Danielle Jackson: Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Mariah! We are happy to have you hear and celebrate the release of THE DATING DILEMMA with you. Before we chat about your book, I have to say—I love all of your TikTok and Instagram videos. They are so much fun! What do you think it is about romance writing that lends it so well to your videos? Do you have a couple of favorites you’ve made (feel free to link to them)?
Mariah Anekenman: Thank you so much! I’m excited to be here and more excited to talk about my Tiktok addiction, lol. I have a background in theater and was raised by a professional clown so point me to an audience and I am geared up to entertain! My favorite thing about the romance genre is how vast it is. There’s a romance out there for everyone! So I like to include that in my videos and just celebrate the joy and inclusion of romance. Plus it’s always fun to take the hate this genre gets and turn it around into a celebration of success because as we all know romance is a billion-dollar industry, can’t get numbers like that unless you’re truly loved!
THE DATING DILEMMA starts out with a hilarious comedy of errors–Lexi thinks the hot firefighter who shows up at her job is a stripper for her birthday, but Dyson is, in fact, just a firefighter! Where did the inspiration come from for this amazingly hilarious setup?
I was workshopping it with my agent and editor and it just kind of popped into my head. What if poor overworked Lexi had so much on her plate, she forgot about the fire inspection, and when her coworker mentions the hot firefighter who is too good looking to be real must be a strip-o-gram she just goes with it. To the point of embarrassment, because it’s not a Mariah Ankenman book if one of my characters doesn’t do something hilariously awkward.
Lexi is a bit down on her luck when readers first meet her, and the situation with Dyson really puts how much she’s feeling out of touch at the forefront. So agreeing to fake date him in exchange for help passing a fire inspection seems like a rational thing to do (LOL). What do you think readers will love most about Lexi? What do you hope they learn from her?
Lexi is my awkward baby. She tends to think out loud, her mouth spouting out her thoughts without permission and getting her into embarrassing situations. She cares about everyone around her, to the detriment of herself at times, but that’s why I think people will love her. We all have that friend, or are that friend, who puts everyone else’s needs first. This story is a chance for Lexi to get what she wants and deserves and I think a lot of people can relate to that and root for her.
Dyson has his own baggage when it comes to love and has earned the nickname “One Night O’Neil.” This hasn’t stopped his meddling family members from trying to set him up. But when he asks Lexi to fake date to keep his sisters at bay, he never thinks it will lead to something real. How do you think Dyson’s reaction to his feelings for Lexi change as the story progresses? Was it fun to make someone who wants to avoid relationships fall in love?
It’s always fun to watch the giants fall. *cue evil author laughter* Dyson has been burned badly by love (fire pun not intended) in a way he’s like Lexi, pushing his needs aside for others. His brilliant plan to fake date does indeed bit him on the behind when he starts falling, but watching him open up and be venerable again was a joy to discover and. I hope the readers enjoy his journey toward healing.
I find authors give the best pop culture recommendations! What’s something that you have read/watched/listened to lately that you highly recommend?
How much time do you have, lol! Okay let’s go in order:
Read: I am obsessed with Kait Ballenger’s Seven Range Shifters series. Totally binged Avery Flynn’s Last Man Standing Series. I got to read an early copy of Jamie Wesley’s Fake It Till You Bake It and y’all are going to want to pre-order because it’s fantastic!
Watched: Only Murders in the Building I binged in like a week, so good! Mythic Quest, I’m a little late to that game but it’s a fun one. Two of my favorite shows right now are Wellington Paranormal and What We Do In The Shadows, seriously I will watch anything Jermaine Clement has a hand in. Love!
Listened: I’m just constantly looking up tiktok sound bites to see who the original music/artist is, lol.
What can readers expect from you next?
Next will be Ward and Díaz in the third Mile High Firefighters book! Yes, Ward and Díaz are finally going to stop fighting and start….well, you know 🙂
Rapid Fire Random Questions
Favorite candy: Skittles
Favorite way to be kind to yourself: A new book!
Best compliment you recently gave to someone: Your brain is so sexy!
Favorite flower: Lilac
Random interesting fact you like to tell people: I infuse vodka
Best vacation you’ve ever taken: Key West
Earliest celebrity crush: Ernie Reyes Jr.
Cake or pie: Cheesecake!
Last book you read that you really LOVED: WILD WOLF COWBOY
You have a totally free afternoon – no deadlines, no obligations, no Twitter notifications! What do you do?: Creature Feature movie marathon!
THE DATING DILEMMA by Mariah Ankenman
Lexi’s Reminders
* Work.
* Don’t think about your birthday tomorrow. Or debt, your crappy apartment, and nonexistent social life.
* Re-stock wine and ice cream because that’s coming.
* Die in a raging blaze of humiliation when the super-hot and very delicious fireman waiting in your office is not in fact the strip-o-gram birthday present you suspected.
* Reschedule the fire safety inspection you 100 percent failed because of said humiliation.
* Figure out how you, in fact, agreed to fake dating Mr. Not a Strip-O-Gram Fireman to help him with a bet.
* Oh yeah, and do not fall for this guy. Seriously, they call him One Night O’Neil. Red flags all over the place.
* Remember, this is fake dating, even though his very talented, very real lips are doing some sexy things you definitely like.
* Realize bending one tiny rule can’t be that bad, can it?
* Except bend too far, and something breaks. Something you can’t get back.
Romance Contemporary | Romance Comedy [Entangled: Amara, On Sale: January 24, 2022, e-Book, / eISBN: 9781649372536]
Buy THE DATING DILEMMA: Kindle
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About Mariah Ankenman
Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious daughters and loving husband who provides ample inspiration for her heart-stopping heroes.
Whether she’s writing hometown heroes or sexy supernaturals, Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books.
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