We recently connected with Diego Ornelas-Tapia and have shared our conversation below.

Diego, appreciate you joining us today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

To follow your heart rather than your mind, no matter the cost. It’s cheesy, I know. Heck, I bet at least half of you just rolled your eyes right about now. Nevertheless, it’s a decision I must stand by not just as a fictional author but as a human being because, otherwise, I’d descend into a dark internal road.

I started following my heart with a clear and confident spirit from the spring of 2019 to the fall of 2022. During that time, I did what made me happy and granted me a sense of purpose: working on my fictional books. I put a pause on my books sometime in November.

Why?

Failure. And the overwhelming feeling that I had to improve my financial state. See, my first self-published novella, To Tame a Dame, failed to become a success. My second book, Void, failed to find life via the traditional publishing route. Because of these failures, and because of my age, twenty-eight, I kind of gave up on myself.

As I’m writing my response this very second, I’m realizing that the reason I became so obsessed with improving my financial state was because, deep down, I felt like I would never find success as an author. So, I gave up and went the money-making route, choosing to work in my dad’s business as a partner, not an employee.

That didn’t last too long.

Why?

Despite my good intentions to sincerely help my dad expand his business, I eventually became extremely unhappy. I had no drive, no entrepreneurial spirit, no discipline to see this path through. If I continued to go down this path, I knew I’d take my own life.

Why?

I CANNOT live a life NOT led by my heart. My happiness. If I do, my soul bleeds, my spirit dies, and eventually, my body will go with it.

I can’t let that happen. I WON’T.

I’ve made peace with the fact that I’m a complete and old-school artist. What does that mean? It means that I must write and create for the health and sake of my soul and that my strength is in my craft, not business.

Being a complete and old-school artist means that my journey towards success will take much longer than others. That I’ll suffer more than others. And that, yes, I will improve my financial state, but only a bit as an employee, not as a partner, that way I can dedicate time to my books. To my heart.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a fictional author who writes in various genres. I also manage my own Substack where I share my thoughts on life, mental health, and behind-the-scenes content in my books. Currently, the stories I’ve got lined up deal with fucked up people trying to do better in life, to become better human beings and… failing miserably.

I knew I wanted to become a fictional author when I was in fourth grade, but I didn’t officially pursue it until my early twenties after the end of a relationship that forced me to do a lot of introspective work in order to, you guessed it, become a better human being.

I released my first self-published novella, To Tame a Dame, in the summer of 2021. Although my first full-length book, Void, never found life in the traditional publishing route, I can wholeheartedly say that I’m gosh darn proud of it. In the words of the kind and misunderstood Walter White, “I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. It made me feel… alive.”

What sets me apart and what should you know about me?

With each book, I like to challenge myself by trying something new. The book I’m working on now, a modern The Catcher in The Rye sprinkled with Squid Game and Fight Club elements, is the first book I’m writing in first-person. More than that, though, it’s the first book I’m really pushing myself with my boundaries.

What do I mean by that?

Well, there have been times creating this book where I, the author, have stopped and intervened in the middle of a violent or controversial scene that I just know will cause a major backlash. “Should I censor or cut out this part?” I’d wonder as I re-read what I just wrote, fearing the backlash I’d get in the future.

“No. Fuck no,” I’d reassure myself after a moment. “This story must be told as is, come what may.”

I challenge myself. I try something new with each book, unafraid of the risk. THAT’S what sets me apart. THAT’S what you should know about me.

“My books are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Hearing how much my readers loved one of my books and their favorite scenes. For example, a buddy of mine told me he was on the edge of his seat in an action scene in To Tame a Dame. That meant a lot because I felt the same way when I wrote it. I was tense and on the edge of my seat, so to hear that one of my readers was feeling the same way meant everything.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Reedsy. Reedsy. Reedsy.

Need a professional editor or designer? Reedsy.

Need a blog to answer some publishing or creative questions? Reedsy.

A forum to find literary agents and indie publishers? Reedsy.

Seriously, wherever you are in your writing journey, use it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://venturesome-dreamer.com/venturesome-dreamer/
• Other: https://diegotapia.substack.com/

Image Credits
Book covers by Jeff Brown Headshot by Mo McFadden