M S Rayed | Sci-Fi and Fantasy Author
@msrayed.bsky.social
Aspiring sci-fi and fantasy author. Currently editing a South Asian dystopian fantasy, and a cyberpunk noir with a South Asian setting. My first book, Imperial Dawn, releases on 5/5/26! https://zaap.bio/msrayed
Imperial Dawn is a military fantasy at its heart. I explored how Roman tactics would change with soldiers who could duplicate themselves, see for miles, or shatter stone with a punch.
February 15, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Imperial Dawn is a military fantasy at its heart. I explored how Roman tactics would change with soldiers who could duplicate themselves, see for miles, or shatter stone with a punch.
The enemy isn't at the gates. They're already inside. They wear the faces of your friends, your family... your wife. Welcome to the paranoia of Imperial Dawn.
February 14, 2026 at 2:52 PM
The enemy isn't at the gates. They're already inside. They wear the faces of your friends, your family... your wife. Welcome to the paranoia of Imperial Dawn.
Ever wanted a story about a grumpy, immortal super-soldier who falls for the shapeshifting assassin sent to work for him? I wrote one. It's called Imperial Dawn.
February 9, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Ever wanted a story about a grumpy, immortal super-soldier who falls for the shapeshifting assassin sent to work for him? I wrote one. It's called Imperial Dawn.
For future readers of Imperial Dawn:
This isn't your high school history class Rome. This is Rome with magical police, shapeshifting spies, and ancient conspiracies.
This isn't your high school history class Rome. This is Rome with magical police, shapeshifting spies, and ancient conspiracies.
February 8, 2026 at 2:42 PM
For future readers of Imperial Dawn:
This isn't your high school history class Rome. This is Rome with magical police, shapeshifting spies, and ancient conspiracies.
This isn't your high school history class Rome. This is Rome with magical police, shapeshifting spies, and ancient conspiracies.
I wanted to write a story about a weapon that learns to be a man. My protagonist for Imperial Dawn is a 100-year-old Roman general who is starting to question what he's been fighting for.
February 7, 2026 at 2:52 PM
I wanted to write a story about a weapon that learns to be a man. My protagonist for Imperial Dawn is a 100-year-old Roman general who is starting to question what he's been fighting for.
It’s finally here! 🖋️ I am so excited to launch my Patreon community. I’ve wanted a space to share the stories that don’t always make it into the final books and to give you a peek behind the curtain of my writing process.
January 22, 2026 at 1:49 AM
It’s finally here! 🖋️ I am so excited to launch my Patreon community. I’ve wanted a space to share the stories that don’t always make it into the final books and to give you a peek behind the curtain of my writing process.
For readers of Joe Abercrombie who appreciate characters with questionable morals and a healthy dose of cynicism, you'll feel right at home with the cast of Imperial Dawn.
January 16, 2026 at 4:36 AM
For readers of Joe Abercrombie who appreciate characters with questionable morals and a healthy dose of cynicism, you'll feel right at home with the cast of Imperial Dawn.
There is no feeling quite like the surreal quiet of reading the first ARC reviews. The realization that the world you built in Imperial Dawn now exists in other people’s imaginations is heavy in the best way. 🧵
January 2, 2026 at 2:46 AM
There is no feeling quite like the surreal quiet of reading the first ARC reviews. The realization that the world you built in Imperial Dawn now exists in other people’s imaginations is heavy in the best way. 🧵
Love stories about ancient conspiracies and secret societies like in Assassin's Creed? The central plot of my book Imperial Dawn involves a mystery that spans worlds and centuries.
December 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Love stories about ancient conspiracies and secret societies like in Assassin's Creed? The central plot of my book Imperial Dawn involves a mystery that spans worlds and centuries.
A favorite line from my spy, Keir, from Imperial Dawn: "Rome does not require a flawless hero, Galerius. It requires a man who can do what is best for its people."
December 28, 2025 at 12:48 AM
A favorite line from my spy, Keir, from Imperial Dawn: "Rome does not require a flawless hero, Galerius. It requires a man who can do what is best for its people."
For everyone who played Ryse: Son of Rome and wanted a deeper story with a complex magic system, Imperial Dawn was written for you.
December 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
For everyone who played Ryse: Son of Rome and wanted a deeper story with a complex magic system, Imperial Dawn was written for you.
Finished proofreading Imperial Dawn last night and got carried away! 😅
I immediately set up the Amazon preorder, updated my website, and started an ARC campaign on Booksprout. After 3 years of work, seeing it all come together feels surreal.
I immediately set up the Amazon preorder, updated my website, and started an ARC campaign on Booksprout. After 3 years of work, seeing it all come together feels surreal.
December 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Finished proofreading Imperial Dawn last night and got carried away! 😅
I immediately set up the Amazon preorder, updated my website, and started an ARC campaign on Booksprout. After 3 years of work, seeing it all come together feels surreal.
I immediately set up the Amazon preorder, updated my website, and started an ARC campaign on Booksprout. After 3 years of work, seeing it all come together feels surreal.
Milestone alert! 🎉 I finished the initial copyedit of Imperial Dawn. I did a massive sprint over the weekend and edited the final 22 chapters in two days. My brain is toast. 😅
The draft is now in Atticus for formatting, and I'm doing final proofreads on my Kindle.
The draft is now in Atticus for formatting, and I'm doing final proofreads on my Kindle.
December 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Milestone alert! 🎉 I finished the initial copyedit of Imperial Dawn. I did a massive sprint over the weekend and edited the final 22 chapters in two days. My brain is toast. 😅
The draft is now in Atticus for formatting, and I'm doing final proofreads on my Kindle.
The draft is now in Atticus for formatting, and I'm doing final proofreads on my Kindle.
Productive Thanksgiving! Reading Golden Son has me inspired. 🚀
Updates:
- Making progress on Vol 2 of a Substack serial.
- Drafting short stories.
- Copy-editing Imperial Dawn: 15/40 chapters done!
Feels good to have the momentum flowing again. #amwriting #RedRising #SFF
Updates:
- Making progress on Vol 2 of a Substack serial.
- Drafting short stories.
- Copy-editing Imperial Dawn: 15/40 chapters done!
Feels good to have the momentum flowing again. #amwriting #RedRising #SFF
November 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Productive Thanksgiving! Reading Golden Son has me inspired. 🚀
Updates:
- Making progress on Vol 2 of a Substack serial.
- Drafting short stories.
- Copy-editing Imperial Dawn: 15/40 chapters done!
Feels good to have the momentum flowing again. #amwriting #RedRising #SFF
Updates:
- Making progress on Vol 2 of a Substack serial.
- Drafting short stories.
- Copy-editing Imperial Dawn: 15/40 chapters done!
Feels good to have the momentum flowing again. #amwriting #RedRising #SFF
Reading Red Rising and Sun Eater inspired me to tackle my own series outline. I've now mapped out 7 books for the Blessed Empire series (starting with Imperial Dawn) and found the ending. 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Reading Red Rising and Sun Eater inspired me to tackle my own series outline. I've now mapped out 7 books for the Blessed Empire series (starting with Imperial Dawn) and found the ending. 🧵
Finally got a Kindle Colorsoft for Black Friday! 📚 The anti-glare is a huge upgrade from my phone. Currently speeding through Red Rising. 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Finally got a Kindle Colorsoft for Black Friday! 📚 The anti-glare is a huge upgrade from my phone. Currently speeding through Red Rising. 🧵
Finally slowing down after a productive 2025, and I'm at peace with it. My creativity is cyclical; I drafted for months, but in Nov, I've written maybe 5 times. And that's okay. 🧵
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Finally slowing down after a productive 2025, and I'm at peace with it. My creativity is cyclical; I drafted for months, but in Nov, I've written maybe 5 times. And that's okay. 🧵
Some days it's tough to figure out what to post! 😅 I often skip it, but I'm trying to be more regular.
I'm focusing on more short stories for Substack lately—thinking they'll be a more accessible entry point for new readers. 🧵
I'm focusing on more short stories for Substack lately—thinking they'll be a more accessible entry point for new readers. 🧵
November 18, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Some days it's tough to figure out what to post! 😅 I often skip it, but I'm trying to be more regular.
I'm focusing on more short stories for Substack lately—thinking they'll be a more accessible entry point for new readers. 🧵
I'm focusing on more short stories for Substack lately—thinking they'll be a more accessible entry point for new readers. 🧵
If you love the epic scale and political betrayal of Game of Thrones, but wish it had more Roman legionaries, you might like my book, Imperial Dawn.
#amwriting
#amwriting
November 13, 2025 at 3:24 AM
If you love the epic scale and political betrayal of Game of Thrones, but wish it had more Roman legionaries, you might like my book, Imperial Dawn.
#amwriting
#amwriting
Navigating identity as a writer is complex. I write vital South Asian/immigrant stories, but also Roman historical fantasy and European settings. 🧵
November 12, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Navigating identity as a writer is complex. I write vital South Asian/immigrant stories, but also Roman historical fantasy and European settings. 🧵
It’s been a long grind, and now it's all about patience. I’m copy-editing Imperial Dawn (9/40 chapters done in six weeks). It's slow, but I'm building editing tolerance! Hoping for major headway during the holidays. 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 AM
It’s been a long grind, and now it's all about patience. I’m copy-editing Imperial Dawn (9/40 chapters done in six weeks). It's slow, but I'm building editing tolerance! Hoping for major headway during the holidays. 🧵
The Zohran Mamdani victory in NYC has me feeling genuinely hopeful. This year has been a real struggle, often leaving me feeling completely hopeless, but wins like this are proof there are things to look forward to. 🧵
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 AM
The Zohran Mamdani victory in NYC has me feeling genuinely hopeful. This year has been a real struggle, often leaving me feeling completely hopeless, but wins like this are proof there are things to look forward to. 🧵
I respect people who don't want politics in their fiction, but I can't write while keeping real-world influences out. Some stories tackle current issues; others use the SFF setting as a stage to explore uncomfortable questions. 🧵
October 26, 2025 at 5:33 AM
I respect people who don't want politics in their fiction, but I can't write while keeping real-world influences out. Some stories tackle current issues; others use the SFF setting as a stage to explore uncomfortable questions. 🧵
You like "Grumpy x Sunshine"? Try "Immortal Traumatized General x Morally Flexible Shapeshifting Assassin Who Is The Only One Who Can Handle Him" in Imperial Dawn. It's a niche.
October 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
You like "Grumpy x Sunshine"? Try "Immortal Traumatized General x Morally Flexible Shapeshifting Assassin Who Is The Only One Who Can Handle Him" in Imperial Dawn. It's a niche.
Writers, let's talk about the "for me" drafts.
I was just looking through my files and found a couple of novel drafts I wrote purely to get them out of my system.
I was just looking through my files and found a couple of novel drafts I wrote purely to get them out of my system.
October 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Writers, let's talk about the "for me" drafts.
I was just looking through my files and found a couple of novel drafts I wrote purely to get them out of my system.
I was just looking through my files and found a couple of novel drafts I wrote purely to get them out of my system.