Dan Desai Martin shares his debut fantasy novel "In the Shadow of the Sanctum" and discusses his ten-year journey from idea to publication with Gold Dust Publishing.

• Dan's background in religious studies heavily influenced his world-building
• Fantasy allows creators to explore complex religious and societal dynamics in unique settings
• Rejection is part of the process and doesn't reflect on your worth as a writer
• Small press publishing creates opportunities to connect with fellow authors
• Writing requires patience and celebrating small milestones along the way
• Two key pieces of advice: "just write" and ignore advice that doesn't work for you

Author Bio:

Dan Desai Martin is a fantasy author signed with Gold Dust Publishing. He grew up reading fantasy classics (from The Hobbit to the Dragonlance series to Wheel of Time) and has never lost his love for the genre. After graduating with a degree in Religious Studies, Dan spent the past few decades trying to make the world a more just and equitable place, with jobs ranging from policy advocate to journalist to communications consultant. In addition to his own writing, Dan is actively involved in the Maryland Writer’s Association where he served as one of the editors for Emerging Voices: Poetry and Prose by Maryland Teens Volume 9, a selection of short stories, novel excerpts, and poems by members of the association’s teen writers’ clubs. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his spouse.

Book blurb:
Dan's debut novel, tentatively titled In the Shadow of the Sanctum, is set to be published in 2026. The fantasy novel combines the religious dystopia in Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale with the coming-of-age elements of Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes series. In a realm where the twelve Holy Sanctums maintain absolute control through violence and manipulation, Ehla yearns for safety after fleeing a particularly sadistic High Priest. Instead of finding peace, she stumbles into a friendship with rebels seeking to free the realm from the Sanctum's shadow. As the truth and lies about the One God blur, Ehla must overcome anxiety from her past, distrust of those around her, and a growing desire for vengeance directed at the all-powerful and corrupt holy Sanctum.

LINKS: website: www.DanDesaiMartin.com, social media (@dandesaimartin) on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram.

About Victoria:

Hey there, I’m Victoria! As a writer and developmental editor, I specialize in helping busy writers bring their publishing dreams to life without the overwhelm. Editing doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth—it's the magic that transforms your story from “meh” to masterpiece!

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