Domineering writer embraces Rita in front of Ian (13)
I believe the answer is:
authoritarian
'domineering' is the definition.
('authoritarian' can be similar in meaning to 'domineering')
'writer embraces rita in front of ian' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'author' ('author' can be a synonym of 'writer'**).
'embraces' is an insertion indicator.
'in front of' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'author' going around 'rita' is 'authoritar'.
'authoritar'+'ian'='AUTHORITARIAN'
(Other definitions for authoritarian that I've seen before include "despot" , "Enforcing strict rules" , "Oppressively strict" , "Domineering" , "Enforcing strict obedience" .)