- Congratulations on writing another nail-biting adventure for Maddie. She’s a strong character and in this book, she faces many challenges, both physical and mental. How did you learn so much about knife-throwing? Can you throw a knife accurately?
[Don’t try this at home!]
When I was a boy, I practised knife throwing day in and day out. I used to be pretty good but these days I probably couldn’t hit the side of a barn – even if I was inside the barn. The biggest problem was finding a knife that was well balanced for throwing and where the handle wouldn’t break if you hit the target off centre.
- Celtica and Gallica seem quite real to me because of the detailed descriptions of the fine details such as the food they eat and the clothes they wear. What books did you read to learn so much about medieval times?
Basically, it’s a lifetime of reading. I have always been fascinated by medieval stories and settings. Plus I’ve visited Cornwall (which Celtica is largely based upon) and France several times, looking at castles and old villages.
- The sophisticated strategic thinking by King Duncan, Will and Halt intrigue me. Was this kind of thinking something you picked up in your research about how people truly behaved in medieval times or is it how you imagine they behaved?
It’s not so much how people thought in medieval times as what constitutes sound strategic thinking, which transcends any time span. The characters you mention were all good thinkers and strategists – it’s what Rangers were famous for, after all.
- Thanks for bringing Halt into the story. He’s a favourite character from adventures past. Do you foresee an adventurous role for him in future books or is he retired from active service?
No. I like Halt so I’ll be using him again.
- For readers new to your work, can you give us a quick summary of the different series and where this new book fits into the interlinked stories?
The Royal Ranger series follows directly on from the original Ranger’s Apprentice series. The Brotherband series starts roughly between the eighth and ninth Ranger’s Apprentice stories.
- So many books, so many adventures! How do you keep track of all the different “worlds” you create?
My editor in Australia does a great job of keeping track of the characters and their various adventures.
- The ending is a real cliff-hanger! When do you plan to release Book Five?
I’ve written it and it’s currently with my editor. We’re expecting it to be in stores around October 2021.
- Are you imagining the stories when Maddie moves from being an apprentice to a Ranger, and from a Ranger to her royal duties?
Certainly, I’ll be looking at Maddie’s adventures when she’s a fully-fledged Ranger. I doubt that I’ll do any more stories about her being the princess.
- How do you plan your stories? Does the plan change as the story starts to form on the page or do you to stick to the plan?
When I get the idea for a story, I work out how it will end. Then I fill in the middle. I take notes over a period of several months, covering events that will happen in the course of the book. Then eventually I put those notes in order and write a short outline of the whole story – say, four pages long. I write a short precis of what happens in each chapter, so I have the whole story laid out before me. Then I start writing the book. As I’m writing, additional ideas will occur to me and I incorporate them in the overall story.
- What advice would you pass on to aspiring young writers?
Plan your work thoroughly (as described above). Don’t trust to memory. Put the plan down on paper.
I loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s world! The insights about the characters and the themes in “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger” really enhanced my appreciation for the series. Can’t wait to explore more about the secrets behind the writing process!
I absolutely loved diving into the secrets behind John Flanagan’s Rangers Apprentice series! The insights about his writing process and character development are fascinating. It’s amazing how much thought goes into creating such a rich world. Can’t wait to see what’s next for the Royal Ranger!
What a fascinating exploration of John Flanagan’s world in “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! I love discovering the layers behind his storytelling and the growth of characters. It’s amazing how the series manages to blend adventure and valuable life lessons. Can’t wait to delve deeper into the secrets revealed!
Great insights into John Flanagan’s creative process! I loved learning about the character development in “The Royal Ranger” and how it ties back to the original series. It’s fascinating to see how Flanagan expands the world of Rangers while keeping the essence of adventure alive. Looking forward to more discussions on this!
I absolutely loved this post! It was fascinating to dive deeper into the world of Ranger’s Apprentice and discover the hidden layers behind John Flanagan’s storytelling. The insights into character development and the themes of friendship and bravery really resonated with me. Can’t wait to explore The Royal Ranger further!
I absolutely loved reading about the secrets behind “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! It’s fascinating to see how John Flanagan developed his characters and storylines. I can’t wait to dive into the series again with this new insight in mind. Thanks for sharing!
I loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s world! The insights into the characters and themes of “Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger” really enhanced my appreciation for the series. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds next!
I absolutely loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s world of “Ranger’s Apprentice.” It’s fascinating to learn about the secrets and inspirations behind the characters and storylines. The Royal Ranger has such a unique charm; I can’t wait to see where the adventure goes next! Thank you for sharing these insights!
I absolutely loved this post! John Flanagan’s ability to weave intricate plots and develop relatable characters really shines in “Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger.” It’s fascinating to learn about the inspiration behind the series and the depth of the world he’s created. Can’t wait to see what other secrets you uncover in future posts!
I absolutely loved diving into the secrets behind John Flanagan’s “Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! It’s fascinating to see how much thought he puts into character development and world-building. The insights on the inspiration behind the series really made me appreciate the books even more. Can’t wait to see what else Flanagan has in store for us!
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I thoroughly enjoyed this deep dive into John Flanagan’s creative process behind “Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! It’s fascinating to see how he develops such rich characters and intricate plots. I can’t wait to read more about the secrets behind the series and what inspired him to take the story in new directions. Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely loved diving into this behind-the-scenes look at John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! It’s fascinating to learn about the inspiration behind the characters and the intricate world-building. I can’t wait to see how these secrets enhance my reading experience. Thank you for sharing!
I absolutely loved diving into the secrets of John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice” series! It’s fascinating to see how the characters evolve and the depth of storytelling behind it. The way Flanagan intertwines adventure with valuable life lessons is truly inspiring. Can’t wait to read about more insights and behind-the-scenes details!
I absolutely loved diving into the secrets behind John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! The insights into character development and world-building are fascinating. It’s intriguing to see how the series has evolved while still staying true to its roots. Can’t wait to explore more of the series and discover what lies ahead for these beloved characters!
I absolutely loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series! The connections between characters and the rich world-building really enhance the experience. I can’t wait to see how the new addition, The Royal Ranger, expands on the story. Thanks for sharing these insights!
I absolutely loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s world! The insights into the characters and themes of “Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger” really brought the story to life for me. It’s fascinating to learn about the creative process behind the series. I can’t wait to revisit the books with this new perspective! Thank you for sharing these secrets!
I absolutely loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! It’s fascinating to learn about the inspirations behind the characters and the world-building. Flanagan’s ability to blend adventure with important life lessons is what keeps me coming back. Can’t wait to see what insights you have next!
I absolutely loved reading this post! John Flanagan’s ability to weave adventure and character development into the Ranger’s Apprentice series is truly remarkable. It’s fascinating to learn more about the inspiration and secrets behind “The Royal Ranger.” I can’t wait to dive back into the world of Rangers and see how the new characters develop!
I loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s world of Ranger’s Apprentice! The insights into the characters and the themes really captured what makes the series so compelling. Can’t wait to see what other secrets you uncover about The Royal Ranger!
I loved this post! It was fascinating to dive into the behind-the-scenes aspects of John Flanagan’s writing process for the Ranger’s Apprentice series, especially the insights into how he developed the characters and plot twists. I can’t wait to read more about the Royal Ranger and see how the story unfolds!
I absolutely loved reading about the secrets behind the Rangers Apprentice series! It’s fascinating to learn how John Flanagan developed his characters and the immersive world they inhabit. I can’t wait to dive into The Royal Ranger and see how the story progresses. Thanks for sharing these insights!
I absolutely loved this post! It’s fascinating to dive deeper into the inspirations behind John Flanagan’s characters and storylines. The Royal Ranger adds such a fresh twist to the series, and discovering the secrets behind it makes me appreciate the books even more. Can’t wait to read more!
I loved learning about the intricacies of John Flanagan’s writing process for the Ranger’s Apprentice series! The blend of adventure and character depth in The Royal Ranger truly showcases his talent. Can’t wait to dive deeper into the stories and discover more secrets behind the series! Thank you for this insight!
I absolutely loved this deep dive into John Flanagan’s world! The Royal Ranger is such a fantastic addition to the Ranger’s Apprentice series. It’s fascinating to learn about the inspiration behind the characters and the themes woven throughout the story. Can’t wait to see how the new generation of Rangers develops! Thanks for sharing these insights!
I absolutely loved this post! It’s fascinating to dive into the behind-the-scenes details of John Flanagan’s creative process. The insights into how he developed the characters and the world of Rangers Apprentice really enhance my appreciation for the series. Can’t wait to see what comes next in The Royal Ranger!
I absolutely loved this post! John Flanagan’s ability to create such rich characters and immersive worlds is truly remarkable. The insights into “The Royal Ranger” were fascinating, especially how it ties back to the earlier books in the series. Can’t wait to dive deeper into the secrets you revealed!
I absolutely loved this deep dive into the world of Ranger’s Apprentice! It’s fascinating to learn about the creative process behind such a beloved series. The character development and intricate plots truly set it apart. I can’t wait to see what else John Flanagan has in store for us!
I loved this deep dive into the world of Ranger’s Apprentice! John Flanagan has such a unique ability to blend adventure and emotion in his storytelling. I can’t wait to see what secrets and insights you uncover about The Royal Ranger! This series has been such a huge part of my reading journey. Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely loved this deep dive into the secrets of John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger”! It’s fascinating to see how the characters and world have evolved over the series. Can’t wait to explore more about the inspirations behind the stories! Thank you for sharing these insights!