Post by Twyrch on Jan 18, 2010 21:28:29 GMT -5
John Flanagan
John Flanagan's bestselling RANGER’S APPRENTICE adventure series originally comprised twenty short stories, which John wrote to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to enjoy reading. The series has come a long way since then. Now sold to more than twenty countries, the series regularly appears on the NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller List and has been shortlisted in children's book awards in Australia and overseas. John, a former television and advertising writer, lives with his wife, Leonie, in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly. He is currently writing further titles in the RANGER’S APPRENTICE series. Visit John’s website at www.rangersapprentice.com or the official Australian website at www.rangersapprentice.com.au.
Author Q&A
Will you ever stop writing these wonderful books or will it be an ongoing series?
'I don't have any definite plans here. I suppose I'll stop sometime. I may have a break after the next couple of books, then see what gaps there are to fill in. In the meantime, there are some other ideas I'd like to work up.'
Will there be movies made of the Ranger's Apprentice books?
There is currently a script being written based on Book 1: THE RUINS OF GORLAN. United Artists have bought an option on the series. There is currently no date for release.'
Why does it take longer for the books to come out in the USA?
'It's because I have different publishers in Australia and the USA. The books were published here about 18 months before my US publishers bought them. In Australia, they were issued at six-month intervals. In the USA, the interval was 12 months. Now the USA seem to have changed to a 9-month interval and Australia will go to a 12-month gap, so maybe the USA will catch up.'
Is there a difference between the USA versions and the Australian versions?
There are very minor differences, mainly local idiom and different spellings. The stories are the same in both countries (and in all the others as well). Book 4 will be released under a different title in the USA. It'll be called THE BATTLE FOR SKANDIA but it's the same book as OAKLEAF BEARERS.'
Why did you write the Ranger's Apprentice books?
'I began writing the Ranger's Apprentice series because my then 10-year-old son had little interest in reading. He was a small boy, and all his friends were bigger and stronger than he was. I wanted to show him (1) that reading was fun and (2) that heroes weren't necessarily big and muscular. If you read the description of Will - small, agile, quick witted - that describes Michael as he was. I wrote a chapter each week for him and he read them avidly. The "book" at that stage was merely episodic, with a central theme but no developing storyline. 'There was one scene where Will, having broken into the Baron's study, is surprised when a hand shoots out and grabs his wrist. Michael told me the moment startled him - "I didn't know that could happen when you're reading," he said. It's the best compliment my writing has ever received.'
Why did you choose the bow, the throwing knife and the saxe knife to be the ranger weapons?
'Essentially I've always loved archery. So the bow became the principal weapon for the Rangers. And I've always been fascinated by the skill involved in throwing a knife. I spent years practising this when I was a boy. My brother and I demolished a toolshed by continually throwing knives at it. The saxe knife I developed because I felt Rangers would need a close-quarters weapon as a last resort.'
Do you have any tips for beginner writers?
'Plan your story thoroughly before you write it. And then write. Write lots. Keep writing. Write and write and write and write. It's like anything else - the more you do, the better you get. To get story ideas, look at everyday, mundane events around you and ask "Why did that happen? What would have happened if ...?" 'For example, let's say you see a man running for a bus. Why was he running? Was he late for an appointment with a criminal mastermind? Was he being pursued by an invisible wizard who was planning to steal his mind? What would have happened if he'd missed the bus? Or was he chasing someone else who was on the bus? Who is he? What does he do? Is he a thief? Is he a victim?'Hmmmm ... some good ideas there. Think I'll go away and write that story.'
Do you think you will put a girl Ranger in the series out there for the girls who want to be a Ranger?
'There will be a girl Ranger. I have a story and situation planned for her.'
John, what's your favourite part of writing Ranger's Apprentice?'
If you were to ask me what I hold to be the single most important factor, I would have to say that to me, it's the characters: Will himself, Halt, Horace, Tug, Baron Arald and (later) Evanlyn. I like them. I enjoy spending time with them. As I was writing, I found they became real people to me and as I neared the end of the writing process, I found myself unconsciously slowing down, writing less each day, and so delaying the inevitable moment when I would write the last word and lose them from my day to day life.'
John Flanagan's bestselling RANGER’S APPRENTICE adventure series originally comprised twenty short stories, which John wrote to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to enjoy reading. The series has come a long way since then. Now sold to more than twenty countries, the series regularly appears on the NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller List and has been shortlisted in children's book awards in Australia and overseas. John, a former television and advertising writer, lives with his wife, Leonie, in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly. He is currently writing further titles in the RANGER’S APPRENTICE series. Visit John’s website at www.rangersapprentice.com or the official Australian website at www.rangersapprentice.com.au.
Author Q&A
Will you ever stop writing these wonderful books or will it be an ongoing series?
'I don't have any definite plans here. I suppose I'll stop sometime. I may have a break after the next couple of books, then see what gaps there are to fill in. In the meantime, there are some other ideas I'd like to work up.'
Will there be movies made of the Ranger's Apprentice books?
There is currently a script being written based on Book 1: THE RUINS OF GORLAN. United Artists have bought an option on the series. There is currently no date for release.'
Why does it take longer for the books to come out in the USA?
'It's because I have different publishers in Australia and the USA. The books were published here about 18 months before my US publishers bought them. In Australia, they were issued at six-month intervals. In the USA, the interval was 12 months. Now the USA seem to have changed to a 9-month interval and Australia will go to a 12-month gap, so maybe the USA will catch up.'
Is there a difference between the USA versions and the Australian versions?
There are very minor differences, mainly local idiom and different spellings. The stories are the same in both countries (and in all the others as well). Book 4 will be released under a different title in the USA. It'll be called THE BATTLE FOR SKANDIA but it's the same book as OAKLEAF BEARERS.'
Why did you write the Ranger's Apprentice books?
'I began writing the Ranger's Apprentice series because my then 10-year-old son had little interest in reading. He was a small boy, and all his friends were bigger and stronger than he was. I wanted to show him (1) that reading was fun and (2) that heroes weren't necessarily big and muscular. If you read the description of Will - small, agile, quick witted - that describes Michael as he was. I wrote a chapter each week for him and he read them avidly. The "book" at that stage was merely episodic, with a central theme but no developing storyline. 'There was one scene where Will, having broken into the Baron's study, is surprised when a hand shoots out and grabs his wrist. Michael told me the moment startled him - "I didn't know that could happen when you're reading," he said. It's the best compliment my writing has ever received.'
Why did you choose the bow, the throwing knife and the saxe knife to be the ranger weapons?
'Essentially I've always loved archery. So the bow became the principal weapon for the Rangers. And I've always been fascinated by the skill involved in throwing a knife. I spent years practising this when I was a boy. My brother and I demolished a toolshed by continually throwing knives at it. The saxe knife I developed because I felt Rangers would need a close-quarters weapon as a last resort.'
Do you have any tips for beginner writers?
'Plan your story thoroughly before you write it. And then write. Write lots. Keep writing. Write and write and write and write. It's like anything else - the more you do, the better you get. To get story ideas, look at everyday, mundane events around you and ask "Why did that happen? What would have happened if ...?" 'For example, let's say you see a man running for a bus. Why was he running? Was he late for an appointment with a criminal mastermind? Was he being pursued by an invisible wizard who was planning to steal his mind? What would have happened if he'd missed the bus? Or was he chasing someone else who was on the bus? Who is he? What does he do? Is he a thief? Is he a victim?'Hmmmm ... some good ideas there. Think I'll go away and write that story.'
Do you think you will put a girl Ranger in the series out there for the girls who want to be a Ranger?
'There will be a girl Ranger. I have a story and situation planned for her.'
John, what's your favourite part of writing Ranger's Apprentice?'
If you were to ask me what I hold to be the single most important factor, I would have to say that to me, it's the characters: Will himself, Halt, Horace, Tug, Baron Arald and (later) Evanlyn. I like them. I enjoy spending time with them. As I was writing, I found they became real people to me and as I neared the end of the writing process, I found myself unconsciously slowing down, writing less each day, and so delaying the inevitable moment when I would write the last word and lose them from my day to day life.'