PHOTO: Venezuelan-born author Daniela Rincon Morassutti, now based in Los Angeles, brings her unique engineering perspective to the world of young adult fiction.
From Engineering To Imagination And Everything Between
Daniela Rincon Morassutti reveals how her background in engineering fuels her fiction, blending logic with emotion across genres like romance, sci-fi, and motorsports in stories of love, resilience, and hope.
Daniela Rincon Morassutti writes with the soul of a dreamer and the mind of an engineer. Born in Venezuela and shaped by the rigorous precision of structural engineering, she bridges the imaginative and the analytical with striking grace. Her stories pulse with emotional depth and futuristic vision, each page grounded in logic yet lifted by the limitless possibilities of the human spirit.
From the adrenaline-charged world of Close Enough to Burn to the speculative hopefulness of 2240: Return to Planet Earth, Morassutti’s work reflects a life lived in between contrasts—discipline and desire, science and story, exile and return. Her characters are not only shaped by their environments but by the choices they make to resist, to build, to love.
Writing, for her, is not an escape from the technical world, but a return to something vital and intuitive. In her hands, even post-apocalyptic futures shimmer with potential, and the race to belong becomes as thrilling as the race to win. She reminds us that creativity and calculation need not be at odds—they can, and should, coexist.
With every new story, Daniela Rincon Morassutti carves out space for bold futures and tender truths, where intellect and emotion are never mutually exclusive, and where the heart remains the truest compass.
What inspired you to return to writing after focusing on engineering for so long?
I never stopped completely. Even while working in engineering, I kept writing in journals, notes, and personal reflections—it just wasn’t in the form of full stories. But after years of channeling my creativity into technical work, I felt the need to reconnect with storytelling in a deeper way. Writing fiction again gave me space to explore emotions, relationships, and ideas that don’t fit into equations or blueprints. It became a way to reclaim a part of myself I had put on hold.
How does your background in structural engineering influence your approach to storytelling, particularly in science fiction?
Engineering teaches you how systems fit together—how one small decision can affect everything else. That shows up in my world-building and plot structure. In 2240, for example, I grounded the technology in real engineering principles. I think my analytical background helps me create believable, cause-and-effect-driven worlds, while also giving my characters the kind of problem-solving mindset that feels authentic in high-stakes settings.
Can you share what it was like to balance writing your first book while studying for your master’s degree?
It was intense! My days were packed with seismic design equations and late-night study sessions, but I’d still carve out time to write. It gave me a creative outlet when everything else felt structured and technical. I didn’t sleep much, but writing helped me stay connected to a more emotional, human side of myself. In some ways, it made me more resilient—like I could do both, and didn’t have to choose one over the other.
2240: Return to Planet Earth blends advanced technology with post-apocalyptic themes—how did you go about imagining the world of 2240?
I wanted to create a world where, despite everything, humanity was still worth saving. 2240 takes place after a man-made pandemic and decades of exile, but it’s not just about survival—it’s about returning to Earth with the intention to do better. I imagined a future where people are still good at heart and where technology is used to restore and heal. That optimism shaped the tone of the story, even amid the darker themes.
In Close Enough to Burn, you dive into the world of go-kart racing—did you have to do much research to bring Isabella’s world to life?
Absolutely. I was never a car racer myself—but I married one. Through him, I fell in love with racing. We watched Formula 1 every Sunday and cheered for Ferrari religiously. That passion rubbed off on me, and I started going to local karting tracks in LA just to experience it firsthand. I did a lot of technical research, but I also knew the emotional side—the obsession, the adrenaline, and the love for the sport—because I’d lived it in my own way.
Your books span romance, science fiction, and sports—how do you choose which genre to write next?
It’s usually connected to where I am in life—and what’s happening in the world. Not All You Need Is Love was influenced by my college years, when everything felt intense and uncertain. 2240 came during COVID, when I was questioning what kind of future we were building. Close Enough to Burn grew out of my own drive to succeed in a male-dominated field. The genres shift, but love is always at the center—for people, for purpose, for something bigger than yourself.
Which character from your books do you feel most personally connected to, and why?
Isabella from Close Enough to Burn. She’s ambitious and driven, but also questions if she’s enough or too much. That internal tug-of-war really resonated with me, especially as someone navigating a male-dominated industry. Her desire to win, to belong, to be seen—not just for her talent but for who she is—feels incredibly personal.
What advice would you give to other authors who are trying to balance a technical or scientific career with creative writing?
Don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect outline—just start. Some people think they need every detail figured out, but often the story unfolds once you begin. Your technical background is a strength. It gives you discipline, clarity, and a unique perspective. Writing doesn’t have to be separate from your career—it can exist alongside it, and make both parts of your life richer. There’s no better time to begin than now.
