An Interview with Mariah Rae Birch

Mariah Rae quit her corporate job in 2022 and wrote a book. And she never stopped.

While her earliest works of fiction and art were plastered boldly to the kitchen walls in her childhood home, it took her another twenty years to gather her courage to share her stories again. Now she writes sapphic tales full of romance and magic.

An artist of many kinds, writing fills Mariah Rae’s creative well to the brim. She lives near the mountains with her spouse and furry children. When not writing, she bakes, lurks in nature, and plays games with her small circle of heart family.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I’ve dabbled in writing all my life, but it was my brother telling me I lit up when I talked about my stories that gave me the push to finish my first one. After that, I just couldn’t stop. Her Pretty Knight is my debut, but it’s far from the first story I’ve written.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I wrote the story I wanted to read but couldn’t find. Sapphic fantasy romance or romantasy is a relatively small genre, but it’s growing, and I’m really excited about that.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The story is a bodyguard romance between a witch pretending to be a princess and the lady knight assigned to watch her. The project was originally called “Guard” but that was obviously a placeholder. I settled on “Her Pretty Knight” because it’s descriptive and is also a line from the book.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I’m always listening to music, especially when I write, so I’ve made multiple soundtracks for this book. The songs I listened to a lot during the process include “Storybook Love” by Mark Knopfler from The Princess Bride soundtrack, and everything by Hildegard von Blingin’ (bardcore music).

Describe your dream book cover.

I would love to publish a special edition of Her Pretty Knight with character art. However, I do love the cover that I have for now, and it will always be special to me.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Before I was an author, I was a songwriter and published several albums of original music. I then pursued a university degree in anthropology, and I currently work as a licensed accountant for my day job. My interests are diverse!

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.