Myah Ariel is the author of debut contemporary romance When I Think of You (Berkley ’24) with her latest novel, No Ordinary Love, hitting shelves April 2025. Her early love of movies led her from Arkansas to New York City where she earned a BA in cinema studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She also holds an MA in specialized journalism for the arts from USC Annenberg. For several years Myah worked across multiple roles in the film and entertainment industry before pivoting to work in academia. As a medical mom and a hopeless romantic, Myah is passionate about inclusive love stories.
What is a book you always recommend to fellow writers?
Save the Cat Writes a Novel. The narrative breakdown is concise and accessible, and the plot beats are super helpful when outlining a new project.
What’s a book that made you want to become a writer?
I’d been reading romance for the better part of a decade before I stumbled upon Kennedy Ryan’s Reel which captivated me like no other book had before. Perhaps it was my love for musical theater and background in cinema studies that helped me connect so deeply with this story about a Broadway actress and a filmmaker. But this book sparked a sense of creativity in me that I don’t think I’d felt before.
What’s a piece of writing advice you go back to again and again?
You cannot edit a blank page. This helps me when the prospect of getting started feels so daunting that I don’t even want to try. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting a first draft to be perfect. But that’s what revision is for. So get the words on the page, and refine them later. You cannot edit a blank page!
What’s one word you’d use to describe your writing style?
Lyrical. Only because I derive most of my inspiration from music.
What’s your favorite writing podcast?
I’m more of a BookTube girlie and often scour the site for the latest book talks or interviews with my favorite writers. OtherPpl is a podcast that’s also on YouTube which has a vast archive of interviews from top literary authors. I also enjoy watching Masterclass workshops with authors, TV and song writers. Issa Rae, Shonda Rhimes and Mariah Carey are some of my favorites.
If you could co-write a novel with any author, living or dead, who would it be?
Mariah Carey. Her memoir is riveting. Her songwriting is iconic. I’d love to collaborate with her on a fiction project one day.
What’s the most common writing hurdle that shows up for you? (I.e. writer’s block, too many ideas, procrastination, perfectionism) And how do you overcome it?
Time management. Deadlines can be brutal. The most effective tool I’ve found is setting a daily writing goal, be it a specific word count you want to reach or a set amount of time you want to spend at your computer.
How do you prep your writing space? What’s the drink always at your side, snacks, comfort décor?
I can write anywhere, but I know that I do my best writing at my desk, in my comfortable desk chair, with my laptop attached to my widescreen monitor. Something about this set up says “time for business”. I also like to write at nighttime, when the rest of the world is asleep, and it’s just me and my characters. I usually have a cup of hot berry flavored tea with me.
What has been the most surprising part of your publishing journey?
I’m always surprised when people, who are not my close family or friends, have genuinely positive reactions to my stories and characters. Some of the DMs, emails, and thoughtfully crafted reviews I’ve received have truly left me speechless. I don’t think I’ll get used to the concept that something I created has had a positive impact on a complete stranger.
What is something you wish you could go back and tell yourself at the beginning of your writing journey?
Absolutely nothing. I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the surprises.
No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
Pop superstar Ella Simone finds her carefully crafted life unraveling as she divorces her unfaithful music-producer husband. When a public mishap links her to Miles Westbrook, a charming MLB player, their unexpected chemistry sparks a fake relationship with real consequences. As Ella navigates fame, divorce, and desire, she must decide between keeping up appearances or embracing a love that could finally set her free.
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