13: How Two Indie Authors Built a Sci-Fi Brand and Empire from Scratch – The Forbidden Origins Story

What if the secret to building a successful multimedia company wasn’t just talent, but persistence and collaborative storytelling?

Armani Salado and Eric Martinez started Forbidden Origins as a childhood passion project. Through sci-fi storytelling, collaboration, and strategic brand-building, they transformed it into a growing multimedia company spanning books, comics, and potential animated adaptations of The Old Universe.

But success didn’t happen overnight. Years of indie publishing, creative entrepreneurship, and relentless dedication—while juggling full-time jobs—taught them invaluable lessons about creative control, audience growth, and turning passion into a business.

Now, they’re sharing the wins, struggles, and key insights that helped them build Forbidden Origins from the ground up.

From Passion Project to Growing Business

What started as two friends creating stories has turned into a full-fledged multimedia venture. Their first book series, The Old Universe, explores themes of father-son relationships while setting the foundation for an expanding storytelling universe.

At one point, they realized they had so much content. Then they went viral for the first time and thought, "Let’s just see what happens!"

That moment wasn’t luck—it was the result of years of creative work, strategic marketing, and a willingness to take risks.

Actionable Insight: Start with a clear vision but stay adaptable. Consistency over time builds momentum in creative businesses.

Bonus: Spend 10 minutes today identifying a small, consistent habit that can push your creative project forward.

The Power of Creative Control in Indie Publishing

By choosing self-publishing, they maintained complete creative control over their stories and business decisions. They built their own platform, ensuring that contributing writers receive 100% of their royalties while fostering a collaborative creative environment.

"Those writers get paid 100% for their work." They’ve made it a priority to create an “official look” while keeping full ownership of the creative process.

Actionable Insight: Creative control means more responsibility. Identify one area where you can take full ownership of your creative work.

Bonus: Research an indie creator who successfully built their audience through strategic engagement.

Building a Brand & Expanding an Audience

Success isn’t just about creating—it’s about getting seen. Through targeted social media strategies, understanding algorithms, and consistent engagement, Forbidden Origins steadily grew its fanbase.

"Brand recognition is key!" It takes strategy and investment—"You got to spend money to make money!"

That investment—whether in marketing, design, or community-building—helped them gain visibility and traction.

Actionable Insight: Your audience won’t find you unless you put yourself out there. Post consistently and track what resonates.

Bonus: Set a goal to engage with 10 potential audience members this week across different platforms.

Balancing Day Jobs and Passion Projects

Turning a creative dream into a sustainable business requires sacrifice. The team behind Forbidden Origins juggles full-time jobs while dedicating every spare moment to growing their vision, proving that creative entrepreneurship is a long-term game.

"It’s a long-ass marathon, not a sprint." Building something meaningful takes time and certain sacrifices.

From late nights to reinvesting earnings back into the business, success is built on delayed gratification...