John Flanagan

Author Johnathan Anthony Flanagan (a.k.a. Flano)

Mental characteristics

Personal history

John Flanagan was born in Sydney, Australia on 22 May 1944. He graduated from Waverley College with plans to become a writer. As he grew up, he changed careers and got a job at an advertising agency. He originally planned to become a trainee copywriter, but the agency instead assigned him to train as a media researcher. While working as a media researcher trainee, he wrote an offensive poem directed toward one of his senior executives. Eventually, the poem made it to the desk of one of the company's directors. Flanagan was called into the director's office where he complimented Flanagan's writing skills and offered him the job of trainee copywriter.
After working in the advertisement agency for 20 years, Flanagan entered the TV industry and co-wrote a sitcom called Hey Dad..! Flanagan's early novels originated mainly as thrillers. He started working on what would become the Ranger's Apprentice series in the 1990s. The series originated as twenty short stories for his twelve-year-old son, Michael. He wanted to encourage his son to read and hoped that he could do so by convincing Michael that the stories were children's book ideas that his father wanted to test out. Also, since Michael was on the smaller side, Flanagan wanted to encourage him by showing that not all heroes must be big and strong.
His son fell in love with the series and began asking for more of the stories. In the early 2000s, John decided to make the stories into the first novel, The Ruins of Gorlan, and it was published in 2004. 11 books comprise the main Ranger's Apprentice series. He has also written the Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years series which explores the time before the first book, and has continued the story in the Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger series. His other series in the same world, Brotherband, was based around Flanagan's passion and love of the sea.

Education

He graduated from Waverley College.

Accomplishments & Achievements

In 2008, he won the Australian Publishers Association's Book of the Year for "Older Children and the International Success Award" for Erak's Ransom.
The series appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List and regularly get shortlisted for children's book awards in Australia and overseas.
The Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan became optioned as a movie.
The series has come a long way. Now sold in fourteen countries, the series has appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and is regularly shortlisted in children’s book awards in Australia and overseas.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

He began writing a series of short stories for his son, Michael, in order to encourage him to read. Also, since Michael was on the smaller side, Flanagan wanted to encourage him by showing that not all heroes must be big and strong.

Savvies & Ineptitudes

He is an amazing author and is expert at making lovable characters. He also has some skill at archery and has musical talent.

Likes & Dislikes

He enjoys the sea.

Social

Family Ties

Wife

Leonie Flanagan

Children

Michael Flanagan (The original Will), Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan

Birthplace

Sydney, Australia.

Current Residence

John lives in the Sydney beach-side suburb of Manly.

Gender

Male

Emails
[email protected]
[email protected]