Rise A Blood Inheritance Novel By M. Ainihi

3/30/2019

Multi-volume author, M. Ainihi, introduces us to the fantasy story Rise:
When Amanda Garrett stumbles across a strange artifact in the woods, she has no idea of the dangerous secret it holds. The teen soon discovers that she has unwittingly released Erol, an imprisoned jinni, and whether she likes it or not, they are bound together until death.

Amanda's life soon begins to spiral out of control and she finds herself orphaned, kidnapped, and thrust into a terrifying reality. Her captor is convinced that Erol knows the whereabouts of a powerful relic which has been hidden from him and he wants the pair to retrieve it. Still reeling from her loss, and hoping to be spared further pain, Amanda agrees.

As the pair set off on their journey and Amanda learns more about the existence of the realms and the magical beings which reside within them, the clearer it becomes that nothing is quite as it seems.
After Amanda discovers the power of the relic that her captor seeks, the only thing she knows for certain is that her true suffering has only just begun, because no matter how great the sacrifice, she can never allow the relic to fall into her captor's hands.

Rise is a fast-paced introductory novel to an alternate world where mundane humans are oblivious to the existence of the realms that separate them from other magical races.

When she feels the darkness closing in around her, Amanda is not sure if she can hold onto a single speck of light, and soon she comes to understand that some secrets are better left buried.

This is an exciting story, I really enjoyed reading it! I knew very little about jinni or genies before reading this book. Of course, I have seen Disney’s Aladdin and I recall hearing about 1001 Arabian nights, but that is about the extent of my knowledge.
The plot kept me on my toes, it was hard to put down. The dialogue was quite good, most of the time. I liked the scene-setting. The action was above average.
I give Rise a score of 4.5, it would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors I found.

The author has chosen this as an avatar.
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Blood-Inheritance-M-Ainihi
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-rise
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Blood-Inheritance-M-Ainihi
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/m_ainihi
https://mainihi.wordpress.com

Tags: Teen, Young Adult, Sword and Sorcery, Fantasy, dark, Horror
Copyright © Mark Schultz 2019 except for the author’s introduction

43 Comments

M. Ainihi link

3/31/2019 04:52:41 am

Thanks for the awesome review Mark. I am very grateful.

Mark Schultz

3/31/2019 09:00:54 am

You are welcome, Mary. To get the interview started, would you please tell me a little bit about yourself.

4/1/2019 02:40:28 am

Let’s see, I grew up in the wilds of upstate New York and I currently reside in the Chicagoland area with my husband and two teenage sons. I love to travel with my family, to read and of course, to write.
Writing has been a compulsion of mine since I was quite young. The act of writing can be very therapeutic. Until a few years ago, I only wrote for my own pleasure. It was my husband that pushed me to pursue publishing more seriously and when I decided that I wanted to do so independently he backed me up one hundred percent.

Mark

4/1/2019 11:05:42 am

Very nice. Thanks for the background. Travel is a lot of fun, it can also be tiring.
First questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What inspired you to write this book? Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

4/2/2019 02:38:11 am

Although I only write for a few hours a day, I am a full time author. I have to set aside a certain amount of time each day for marketing, formatting, updating my website, working with illustrators, cover designers and editors.

4/2/2019 02:54:09 am

I can't recall what exactly inspired the Blood Inheritance quartet. I have been working on the four books for quite some time. Like many legends, I find the mythology pertaining to Jinn and Genies fascinating. Even though the mythology from the world of Sumir in my books is entirely my own design, I wanted the Jinn in my stories to be less like the Disney Genies and somewhat more like the ones in the ancient legends.

4/2/2019 09:01:03 am

I feel more like the genre chose me. Although I do tend to write mainly fantasy and horror, I really don’t think too much about genre when it comes to the first draft. I start with only a basic idea of what I want the story to be about.

4/2/2019 09:11:01 am

The business side of writing requires a great deal of work for the indie author. The upside is the profits are yours to keep, and a great deal of creative control.
Do you remember when you first learned about jinn and genies? Are they the same thing or are they different things? Have you ever been to the lands where those legends are commonly told?
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book?
What do the elements on the cover represent?
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

4/2/2019 06:03:32 pm

I hired a freelancer for the cover design of Rise, Lost, and the third book to be titled Endow. I created a mock up cover and explained what I was looking for for each design and I think she put them together brilliantly. The cover artist I chose goes by the name Rebecacovers.
I will try to answer your next question to the best of my ability without giving spoilers.The shadow of the girl with the rising sun behind her on the cover, represents Amanda and the shadow magic that she inherited.The demolished building represents the destruction and loss.

4/2/2019 07:20:56 pm

You did well without giving any spoilers away. I think most authors are like you, they need help with certain things, like a cover, and of course editing and proofreading.
You can answer the other questions when you get time.
New questions for now.
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?
Do you have a favorite book by another author or authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

4/5/2019 06:12:51 am

When I was a child, I first encountered genies in movies such as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Aladdin and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. It was probably only about six or seven years ago that I received a paperback of Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar by Robert Lebling soon after which I read One Thousand and One Nights. This in turn made me even more interested in the of Jinn throughout eastern cultures.
I should note that I am no expert in real world Jinn.The race of Jinn within my stories have their own unique mythology. It is my understanding that the word genie is a french translation of the Arabic word Jinn (plural) and the word Jinni (singular).
Unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to travel to the lands where those legends are commonly told.

4/5/2019 06:31:12 am

If I had to pin it down to just a few authors from early on, they would be Patricia Briggs, Edger Allen Poe, and Stephen King. I believe many authors inspire me in different ways.
One favorite book? As far back as I can remember, I have always loved to read everything I could get my hands on.

4/5/2019 10:34:30 am

The love of reading is something you and I have in common. While I have a favorite book of 2018, I am unable to pick a favorite book of all time. The books that stick out in my mind are series books. Like LOTR, Foundation by Asimov, Out of the Silent Planet by Lewis, and from last year: Lenders by Travis Borne.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired at the end of a writing session?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
Have you ever used yourself as a character for the starting point of a story?

4/5/2019 12:03:47 pm

I have not read Foundation, but it looks extremely interesting. I will have to add the series to my to-read list.
Finding the right words to describe the images in your head can be exhilarating. It is a defiantly a therapeutic experience for me and I usually feel an energized excitement when I finish what I am working on for the day.
One of the editors that I have worked with on both Lost and Rise, has called me an emotional writer on more than one occasion. I always took it as a great compliment. I think that it is important to tap into the emotions of your characters in order to make the situation believable and their individual reactions understandable. If you can’t get to know them on an emotional level, they could end up seeming flat and boring.
I have not yet completed a story using myself as a starting point, but I do have a pet project in a very rough form (mostly notes so far) that was inspired by events from a situation I was in.

4/5/2019 12:49:38 pm

There is no doubt, we are all emotional creatures. So many different things can trigger emotions and emotional responses.
Another long sci-fi series I have read and recall, Dune by Frank Herbert; his son completed the series.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

4/5/2019 02:19:44 pm

In Rise, the protagonist’s part was more fun to write. I would say that in general though, I enjoy writing both the protagonist and antagonist equally.
Amanda put’s others in harm’s way with her shadow magic and because she is somewhat frightened of it herself, she doesn’t have great control over it.
I can’t say that there is much to like about Jacob in Rise. He is certainly very driven to achieve his goals, no matter how long it takes and if the circumstances were different, that could be a good trait.
Amanda finds herself questioning her own actions, especially after she learns certain details about herself. I want the reader to remember that Amanda does the best she can with the information she is given.

4/5/2019 05:50:50 pm

Amanda did seem quite lost and uncomfortable much of the time.
Jacobs confidence went into smugness many times, he wasn't accustomed to losing.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Did your writing process change much from your early writings to your current book or did it stay the same?
What else are you writing these days?

4/5/2019 10:09:49 pm

At this time, I generally write from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm every day.
In my earlier writing I would have a word count goal for each day and I tended to spurt out whole chapters before reviewing them. Now I take it slower, thinking things out with more finality earlier on. I think that the further along I get in rewriting the blood inheritance series, the more this becomes necessary. Otherwise I take a chance that small details may not match up just the way they need to from book to book and POV to POV.
I am currently rewriting Endow, which will be the third book in the blood inheritance quartet and I am also working on putting together a Fantasy/Horror short story collection titled The Warning Signs.

4/5/2019 11:04:51 pm

That is a good chunk of time.
I have no doubt that a series offers many chances to mess up a detail.
New questions.
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?
Are you a plotter, a pantster, or a hybrid?
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

4/6/2019 08:51:56 am

I use a word-processing program and outliner called scrivener to keep everything organized as far as character information, events, research, notes, and even alternate chapter ideas. I guess you would call it sort of a story bible for the world of Sumir, where the blood inheritance quartet takes place. I also use Scapple, a tool for getting ideas down and making connections between. Visualizing the order of events with this tool can be very helpful.
I started out as a panster. In general, I would begin with only a basic idea of what I want the story to be about and write whatever popped into my head all the away to the end, before I would go back and fix it anything. I think I have evolved into more of a hybrid method now. I do have at least a basic outline for the short stories and books I am working on currently.
Even though I keep everything organized in scrivener, I still prefer to write new chapters in word first before adding them to the master files in scrivener. When it is time to prepare my manuscript for publication I use the Reedsy book editor for conversion. For me personally, I find it less time consuming and easier to use for a great interior book design.

4/6/2019 10:12:54 am

I have heard the praises of Scrivner from more than one person. I have also heard it has a steep learning curve. But its utility sounds like the effort is worthwhile.
I don't recall hearing about Scapple before.
I think the idea of just getting the first draft written regardless of how good it isn't, is a good plan. I have a hunch, trying to edit as you write could be the source of writer's block for some authors, losing track of the chain of events and stuff like that would be quite a problem for me, if I were a writer.
New questions.
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

4/6/2019 02:11:26 pm

I prefer to write at home at my desk or outside on my balcony. I need quiet when I am writing, although I often listen to music before I begin. I think narration is much easier for me to write and I feel like I struggle most with writing good dialogue.

4/6/2019 02:42:39 pm

Narration is easier for you. I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case for a lot of writers. I bet it gets down to the old "show, don't tell" adage. Dialogue is telling, narration is showing. A lot of writers struggle with that.
New questions.
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever done any theater, written a play or any screenwriting?
Have you written any poetry?

4/6/2019 03:19:32 pm

I believe sight is the easiest of the senses for me to describe and I think that touch is probably the hardest for me.
Unfortunately I have never done any of those things. I have been thinking about taking screenwriting classes though. I think it would be a fun experience and it may even inspire some new writing.
Well there was one funny poem that I wrote for my son when he was up at eleven pm doing homework one night, but I am sure it’s not a funny as I think it is. Other than that, I have written some poetry for different writer’s groups and classes I have attended, but that’s usually the only time.

4/6/2019 07:20:57 pm

That makes sense to me, sight is the easiest. That's how we receive a major part of our sensory input. I thought you might find the sense of smell to be the most difficult.
Have you ever heard of synaethesia? It is fascinating and seems to affect different people in different ways. For only a very few people the senses seem to get crosswired and the perception of the world is different. I remember reading about a mathematician who saw numbers as colors.
New questions.
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?
How many drafts do you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?
Did anything in the book come as a surprise?

4/6/2019 08:48:57 pm

Synaethesia does certainly sound fascinating.
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.
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. I’m sure this number will fluctuate with each book.

4/6/2019 09:09:28 pm

There is a good Te talk or two about synaethesia also.
I certainly understand about going down the research rabbit hole. It can be quite fun, sometimes.
I have no doubt that the following drafts will be fewer in number because you already solved a lot of issues in the first book.
New questions.
Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

4/6/2019 10:28:02 pm

I will have to check out those Ted talks!
I have loved to write for as long as I can remember. My teachers were always very encouraging. Unfortunately the notebooks from my youth were lost somewhere along the way.
That’s a tough question. I want to say that It was a gradual realization that started in the second grade, at least to some degree.
I wish that I would have known that there were so many amazing and supportive writing communities on social media before I wrote my first book. I also wish that I had known more about working with professional editors in the different stages and their process. Last but not least, I wish I would have learned more about the many different publication options available to me earlier on.

4/7/2019 10:43:14 am

Second grade, that is pretty early. I also see it as a great opportunity to grow into writing.
There certainly are a lot of supportive people on social media. I spend most of my time on Twitter, there are many very helpful and encouraging writers in the #writingcommunity. I count myself fortunate to be among them.
There are several types of editors, and each type or skill is necessary to put a polished book out there. If you would ever like to write a blog about the different types I would love to give you a guest author spot on my website.
New questions.
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?
Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?
Do you write notes by hand or on the computer?

4/7/2019 12:12:32 pm

I would be happy to do a guest post in the future.

I do have a handful of people that read my chapters as they are being written, before the manuscript goes to first editor. It is defiantly helpful to get different perspectives from multiple sources. I do not have beta readers that read the finished copy-edited version before it is published.
Why not?
The editors you choose to hire are working to make your manuscript the best it can be. In the early editing phases especially, it is important to choose editors that understand exactly what you are trying to say, and they will work to help you remain true to your vision.
For a while, I was an active member of Scribophile. I really enjoyed the community, but it became a struggle to have time for everything. So, I haven’t been participating on there in a long while. I am a member of two local writing/critique groups.
Both! I always have notebooks on hand when I am not at my computer. I even have a shower idea board.

4/7/2019 06:20:44 pm

I think that is a good idea, sharing the story one chapter at a time. You must have found that to be very useful.
The editor's job is very important in so many ways. As a proofreader I work hard not to diminish the writer's voice or the voice of the characters. It's all important.
Those two writing groups must be very different in character, compared to each other. I have always said that the more eyes on a manuscript the better.
I love the thought of the idea board in the shower. I have recommended to more than one author to get a waterproof pad and pen for those ideas that strike out of the blue.
New questions.
How did you find your beta-readers?
What kind of questions do you ask them to get the feedback you want?
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

4/7/2019 09:55:20 pm

If there is anything I am questioning about the story, I will include it in the notes that I send to them with each section. For example, I might ask if the dialogue seems drawn out or I might ask how they feel about a certain situation and what kind of impression it left with them. I believe that they are pretty honest with their notes. They have no trouble telling me if they feel like something is missing and I appreciate every bit of feedback they give me.
There is no, one right way.

4/7/2019 10:19:44 pm

It sounds like you have them focus on the story and the mechanics of the tale. That kind of honest feedback is very valuable. It's something you can't always get from friends or family.
New questions.
What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?
Now that you have a published book, are you writing anything strictly for yourself or are you concentrating on writing for your readers?
What are common traps for beginning writers?

4/8/2019 08:07:56 am

I was surprised that I could get through it without my hair turning grey. 😊
I think I am writing the short story collection more for myself.
Talking too much about writing, instead of actually sitting down to write and thinking that there is no benefit to having a regular routine, but rather only writing sporadically. Also, the endless series of revisions. I feel like I went through this last one with Rise.

4/8/2019 03:38:10 pm

That's cute!
I think short stories are a good idea. They stretch the writing muscles in different ways.
I think meeting with your muse at a regular time is a good idea. I am one of those people who like to have a certain amount of structure in my life.
Editing, rewriting, and proofreading are all things that writers can benefit from by employing others at some point. What else would you expect a proofreader to say also?
New questions.
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
What is the biggest obstacle you face in writing?

4/8/2019 06:34:44 pm

No, I don’t have any luck charms for writing.
If I get stuck on a certain part of a chapter, I usually take a break from it by going for a walk. If that doesn’t work, I do some other creative activity related to my stories such as coming up with a concept for new illustrations, cover designs, or updating my website pages.

The biggest obstacle I face in writing is doubt. I can be my own worst critic. This is another great reason for my web of reader and editor support. I will have a fresh set of eyes take a look while I work on a different section for a while.

4/8/2019 07:22:36 pm

There are many different ways to beat writer's block. Sounds like you are using quite a few of them.
That obstacle of self-doubt, I call it the Liar. Every writer experiences it, actually every person deals with the Liar. For myself, I force myself to ignore the voice. It doesn't go away, but I give it as little credence as possible. We all need that support of our peers, friends and partners in the work.
New questions.
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
If you branch out into a different genre, will you use a different pen name, why or why not?
Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but soon came to like?

4/8/2019 10:04:44 pm

I chose to write as M. Ainihi because it had a specific meaning to me personally. I believe authors us pseudonyms for many different reasons. I have heard that there are advantages to using different pen names for different genre’s, but I do not plan on using any other name for fictional work.
I can’t say that I hate any genre completely. I am defiantly less likely to give a graphic novel a second look at a book store, but in a house full of graphic novel enthusiast, I have read and enjoyed more than a few that have bee left lying around.
Are there any specific genre’s that you don’t like reading Mark?

4/9/2019 11:40:14 am

I love names and knowing where they come from. I am very unsure where your last name comes from. Would you mind sharing about how you chose your pen name?
I grew up on a steady diet of comic books. I have read and enjoyed a number of graphic novels. Sometimes the art is extremely graphic in depictions of violence. I have a limit to the violence I am comfortable with. Sometimes, it's a turn off. The only reading I seek to avoid are books with graphic sex and extreme violence. Last questions.
You are working on your series, "Rise" is the first volume. Would you like to tell us anything about the future volumes? Feel free to tease us as much as you want.
Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

4/9/2019 02:14:14 pm

I am going to start with your last two questions first here.
Yes, I think all of them help me to be a better writer, but music probably has the biggest impact on me. 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 scene or get into my character’s head when switching between POV’s.

Many, many books can be very similar and have very predictable outcomes. I think the first book that really left me feeling surprised was Birdman by Mo Hayder. Since then, I look for that in a book and I strive for that in my own work. Of course, it has to come together just right, it has to remain believable for the reader.

4/9/2019 04:42:21 pm

Rise is a fast-paced introduction to the world of Sumir, where the books take place. Sumir has similar qualities to earth and if you pay close attention to the world mythology, you are given hints as to the reason and what’s to come.
If you are interested in the complete creation myth, it was included as part of a short story titled Cultivating Wrath last November for Ink and Swords mythology themed issue.
Lost was published in February. It is the second book in The Blood Inheritance Quartet.
Some time has passed in between the first two books and as we learned in Rise, time moves differently in each of the realms. For Amanda, in the arcane realm a year has passed. But for Emily in the human realm, it has been four.
One major difference I should note is that the remaining three books are told through three POV characters. Amanda, Emily, and Kiami, are all equally important throughout the series… and Lost, in the most basic of explanations, is the story of their separate paths converging.
Forgotten legends and family secrets will need to be uncovered, if they hope to stop the world they know from unraveling around them.
Lost, Endow (the third book), and Resist (the final book) pick up directly after one another.

4/10/2019 11:32:51 am

The series sounds good! Thank you for sharing all about your other books.
I love what you said about music and character-based playlists. You should consider publishing those in the back of the book. Because music is very important to so many people.
Thank you, Mary, for joining me in our chat. I have enjoyed it quite a bit. I hope a lot of people buy your books.

4/10/2019 02:08:47 pm

Mark, It has been a very interesting interview. Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to chatting with you again soon.

Rise A Blood Inheritance Novel By M. Ainihi

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