most connect with and love have amazing characters, so that is important to me,” says Dietz. “I start playing with those characters in my head, deciding how they interact, what their backstories are, etc. I want to know everything about them; their childhood, friends, family, strengths, weaknesses. I flesh them out, so they’re like real people. Even though 75% of this never goes into a book, it still can impact the way they react or view a situation.”
This insight is part of Dietz’s unique charm and why her readers keep coming back for more. Her audience, ever-hungry for the next release, is vocal about their appreciation for her three-dimensional characters and compelling relationship building. To keep her work grounded, Dietz uses writing as her therapy and sometimes incorporates details from her own life as inspiration.
“My writing process changes greatly between books that I write,” she admits. “I always have a million sticky notes hanging around my office with ideas, outline goals, reminders for consistency purposes. But in general, every book begins with a particular scene, and that single scene introduces me to characters.”
Dietz’s latest series is titled The Dating Playbook, of which she released the sixth and final book, Writing the Rules, earlier this year. The story of this final book follows Poppy, the beloved heroine, and Paxton, the star quarterback, as they navigate life at the fictitious Brighton University. Early on, the two agree to start a mutually beneficial fake relationship, albeit for very different reasons. At first, they set up rules to ensure things are clear and defined and to keep feelings from becoming involved. But soon, those lines inevitably become complex and blurred.
As with her previous work, Dietz shows in Writing the Rules that she is a master of the slow burn. Her passionate, relatable storytelling pulls readers into the angst, anxiety, and butterflies of first falling in love, complete with a helping of witty banter and steamy heat.
Beautifully blending the rules of love with the rules of sports, Dietz creates enchanting parallels that quickly draw in her audience. She takes the unspoken laws of courtship and turns them on their head, sweeping readers along in a whirlwind romance as each is cast aside by her protagonists. Don’t kiss on the first date, don’t get attached too quickly, don’t date your sister’s best friend — or your best friend’s brother.
Following the breakout success of her The Dating Playbook series, Dietz is looking forward to expanding into new romance territories where she can continue to delight her growing fanbase with fresh, heartfelt, and thrilling storylines.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Dietz currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and sons. When not immersed in her latest characters and novels, you can find her trying out new, creative hobbies, drinking coffee, and performing random acts of kindness.
Mariah Dietz novels are currently available in paperback or as ebooks for Kindle. For more information about Dietz and a complete list of her available titles, visit her on Amazon or www.mariahdietz.com.
Media Inquiries:
Daniel Klein
Joseph Studios
1-800-663-0126
