‘Awaken the Legacy’: Jordan Summers on Writing, Destiny, and the Power of the Unknown

When myth collides with memory and fantasy is laced with ancestral echoes, stories like Blood of the Anunnaki are born. In his debut novel, author Jordan Summers crafts a world that feels at once ancient and intimate. The book’s cinematic worldbuilding, emotional depth, and spiritual undertones mark it as the beginning of something much larger. We spoke to Jordan about the origins of his story, the layers of his protagonist Aiden Theron, and how fantasy can become a vessel for truth.

Let’s begin with the title—Blood of the Anunnaki. What inspired this unique blend of mythology and science fantasy, and what does the title mean to you personally?
Jordan: The title came to me before the plot did. The word Anunnaki is heavy with ancient intrigue, connected to gods, origins, and forgotten power. But blood adds a deeply personal layer. It speaks to inheritance, responsibility, and the idea that what runs through your veins may be more powerful and more dangerous than you realize. To me, the title is a reflection of two journeys happening in parallel: a mythic conflict that spans generations and a deeply human story about figuring out who you really are. It’s a fusion of legend and self-discovery, and that’s exactly what I wanted this book to explore.
Your protagonist Aiden Theron is layered with mystery, emotional depth, and latent power. How did his character come to life in your imagination?
Aiden is the sum of a thousand moments—some drawn from my life, some imagined. He’s the quiet kid who always feels like something’s missing. The one who smiles through the ache. I’ve known that kid. I’ve been that kid. He’s not the chosen one because he’s perfect. He’s the chosen one because he refuses to give up, even when the answers aren’t clear. Aiden’s journey is about discovering strength through uncertainty, which is something I think many of us can relate to, especially in times when the world feels chaotic and our place in it is unclear.
The novel opens with a powerful, emotional scene of a father leaving behind his baby. Why did you choose to start the story this way?
I wanted to begin with heartbreak, because that’s often where resilience is born. That opening scene is short, but it carries centuries of weight. It’s about sacrifice, love, and hope in the face of destruction. We don’t know that man yet—but we feel him. His pain, his hope for his child, that silent promise whispered in a dying world. It sets the emotional compass for the book. This isn’t a story of pure fantasy. It’s a story of people trying to survive, trying to love, and trying to make sense of the legacies they inherit, whether they asked for them or not.
Morrowvale is a deeply immersive village setting. How did you go about creating such a vivid place within your larger world?
I grew up in a small town in Tennessee. There’s something magical about places that feel tucked away from the rest of the world, where everyone knows everyone and every corner holds a story. I poured that into Morrowvale. But then I infused it with layers of magic, folklore, and history, drawn from legends I’ve read and RPG worlds I’ve explored. I wanted readers to feel Morrowvale: to smell the herbs in Aiden’s shop, to hear the music of the Solstice festival, to feel that slow, creeping dread when the wardstones begin to crack. Setting, to me, should act like a character. It should grow, suffer, and transform.
Aiden and Elara’s bond feels deeply emotional and intuitive. Was that a conscious choice in a fantasy novel?
Absolutely. I think love in fantasy is often rushed or overshadowed by world-ending threats. But the truth is, the quiet moments—those shy glances, that shared silence, the trust built over time—those are where the real magic happens. Elara isn’t just a love interest. She’s a mirror for Aiden’s humanity. Their connection grounds the story. In a world of ancient symbols and apocalyptic visions, it’s their relationship that reminds us what’s at stake. I wanted readers to root for them not because they’re meant to be, but because they choose each other despite the fear and uncertainty around them.
The pendant, dreams, and symbols all seem to reflect Aiden’s inner world. How do these elements tie into his transformation?
The pendant is the physical manifestation of the unknown. It’s his inheritance but also his burden. The dreams are fragmented memories from a bloodline he never asked for. And the symbols? They’re trying to teach him something, long before he’s ready to understand. All of this reflects what many of us go through. We carry things from our past—trauma, mystery, untapped potential—and we spend years decoding them. Aiden’s journey is both external and internal. It’s not just about saving the village. It’s about reclaiming his narrative, piecing together who he is, and accepting that power is both a gift and a responsibility.
Thaddeus Blackwood is such a brooding, powerful presence. Who is he to you as a writer?
Thaddeus is the warning. He’s what happens when strength becomes isolation. He’s seen too much, lost too much, and now wears his wounds as armor. He represents the tension between justice and vengeance. He’s necessary to the story but not someone you want to become. Writing him was cathartic because he let me explore what fear does to courage when it’s never allowed to rest.
There’s a strong undercurrent of heritage, identity, and ancestry. Was that personal?
Very much so. Like Aiden, I’ve had moments where I felt disconnected from my roots, unsure of where I came from or what it meant. Writing this was a way to explore that feeling through the lens of fantasy. I think heritage is more than blood. It’s memory, legacy, energy. Sometimes we inherit things we can’t explain, but we feel them. And eventually, if we’re lucky, we learn how to turn them into strength.

As Blood of the Anunnaki unfolds, readers are pulled not only into a world of ancient myths and coming-of-age trials, but into a deeper meditation on what it means to belong, to remember, and to carry forward a legacy. Jordan Summers has crafted a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. This is only the beginning of the Golden Legacy series, and if the first book is any indication, the journey ahead promises both wonder and revelation.