Mary Rebekah Fritz-Gonzalez
Tell us a little about yourself!
By day, I’m a Florida attorney working in the world of contracts, compliance, and legal technology. By night, I’m dreaming up fictional love stories set against the high-speed world of Formula 1. Somewhere in between, I’m a wife, mom, proud UCF alumna, and someone who believes it’s never too late to chase another dream! I earned my master’s degree in nonprofit management from UCF, and my career has included working with major foundations, the entertainment industry, and legal technology. In July 2026, I added published novelist to my résumé with the release of Checkered Love, an enemies-to-lovers Formula 1 romance. I also live with rheumatoid arthritis, which has taught me that ambition doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. Sometimes the most exciting chapters of our lives are the ones we never planned to write.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think I’ve always been a storyteller, even before I realized writing could become something more than a hobby! My mom recently found a collection of little storybooks I had written as a child, which was such a sweet reminder that this dream has been part of me for a very long time. Apparently, I’ve been trying to get published since elementary school. It just took me a few decades and a law degree to figure out how! Somewhere along the way, writing became one of those dreams I tucked away for “someday.” Eventually, I realized that someday wasn’t going to magically appear on my calendar. If I wanted to write a book, I had to sit down and write one!
What’s your writing process? What inspires your writing?
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 21, and living with a chronic illness has shaped the way I see the world and the stories I want to tell. There are days when my body has very real limitations, but my imagination has always been a place where those limitations don’t exist. Writing allows me to explore different lives, experiences, and possibilities. I’m particularly inspired by strong women, complicated relationships, and characters who discover that their dreams don’t have to disappear just because life doesn’t unfold the way they expected. My writing process usually begins with a character or an idea I can’t stop thinking about. From there, I build the emotional journey, often drawing inspiration from my experiences as an attorney, a mother, and someone learning to embrace life’s unexpected turns. My body gets to have limits. My imagination doesn’t.
What was the biggest thing you learned during your time as a Knight that you apply to your life today?
One of my most memorable experiences at UCF was a case study course that took me to Seoul, South Korea. We spent a great deal of time discussing public policy, nonprofit organizations, and the role those institutions play in society. But what stayed with me most wasn’t necessarily what I learned in the classroom. It was the stories shared by the students we met in Seoul. Hearing about their lives, experiences, and perspectives as students and citizens helped me recognize something that has stayed with me throughout my career and now my writing: everyone has a story worth telling. That experience reminded me of the importance of listening, remaining curious, and understanding that our own experiences are only one small part of a much bigger world.
What was a class or club at UCF that helped you grow as a writer?
Although my master’s degree was in nonprofit management rather than creative writing, UCF gave me countless opportunities to learn the art of storytelling. Through conferences hosted by UCF, I met nonprofit leaders who shared the stories behind their organizations, the communities they served, and the people whose lives they hoped to change. What struck me was how powerful those stories were. They made policy, organizational missions, and complex social issues feel deeply human. Those experiences helped me understand that storytelling isn’t limited to novels. It’s how we build connections, inspire action, and help others understand experiences different from their own. I carry that lesson into both my legal career and my writing today.
Who are some of your favorite authors or books?
I love books that make me think deeply about the world and the people in it. Min Jin Lee is one of my favorite authors for that reason. Her ability to explore identity, family, history, and the human experience is extraordinary. But as an attorney who spends much of her professional life working through complex and sometimes heavy subject matter, I also appreciate a good Emily Henry novel! Sometimes I want a book that challenges the way I think, and sometimes I want to fall in love with fictional characters and enjoy a happily ever after. I think there’s room on every bookshelf for both.
If UCF had a time machine, what moment on campus would you go back to?
I’d go back to graduation and tell that version of myself that one day she’d become an attorney, work with major foundations doing due diligence and compliance work that she genuinely loves, and somehow become a published romance novelist along the way. I’m not entirely sure she’d believe me, especially the novelist part, but I think she’d be pretty excited about the life waiting for her!
If your UCF experience were a meme, what would it be?
“You got into Harvard Law?” “What? Like it’s hard?” Except my version is becoming an attorney and then deciding, “You know what? I think I’ll write a Formula 1 romance novel, too.”
What are you currently working on right now?
I’m working on several new romance manuscripts, including a romantic suspense story set in law school and another exploring love, ambition, and second chances. I’m also continuing to promote my debut novel, Checkered Love, and hoping to connect with more readers who love strong heroines, slow-burn romance, and a little motorsports drama!
Anything else you want to share?
One of the things I’m most excited about is returning to UCF not just as an alumna, but as an author! When I was earning my master’s degree, I never imagined I’d someday be signing copies of a romance novel I wrote. If there’s anything I hope fellow Knights take away from my story, it’s that your degree doesn’t have to define the boundaries of your dreams. You can build a meaningful career, change directions, discover new passions, and keep surprising yourself along the way. I’m incredibly grateful that my UCF education helped shape the professional I became, but I’m equally excited about all the unexpected chapters still ahead. And if you love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, a little Formula 1 drama, or just cheering on a fellow Knight, I’d love to meet you at Book Nook! Charge On!
