An Interview with Daniel Rodrigues-Martin: Writer of Goddess from the Machine, Bronze Winner within the 2025 SPR E book Awards

An Interview with Daniel Rodrigues-Martin: Writer of Goddess from the Machine, Bronze Winner within the 2025 SPR E book Awards Daniel Rodrigues-Martin started writing in 2004. Since then, he’s turn into the creator of books, articles, essays, shorts, scripts, poems, a grasp’s thesis, and numerous rants. His debut novel, Goddess from the Machine, was chosen as one among Kirkus Overview’s Finest 100 Indie Books of 2025.

Inform us about your guide.

Goddess from the Machine is my debut novel, not too long ago honored as a Kirkus Critiques Finest 100 Indie E book of 2025 and a BlueInk Overview Better of 2025. The guide is about an orphaned genius named Reese who befriends a superpowered vigilante named “Child.” They work collectively to dismantle slavery within the steampunk Metropolis of Machindoun.

After Child vanishes, Reese augments her physique with cybernetics to get vengeance on those that’ve taken every part from her. The story explores themes of justice, energy, free will, and located household atop meticulous, however by no means overbearing, worldbuilding.

What instruments or corporations did you employ, and what expertise did you’ve?

I didn’t make the most of knowledgeable editor as a result of I’m one. Whereas self-editing lengthened the method, it additionally saved me hundreds of {dollars}. When you can develop the talents over time to do that nicely, it is best to. Goddess from the Machine was written on OpenOffice, Scrivener (an excellent software for managing giant tasks), and Microsoft Phrase (for the formatting precision). I finally printed paperback and eBook editions by way of IngramSpark. The audiobook version was distributed by way of InAudio (previously Findaway Voices) and was carried out and mastered by the award-winning UK duo Rhiannon Moushall and Henry Willard. As soon as I made a decision to self-publish, all of the instruments and assets had been able to go.

What suggestions are you able to give different authors trying to self-publish?

At all times revisit the query: “Why am I doing this?” And don’t be stunned if the reply adjustments over time. Not each story must be offered, and even printed. Always remember why you began doing this within the first place. No matter what your critics say or what number of gross sales you make, be pleased with the accomplishment, as a result of the overwhelming majority of individuals by no means even write a guide.

Inform us concerning the style you wrote in, and why you selected to jot down this form of guide.

Goddess from the Machine is a cyberpunk-dystopian story in a science-fantasy world. Something orbiting the connection between our humanity and our instruments, like transhumanism, fascinates me, however I additionally wished to make sure the story was essentially grounded in Reese as a personality – her trauma, her company, and her character progress. It’s a character-driven story with loads of philosophical weight.

Who’re your largest writing inspirations and why?

George Lucas and Lucas-era Star Wars should be talked about for the sheer scope of worldbuilding and the cross-genre implications of doing this nicely. Joss Whedon at his peak knew methods to do ensemble casts and dialogue higher than most. JRPGs from the mid 90s to early 2000s for the stylistic motion team-up and “hero’s journey” construction. Patrick Rothfuss is a gold commonplace on the subject of writing with an authoritative character voice. Different writers and artists encourage me due to their moral, philosophical, or craft-related impacts: John Gardner, William Zinsser, Sol Stein. Into the Woods by John Yorke was actually helpful, and I liked Madeline L’Engle’s Strolling on Water.

What are your plans now your guide is printed?

My subsequent guide is Ghost within the Autumn Vale: E book 1 of the Ark Saga and takes place 4 years after Goddess from the Machine. It’s a dual-narrative story that follows a authorities agent and an growing older bounty hunter who’re individually looking the identical superpowered fugitive…and what occurs when the three collide. GAV will probably be out this 12 months. I’m additionally writing Satan in Embryo, a direct sequel to GFTM, and I anticipate this to be out in late 2027 or early 2028.

The 2025 SPR Book Awards Bronze Winner

Why did you write about this specific topic?

I wished to jot down about who Reese was earlier than we meet her in later books as a result of she is such an vital “glue” character, however I additionally wished one other set of eyes by way of which to view “Child” at a unique time in his life. The themes of forgiveness, energy, justice, and located household are near my coronary heart, and possibly tough for me NOT to jot down about. By way of worldbuilding, I’m keen on historical past, language, faith, and know-how, and I had loads of enjoyable weaving that into the background of the story world.

How does your work/tutorial background differentiate your world-building?

My formal coaching is in historical past, faith, and languages, not storytelling. As a result of I’m a pure storyteller, I decided a very long time in the past to take a position my “ability factors” (nerds unite!) into writing. I knew that I liked tales and wished to inform them, however I didn’t really feel a calling into screenwriting, journalism, or novel writing as my “day job.” So I pursued my formal coaching whereas additionally working actually, actually laborious to know tales, enhancing, and writing.

The secret is to not pursue sure fields of research over others to achieve worldbuilding. The secret is restraint. After we perceive what storytelling is, we will make worldbuilding enjoyable and fascinating moderately than cumbersome as a result of we all know the place it belongs. I’d say Goddess from the Machine and the broader Ark Saga have a lore Bible even Brandon Sanderson would respect, however I need these issues to point out when needed and to be energetic all the time within the background.

What position does character company play in your storytelling, particularly inside speculative fiction?

Tales are about characters and the way they transfer by way of the world. It doesn’t matter what we write, we have to keep in mind this. So I wished to make sure that Reese had loads of company regardless that I’m writing in a subgenre that’s well-known for getting misplaced in particulars and hypothesis. All that stuff is enjoyable, however characters are what we keep in mind, and even when loads of stuff occurs to them, we have to see them combating to make significant selections. That is one thing loads of books about writing, storytelling, and screenwriting emphasize time and again, and one thing I’ve emphasised as an editor.

What advantages are there to vital acclaim as a self-published creator?

Feeling good about your self, which is certainly not nothing. Kirkus Critiques awarded me a star and in contrast my guide to Netflix’s Arcane, which was fairly flattering and, I’d agree, apt. Acclaim opens doorways to distinctive alternatives, however the problem there’s that once we self-publish, for higher or for worse, we tackle the total duty for our success.

My gross sales are good however not nice as a result of I’ve invested extra into opinions, contests, and many others., moderately than direct advertising and marketing. This has helped me get into libraries without having to name and beg, which is tremendous cool, and it’s additionally established credibility. I’ve been approached by a number of publishing professionals, but I had one overseas rights deal fall by way of on the eleventh hour as a result of my gross sales weren’t ok. I hadn’t put the cash into advertising and marketing. Storytelling is about coronary heart and artwork, however publishing is a enterprise – always remember this.