Writing is a ‘wonderful mind game’ says Ranger’s Apprentice author John Flanagan

“You deserve no marks for having the talent,” says John Flanagan, “that’s given to you. But developing it by practicing your craft and honing it is a very worthwhile pastime.”

The author of more than 10 novels for young readers says that the more you write, the better you get. And he admits over the years, his writing has gotten better, too, “thank God.”

John, who is known for his Ranger’s Apprentice series, has loved writing stories since he was a youth in fifth grade. He’s not sure why, but told Cracking the Cover it might be because he loved reading. “I think it’s a natural progression from reading to writing,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean John immediately became a novelist after graduating from school. Instead, he got a job at an advertising agency, initially compiling research results. It only took 18 months, however, until he was selected to train as a copywriter. And he’s been a professional writer ever since, in advertising, TV, and corporate work, ever since.

His career as a novelist came about a little bit differently, though. The Ranger’s Apprentice series was born out of 20 short stories he wrote to interest his 12-year-old son, Mike, in reading.

“I’ve always enjoyed novels set in mediaeval times and one of Mike’s key interests was archery,” John said. “So it was logical that the stories should involve an archer in a mediaeval country. The Rangers were based on the Texas Rangers — a small group of highly skilled, highly motivated men with an influence far greater than their numbers might suggest.”

John says he never selected a “target market” when he started writing. He just wrote. The truth is, he though he was writing for adults. It was his agent that pitched the books to the children’s market. “Maybe that’s why they’ve appealed to kids,” John said. “I didn’t write down to them. I just wrote in my natural voice.”

Last year, John supposedly concluded the Ranger’s Apprentice series with “The Emperor of Nihon-Ja,” but he wasn’t quite done with the tale. On Oct. 4, “Rangers Apprentice: The Lost Stories” hit bookstores.

The book ties up a few loose ends that John felt needing tying off. “And over the years, readers had sent me questions that I felt should be answered ( e.g.: what did Gilan do when Halt and Horace left for Skandia. Did he track down Morgarath’s lieutenant, Foldar?).”

And incidentally, John added, “I hadn’t concluded the series. I always planned for a final book, set 15 years after the last book in the series. I’ll do that in about 18 months.”

In addition to that final book, John is also busy with a new series, the Brotherband Chronicles. It’s first book, “The Outcasts,” was released this week. The Chronicles return to the world of Ranger’s Apprentice but include a new cast of characters as they experience seafaring adventures and epic battles.

John’s not sure where the idea for his new series came from, but says he’s always been interested in sailing and loved the Skandians as characters. “I started thinking about Brotherband about three years ago, when I realized that RA was coming to a logical conclusion. The idea of having a young boy who was regarded as a misfit (because of his mixed parentage — half Araluen, half Skandian) appealed to me. I like my central characters to have this sort of social problem, as I feel a lot of readers will identify with them, and to overcome them.”

So far, there are three books planned in Brotherband — “The Outcasts,” “The Invaders” and a yet-to-be-named title. After that, John’s got ideas for two more. He likes the series, so he plans on doing it for a while.

John says he loves what he does, which makes it much more rewarding than challenging. “I love the feeling of being in control of a set of characters and events and even history. It’s fun. It’s a wonderful mind game.”

*John took a lot of time and care to answer Cracking the Cover’s questions. Read a complete transcript of his interview.

**John will be at The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. It’s a ticketed event. Visit the store’s website or call 801-484-9100 for more information.