Resist: A Blood Inheritance Novel book 4 by M. Ainihi

3/18/2023

Multivolume fantasy author, M. Ainihi introduces us to the latest and fourth volume in The Blood Inheritance Quartet, “Resist”:
After finding out that she and the other half-bloods were created to help bring the world to its catastrophic end, Amanda did the unthinkable.
Ashamed, disfigured, and alone, she has spent weeks in the Chaos realm, determined to uncover the secrets that sleep below the gardens before she dares to return to the others. She works to blend in with the strange inhabitants that dwell nearby, but as the moon wanes and a visit from the dictatorial celestial is imminent, following their strict rules becomes impossible.
Emily and Kiami push to continue the search for the final half-blood, but a remnant of an old foe resurfaces, bringing unexpected consequences and causing them to question whether they can right the wrongs of the past.
After an unknown ally tips Amanda off, completing the puzzle, a bargain is struck, and it’s a race against time. Once the half-bloods are united, the celestial will come at them with everything he has…
Their gifts have pushed them together and forced them to make unfathomable choices. Now, Amanda, Emily, and Kiami lead a charge against the celestial, sealing Sumir’s fate forever.

I have enjoyed all of these books and this brings a fairly tidy conclusion to the storyline. I say fairly because the author has left a pretty large opening to start a new series, and I welcome that possibility. Kiami has been an intriguing character throughout as a shapeshifter with other powers. One of her other powers plays a pivotal role in the story. I am committed to not revealing spoilers so I can't say any more about it.
Everything is permanent until further notice is a universal constant and certainly true in this story.
I loved this book and I think you will too.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Resist-Blood-Inheritance-Novel-Ainihi-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-resist-book-4-M-Ainihi
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/resist-book-4-m-ainihi

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/m_ainihi
https://mainihi.wordpress.com
https://ConcealedRealms.com

I have reviewed the first three books in the series and a collection of short stories in the horror genre, here are the links:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/rise-a-blood-inheritance-novel-by-m-ainihi
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/lost-a-blood-inheritance-novel-by-m-ainihi
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/endow-a-blood-inheritance-novel-the-blood-inheritance-quartet-book-3-by-m-ainihi

www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-warning-signs-by-m-ainihi

Tags: Teen, Young Adult, Sword and Sorcery, Fantasy, dark, Horror
Copyright © 2023 Mark Schultz except for the author’s introduction

49 Comments

M. Ainihi link

3/20/2023 11:21:24 am

I am so glad to hear you enjoyed the fourth book in my series.Thank you the kind words and great feedback!

Mark

3/20/2023 01:11:26 pm

You are welcome. I did enjoy this story quite a bit.

This interview will continue from the last interview in Endow. The link is just above.

First questions.

What else are you writing these days?

Are you writing anything for yourself or only for readers?

3/20/2023 03:40:37 pm

I have quite a lot of story ideas that I have been working on, but the next manuscript I would like to complete is a second compilation of short tales.
My goal is to have this next collection be set up in the same way as The Warning Signs but with the commonality between them being wishes/desires gone wrong.

To answer your second question, there is a much more personal project I have begun to work on, but I am not really ready to divulge too much about it. Once completed, I believe the finished pieces will be a collection of novellas, but it is really in the early stages and I would like keep my main focus on fantasy.

3/20/2023 03:48:32 pm

Short stories are a different game, usually. There is little to no time to build a character or characters. Except in your case with Warning Signs. Some of the characters and settings were drawn from your series. Another collection seems like a good idea as long as it brings something new to the table. I am certain that won't be difficult for you.

Very mysterious! Your fans will be looking for the novellas in the future. It sounds like they will be in a genre other than fantasy.

New question.

Are there any authors that influenced you to become a writer?

3/20/2023 05:06:14 pm

I enjoy reading books in almost any genre and I believe many authors have influenced me in different ways. When I was younger, I really appreciated a good mystery, especially if I couldn’t figure out the who and why before the ending, yet if I had to pin it down to just a few authors, I would say writers such as Stephen King and Edger Allen Poe had the most impact early on.

3/20/2023 07:42:57 pm

We are alike in that way; I enjoy reading many different genres. I like mysteries also, but I am not good at all figuring out who committed the crime.

King and Poe are giants in the horror field. I read many of Poe's short stories. The Cask of Amontillado was very memorable to me.

New question.

If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?

3/21/2023 06:22:49 am

I don't have specific questions. I would just want to shake their hand and thank them for doing what they love from the bottom of my heart, as it helps me love what I do.

3/21/2023 08:26:18 am

That is a great idea and they might be surprised about that. Many fans want something specific in mind or want to talk about the characters in depth.

New questions.

Have you ever met a famous author?

What happened?

3/21/2023 10:43:34 am

The vast majority of the authors I have met and have had a conversation with, whether up and coming or more well known, have been very friendly and inquisitive. Many even go out of their way to be helpful with offering insight regarding their own experiences within the publishing industry.

3/21/2023 10:50:00 am

Most independent authors are very friendly as you have reported. They realize that another author is not competition but a fellow traveler in a wild and wonderful world. Few, though there are a few, consider another author to be a competitor and are not very forthcoming usually.

New question.

How much will a reader get to know you by reading your books?

3/21/2023 01:30:28 pm

That’s a tough question! I asked a few people that have read my books and know me more than as an acquaintance for their opinions on that subject. The general consensus was, at least to those I asked, not very well.

3/21/2023 03:59:56 pm

Most authors do not consciously insert themselves into the story. Your chosen genre of dark fantasy and horror certainly doesn't permit much of that also. I love the thought that you asked that question.

Here is another question.

Do you have any advice for the aspiring author?

3/21/2023 05:47:37 pm

First, just write. Don’t worry about all the technicalities. Get your words down in any format and tell your story. The hard stuff comes later, like finding the right editors.
There is real value in collaboration and for me I believe finding the right editors, professionals that would help improve my overall manuscripts while maintaining my vision, was a crucial factor for the final development of my novels.
Of course, we don’t all have the same writing process, so my tip is to find an editor that inspires you.

3/22/2023 09:10:53 am

That is good advice! I have repeated it many times to authors of all stripes. An idea becomes a story as it is written. If an author can't get the story out of their head, then it will never be seen by others. Getting the idea onto paper allows for editing and polishing so others can enjoy it.

You are right. Finding the right editor is crucial. A good editor seeks to improve a story, not undo it.

Few authors can do it all themselves. There are so many steps to publish a book, editing, proofreading and cover are only a few. It takes a group effort to get a book published and noticed by other people.

New question.

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

3/22/2023 11:43:41 am

I have tried a lot of tools out over the years but there are a few that I consistently use over and over again. For writing a first draft, I tend to gravitate to Microsoft word. It is true that as your manuscript grows, it can be harder to stay organized, but I have a tendency to rewrite chapters separate from the main manuscript then update the master file for editors. Many editors seem to prefer to edit books in Word and therefore require you to submit it to them in Word formats (.doc).
Scapple is basically a virtual sheet of paper that lets you make notes anywhere, connect them using lines or arrows, and add text. It’s a great tool for mapping out ideas or timelines and adding/changing connections.
Although I haven’t been using it recently, I have used scrivener quite a bit in the past. Scrivener is a book-writing software program that provides a useful system for writers to document and organize notes, research, and ideas. It gives you the ability to break long projects down into pieces of any size you would like, allowing you to edit your manuscript one section at a time, while still keeping it all as a single document. This program has several useful features (or did when I last used it) such as snapshot, the corkboard, project targets, etc.
Grammarly is an AI-powered product that detects issues with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and plagiarism. It is available as a browser extension, word add-in, and downloadable app for your desktop or mobile device. I tend to use this throughout my process. Even with several editors’ eyes on your work, it can be easy to miss extra spaces, etc.
Reedsy is a marketplace for authors and the professionals who support them. It is a great place to find talented editors, marketers, and designers. You can also gain access to free educational content and use powerful tools like the Reedsy book editor. Since the process is not complicated and the results are good, I prefer to typeset my manuscript in all formats using the Reedsy book editor.
I utilize Adobe Acrobat Pro for any final touches that need to be made to my paperback and hardcover manuscripts. It is simple to use for manipulating embedded images, organizing pages, and verifying the correct security standards, etc. are met.

3/22/2023 02:16:02 pm

You use a nice set of tools. Microsoft Word is the default word processing program almost everywhere. Word lists more than 40 versions of English so nearly everyone can write using their country-specific version. I love that it differentiates between UK English, Canadian English and Australian English to mention only three.

Scapple sounds interesting for free-flowing ideas.

I have heard that Scrivener is very powerful with a steep learning curve. Those that surmount the learning curve love the program.

Grammarly is powerful and the AI is a recent addition, of course. I use it to help catch my own typos in tweets and correspondence. Over the last several years I have noticed it misses a lot of what I catch, we will see how well it works in the near future.

I don't know anything about the Reedsy book editor. I am interested. I need to learn more about that.

Adobe is another powerful program that many seek to emulate.

New question.

Are you a plotter, a pantster, or a hybrid?

3/22/2023 04:05:18 pm

I suppose I have evolved into more of a hybrid method over time. I do have at least a basic outline for the short stories and books I am working on currently, but I started out as a pantser. For me, it’s a fun way to accomplish my creative endeavors. I enjoy beginning with a rudimentary idea of what I want the story to be about, then write whatever pops into my head all the away to the end, before I go back and fix anything.
However, my habits needed to change as I got further along with rewriting the Blood Inheritance series. With each novel, it became more necessary to take things slower, thinking them out with more finality earlier on. Otherwise I took a chance that small details may not match up just the way they need to from book to book and POV to POV.

3/22/2023 04:33:38 pm

Quite a few authors have said they have to write the story to see how it turns out. That works perfectly well for the first draft. Then comes the editing and all the factors such as pace, battles, struggles and more. That initial story idea can change a lot. Writing across a series and having short stories in the same world does complicate things as you have found.

I love the POV change you use in each chapter. It works well with multiple characters.

New question.

How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

3/22/2023 05:53:49 pm

Thanks Mark. I am delighted to hear that you like the way I handled the POV changes!
As far as event organization goes, a tool such as Scapple can be great for getting ideas down and making connections between so you can visualize the order. I also have a sort of a story bible for the world of Sumir, where the blood inheritance quartet takes place, to keep everything organized as far as character information sheets, research, notes, and even alternate chapter ideas. In the past I have also included a short version for my developmental editor. That one has the correct eyes colors, spellings for names, places, ext..

3/22/2023 06:29:07 pm

A story bible is a great idea and very necessary for an author who is writing broadly in the world as you are. A lot of authors do that. Not enough in my estimation, I have found various hair and eye color changes in some manuscripts in the past. Some authors scour the internet for pictures that look like the characters in their mind.

One of my clients developed a website to help authors manage their characters and keep them psychologically congruent. It was free the last time I looked. Here is the copy-and-paste link or search for Rick Hall in the box below: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation

New question.

Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

3/23/2023 08:51:48 am

I do sometimes look for pictures of certain people or places, for ideas on expanding descriptions and such, but I really enjoy working with artists to help give life to my ideas. As such, I have had several illustrations made, including a few for the three main heroines in the Blood Inheritance series.
Thanks for the information. I will be sure to check out the link!
I have definitely experienced a story swerving in a different direction than planned on more than one occasion. One instance involving my series would be Justin’s progression. In the beginning, I really planned on him going to a much darker place and taking a leading roll against the other half bloods. But when it came time to rewrite the scenes, they didn’t feel authentic (without giving any specific spoilers). And so, although I had a similar version of the ending in mind for Resist from the start, with each set of rewrites it did evolve quite a bit.

3/23/2023 11:15:18 am

Many authors report similar experiences. A few even say they write mostly to quiet the voices they hear their head.

New question.

Where did the inspiration to write about the Jinn come from?

3/23/2023 01:26:38 pm

It was probably about eight or nine years ago after I received a paperback of Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar by Robert Lebling. Shortly after that, I began developing stories around the fictitious world of Sumir, in which the Blood inheritance quartet takes place.
I should note that I am no expert in real world Jinn. However, like many legends, I find the mythology pertaining to Jinn and Genies fascinating and when creating the unique mythology for the world of Sumir, the Jinn were the main focus to start with. From there the idea continued to grow.

3/23/2023 03:25:22 pm

That is interesting and it exemplifies that everything we read, watch and listen to can have an impact on our own creative pursuits. I love it. It has been said that there are only 9, 12, 17 or 20 original plots, depending upon who you ask. But there are infinite ways to write a story about any of those plots. A few authors worry needlessly about another author stealing their story. Every author has a unique voice when they write.

New question.

I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog at some point with post-its or note cards?

3/23/2023 05:26:11 pm

I sometimes write in a notebook. It can be good to change things up, especially if you feel stuck. I find oftentimes it’s helpful to just get away from your computer in general.

3/23/2023 06:27:28 pm

That makes a lot of sense. I have many ideas for breaking writer's block and you have just given me another. I will share that in the future.

New question.

Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer, if we weren’t dealing with the covid thing?

3/24/2023 05:16:12 am

I prefer to write in my home office or outside on my patio. I like quiet when I am writing, although I often listen to music before I begin.

3/24/2023 08:12:52 am

Many authors are like you, needing quiet to work. I am the same. I do like to go to coffee shops because I can meet writers.

Many authors listen to music when writing. Some listen to specific types of music for certain scenes or genres. A few writers include a playlist of what they listened to while writing. Others create a playlist for characters, scenes or chapters.

New question.

What kind of music do you listen to before writing?

3/24/2023 08:50:17 am

I listen to all sorts of music.Like the authors you mentioned above, when writing, which songs I choose depend heavily on the scene, the characters involved, and their emotional states. I actually have music playlists for each of my main characters and books. For me, listening to these playlists can help me get to the right mood for a segment or get into my character’s head when switching between POV’s.

3/24/2023 10:28:41 am

You have a lot of good company.

New question.

Have you ever thought of posting those playlists in your book?

3/24/2023 11:40:06 am

I haven’t thought about posting them in my books, but I have brainstormed a few ideas for website articles pertaining to them. Generally, on my site I alternate between articles about mythology and creativity, so the subject has come up within a few of those and there are a variety of ways I could accomplish revealing playlists, but thus far I have posted only one article specifically related to music on ConcealedRealmscom. It is a guest post published in April of 2018.

3/24/2023 03:02:40 pm

Varied and many are the ways to include music in a book. One of the most unique methods I have seen was in a book titled, "Dear Heart" by Linda Lingle. I reviewed this book in 2019. The two protagonists communicated secret messages to each other, after their illict affair ended, by sending records to each other across the country. It and the follow-up volume were very well written.

New question.

Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

3/24/2023 03:46:57 pm

The act of finding the perfect words to describe the images in your head and make them seem real can be exhilarating. I think narration is easiest for me to write and good believable dialogue is probably the most difficult thing for me to compose.

3/25/2023 08:49:06 am

Every author encounters the easy and the hard parts of their writing. Finding the proper balance is essential and can make or break a book.

New question.

Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

3/25/2023 09:28:51 am

I believe sight is the easiest of the senses for me to describe when I am writing, and I think that touch is probably the most difficult, especially if a sensation isn’t something I have experienced before. When that is the case, I tend to do quite a bit of research before I attempt to put it into my own words.

3/25/2023 11:29:17 am

Many authors have responded similarly about sight being the easiest sense to write about. Admittedly, we are visually oriented creatures. We gather so much information with our eyes, it's a natural form of communication. For some authors touch is hard also, while others struggle with taste or smell, in a few cases.

Have you ever heard of synesthesia? This is an interesting condition that strikes a small percentage of people and involves a crossover of senses and thought processes. Many years ago, I read about it and recall that one guy saw numbers as colors and was able to perform amazing mathematical feats in his mind.

New question.

Have you ever participated in theater in some way, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?

3/25/2023 08:22:57 pm

I have heard of synesthesia, and I agree it really seems like an interesting phenomenon, although I only know the basics of the condition. I should make time to read more about it.

Unfortunately, I have never participated in theater, but I have thought about taking screenwriting classes. I think it would be a fun experience and it may even inspire some new writing.

3/26/2023 07:28:53 am

Synesthesia is a fascinating condition and expresses itself in so many different ways.

I think you are right about screenwriting. It is a different format to tell a story and I think writers can learn a great deal to enhance their talents.

Here is a blog that I find interesting about turning a book into a TV show. Copy-and-paste time or use the search box below: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/07/26/turn-your-book-into-a-tv-or-streaming-series

New question.

How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?

3/26/2023 09:55:00 am

Thank you so much for the information! I look forward to learning more.
I tend to do research as I write. It’s probably not the best way for me since I often end up researching for much longer than would really be necessary. When I find a particular subject interesting it can be difficult to pull myself back away, so much so that I did an article on falling down research rabbit holes on my website just a few months back. I found the information I stumbled upon about rabbits so entertaining that I did a mythology post about rabbit lore soon after.

3/26/2023 12:37:46 pm

I completely understand about research and rabbit holes. Growing up on a non-working farm in a small town there was little to keep me occupied much of the time. I read a lot and was frequently looking up words in our unabridged dictionary. It was huge, at least five inches thick. I would look up to discover I had been engrossed for an hour or more.

New question.

How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

3/26/2023 05:50:21 pm

I wouldn’t say much time passed at all between the idea and the start of writing the series, although, there were a few different variations before I settled on the characters' ages and such. In one early version, Amanda was younger at the start and had a brother.
Of course, there were a lot of similar changes throughout the drafts. For example, Felicity was the original name I chose for Kiami in the very first manuscript, but even though I put a lot of thought into the names I chose, it just never seemed quite right for her.

3/26/2023 06:04:21 pm

I think almost every author does a lot of fine tuning on their manuscript. And names are very important. A name carries so much weight for a character. Felicity is a nice name and makes me think of an English girl. Kiami, for me, suggests a Japanese heritage and I have a very different image in my mind than Felicity.

Fortunately, for authors, names have been recorded all over the world for generations and there are many websites devoted to popular names by area and decade. Authors have great resources available to them for historically accurate names.

New question.

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

m. ainihi link

3/27/2023 07:14:29 am

The number of drafts varied widely between each book in the series. Rise went through a lot of stages. I believe I rewrote it from beginning to end at least nine times before I even consulted a developmental editor. For my second book, I contacted the developmental editor much earlier in the process and I feel like it was a great decision. It was completed in five drafts.
The third book had the least number of drafts, but then with Resist, the fourth book there was more rewriting involved to get everything smoothed out. This may have been partly due to the fact that I took longer breaks in between rewrites with the fourth book in the series.

3/27/2023 08:32:12 am

It's interesting to learn of all of those rewrites. As many authors have said, in one way or another, a good book is not written, it is rewritten many times. I have said there has never been a perfect first draft and never will. I forget who I stole that from.

Thanks for mentioning the developmental editor. There are several kinds of editors, and they have different functions and occasionally overlap.

I am not surprised that the fourth book, this one, took longer to complete because you had many threads to tie up and a couple to loosen.

New question.

Do you get ideas for future books or stories while writing a book?

3/27/2023 09:34:22 am

I do get many ideas for future books and stories while I am working on a project. I keep a running document with notes about these ideas so that I can work on them later. I also generally carry a notebook with me. You never know when inspiration will strike, and some ideas will nag at you until you get every word out and onto paper.

3/27/2023 10:07:31 am

Many authors have similar experiences. A pad of paper and a pen are perennial favorites while the more digitally minded create a note on their phone.

Last question.

When does inspiration strike for you?

m. Ainihi link

3/27/2023 10:26:04 am

All the time! I haven’t noticed a pattern in regard to particular instances. Sometimes its when I am writing or researching, but just as often it’s when I am taking a break to recharge. During those timeouts when you start concentrating on something else, all of a sudden new inspiration can strike.

3/27/2023 11:04:46 am

While good ideas can show up while you are working on a book, the best ideas seem to show up at other times like you mentioned. I have recommended to many authors that there is value in having more than one WIP. If you get blocked on one project jumping to another can restart the creative juices flowing.

Thank you, Mary, for being such a wonderful guest on the Word Refiner channel. I have another promotion starting tomorrow and must bring this one to a close.

Until next time, keep on writing.

3/27/2023 01:00:38 pm

Thank you for giving me the opportunity. You always pose interesting questions and offer wonderful informative feedback. It has been a pleasure! I look forward to chatting with you again soon.

Resist: A Blood Inheritance Novel book 4 by M. Ainihi

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