Today's Darklight On is ... Special Guest Aiki Flinthart
Welcome, Aiki
My older brother read spec fic so I naturally picked up anything he read. Which meant I was reading Asimov, Andre Norton, Tolkien, Clarke, Le Guin etc from a young age. When my friends wanted to play make-believe Charlies Angels, I wanted to play Star Wars, or the Stainless Steel Rat (love him!).
My mother read spy thrillers and murder mysteries, so I did, too. But I was always the spy, not the guaranteed-to-die love interest. My grandmother loved Georgette Heyer regency romances, so those became a comfort-read. And I read sooo many of the classics. Some I loved, some I read because felt like I should but they bored the crap out of me.
But I kept coming back to fantasy and science fiction. I think because they combined all of the other genres. And they always held out the hope that I could be something special. That I might suddenly find myself endowed with telepathy, or the Force. Crazy, I know, but one can always live in hope.
Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in-between?
Definitely an in-betweener. Mostly.
The 80AD series were pantsed but with a known ending. For those, my son is dyslexic and found the really fat Harry Potter books daunting, but he wanted something action-packed. I wanted something educational (as you do when you’re a parent). So I smashed out the 80AD series. When they got crazy-popular, I figured maybe I should actually learn the craft of writing.
The Kalima Chronicles came next after several years off. They were pantsed but, by then, I’d learned enough about story structure to hit the turning points on purpose – instead of by lucky accident like I did with 80AD. Again, I always knew what the ending looked like. A big, set-piece on a movie screen in my head. Then it was just a matter of finding the logical path of most awfulness to that big ending.
The Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) trilogy came about while I was waiting for a publisher to bring out the Kalima Chronicles. They were all much more plotted than anything else I’d done. Still not in detail, but enough that I knew in advance what the major scenes were and where the subplots would take up the slack. The first one was rewritten three times as I tried to work out the right POV and character age, though. Ended up scrapping the first third, entirely because I’d started in the wrong place. Big learning curve.
Do you have a favourite of your characters?
I do love Kett, from the Kalima Chronicles. And Marcus from the 80AD series. Sensing a theme here – the strong, silent men type. But the friendship that develops between Kett and Corin in the Kalima Chronicles was a lot of fun to write as they are such total opposites.
And I must admit that Rowan from the Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) trilogy is fun because she’s so damned angry at everyone. She doesn’t take shit and she gets really tired of being kept in the dark because she’s younger than everyone else (by several hundred years in some cases).
What are you currently working on?
After three series of kickass action heroes and heroines, I’ve just finished the first draft of a really challenging tapestry novel called ‘Blackbirds Sing’.
It’s in the same urban fantasy universe as the Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) trilogy. And it’s the origin story for a whole new series in that universe.
I wanted to teach myself to write as many unique characters as I could in one novel. But, of course, you can’t have an ensemble cast of 25 POV characters in one novel – not easily. Unless you kill them all off, like GRR Martin.
So I wrote 25 short stories, with 24 unique female characters. Each story is from the first person POV for a different woman. Each character has her own conflict and arc. But each story ALSO advances the plot of an overarching conflict that ties them all together.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers, though.
It’s set in 1486 in London. Late medieval, early modern. So much research! You end up with a view of London from ‘invisible’ women – a baker, prostitute, nun, seamstress, laundress, lady-in-waiting, thief, assassin, pawnbroker, lute player, and more. There’s a blind woman, a dark-skinned woman, a couple of gay women and men. And a small fantasy element in a character who’s one of the Tuatha de Dannan (of Irish folk tales).
Extremely challenging to write 24 different voices from close first person POV.
Who knows if it worked? I like it. My beta readers have all cried in the right places.
Apart from that, I’m writing a non-fiction to go with my Writing Fight Scenes for Women workshop, and a novella prequel to the Kalima Chronicles, plus a prequel for 80AD, and the next in the Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) novels.
I think my brain just imploded.
What is your favourite part of the process of writing?
Favourite is tricky. I like it when I fall in love with a character and writing in their head becomes effortless. And I love it when I write THE END, thinking it’s utter crap, put it aside for a few months then come back and go ‘hey, not as bad as I thought – mostly.’
Also I love those ah-ha moments when I can’t see how to tie a plot up neatly and suddenly the fix pops into my head. I find myself grinning and going ‘goddammit, yes! That will work’ and frantically scrabbling for a notebook.
People tend to look at me sideways at that point.
I also like learning the craft. Learning to pull the right emotion out of a reader on purpose. I need to get better at beautiful metaphors. I tend to be literal and blunt (hence the action heroines). So I’m using writing short stories to improve my metaphor usage. Which is also fun.
What can we expect from Aiki Flinthart in the future?
I’ve sent out queries to agents and publishers for Blackbirds Sing, but I’m not going to hold my breath on it being picked up. It’s such a different concept that I can’t see a publisher being able to see where it would fit in the market.
Apart from that, I have about 12 novels lurking in my head at the moment, trying to get out. Possibly even look at converting 80AD, Shadows, and Kalima into screenplays and seeing if Netflix or Prime are keen? Who knows?
Basically, I’ll just keep writing and see what happens. I’m not doing it for the money or recognition. I just like telling stories and helping other authors to tell stories through my workshops and mentoring.
Who are your favourite authors?
I’ve always loved Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s works (although I know MZB had some unpleasant personal life revelations after she died.) And of course Ursula Le Guin. Terry Pratchett! Such a master of the quick character sketch. Sara J Maas is fab. Neil Gaiman. Argh. The list is endless.
What are you currently reading?
The 80AD series were pantsed but with a known ending. For those, my son is dyslexic and found the really fat Harry Potter books daunting, but he wanted something action-packed. I wanted something educational (as you do when you’re a parent). So I smashed out the 80AD series. When they got crazy-popular, I figured maybe I should actually learn the craft of writing.
The Kalima Chronicles came next after several years off. They were pantsed but, by then, I’d learned enough about story structure to hit the turning points on purpose – instead of by lucky accident like I did with 80AD. Again, I always knew what the ending looked like. A big, set-piece on a movie screen in my head. Then it was just a matter of finding the logical path of most awfulness to that big ending.
The Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) trilogy came about while I was waiting for a publisher to bring out the Kalima Chronicles. They were all much more plotted than anything else I’d done. Still not in detail, but enough that I knew in advance what the major scenes were and where the subplots would take up the slack. The first one was rewritten three times as I tried to work out the right POV and character age, though. Ended up scrapping the first third, entirely because I’d started in the wrong place. Big learning curve.
Do you have a favourite of your characters?
I do love Kett, from the Kalima Chronicles. And Marcus from the 80AD series. Sensing a theme here – the strong, silent men type. But the friendship that develops between Kett and Corin in the Kalima Chronicles was a lot of fun to write as they are such total opposites.
And I must admit that Rowan from the Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) trilogy is fun because she’s so damned angry at everyone. She doesn’t take shit and she gets really tired of being kept in the dark because she’s younger than everyone else (by several hundred years in some cases).
What are you currently working on?
After three series of kickass action heroes and heroines, I’ve just finished the first draft of a really challenging tapestry novel called ‘Blackbirds Sing’.
It’s in the same urban fantasy universe as the Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) trilogy. And it’s the origin story for a whole new series in that universe.
I wanted to teach myself to write as many unique characters as I could in one novel. But, of course, you can’t have an ensemble cast of 25 POV characters in one novel – not easily. Unless you kill them all off, like GRR Martin.
So I wrote 25 short stories, with 24 unique female characters. Each story is from the first person POV for a different woman. Each character has her own conflict and arc. But each story ALSO advances the plot of an overarching conflict that ties them all together.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers, though.
It’s set in 1486 in London. Late medieval, early modern. So much research! You end up with a view of London from ‘invisible’ women – a baker, prostitute, nun, seamstress, laundress, lady-in-waiting, thief, assassin, pawnbroker, lute player, and more. There’s a blind woman, a dark-skinned woman, a couple of gay women and men. And a small fantasy element in a character who’s one of the Tuatha de Dannan (of Irish folk tales).
Extremely challenging to write 24 different voices from close first person POV.
Who knows if it worked? I like it. My beta readers have all cried in the right places.
Apart from that, I’m writing a non-fiction to go with my Writing Fight Scenes for Women workshop, and a novella prequel to the Kalima Chronicles, plus a prequel for 80AD, and the next in the Ruadhan Sidhe (Shadows) novels.
I think my brain just imploded.
What is your favourite part of the process of writing?
Favourite is tricky. I like it when I fall in love with a character and writing in their head becomes effortless. And I love it when I write THE END, thinking it’s utter crap, put it aside for a few months then come back and go ‘hey, not as bad as I thought – mostly.’
Also I love those ah-ha moments when I can’t see how to tie a plot up neatly and suddenly the fix pops into my head. I find myself grinning and going ‘goddammit, yes! That will work’ and frantically scrabbling for a notebook.
People tend to look at me sideways at that point.
I also like learning the craft. Learning to pull the right emotion out of a reader on purpose. I need to get better at beautiful metaphors. I tend to be literal and blunt (hence the action heroines). So I’m using writing short stories to improve my metaphor usage. Which is also fun.
What can we expect from Aiki Flinthart in the future?
I’ve sent out queries to agents and publishers for Blackbirds Sing, but I’m not going to hold my breath on it being picked up. It’s such a different concept that I can’t see a publisher being able to see where it would fit in the market.
Apart from that, I have about 12 novels lurking in my head at the moment, trying to get out. Possibly even look at converting 80AD, Shadows, and Kalima into screenplays and seeing if Netflix or Prime are keen? Who knows?
Basically, I’ll just keep writing and see what happens. I’m not doing it for the money or recognition. I just like telling stories and helping other authors to tell stories through my workshops and mentoring.
Who are your favourite authors?
I’ve always loved Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s works (although I know MZB had some unpleasant personal life revelations after she died.) And of course Ursula Le Guin. Terry Pratchett! Such a master of the quick character sketch. Sara J Maas is fab. Neil Gaiman. Argh. The list is endless.
What are you currently reading?
A TRULY terrible spy thriller novel that I won’t name. But I’m reading it to work out what makes a bad fight scene for my workshop. It can be hard to work out why good writing is great, until you compare it to mediocre writing. But, aaarrgh, my eyes are bleeding.
Do you have a favourite spec fiction movie or TV series?
It might be old hat and predictable, but I love Firefly. Most TV series are predictable. You can tell from episode one or two what’s going to happen. But Firefly was so beautifully scripted and the characters so real and fascinating that it’s one of the few I’ve rewatched several times.
Star Trek Voyager was great for the gender balance, even if Janeway got annoying. I even liked Star Trek Enterprise. Enjoyed the first season of Discovery, too.
Oh, and who doesn’t love The Princess Bride?
Do you have advice for emerging writers?
Writing is a creative pastime. But publishing – whether traditional or self-published – is not creative. Keep in mind WHY you write and don’t get sucked into the economic grind of it.
I write because I like changing people’s lives in a positive way – even if it’s small.
When I wrote 80AD – in which the lead 14 year old male character learns to deal with his grief and anger – I had fan mail from a 12 year old boy thanking me because he related and it helped him get through the death of a family member.
And a grandmother wrote that she bought the books for her grandson and ended up reading them to him – giving her a chance to spend time with him in a way she never had before.
And a woman named her son after one of my characters because she loved the story so much.
And a teacher in China uses my novels to teach her students English, because there are Chinese characters in the story.
Those are the things that make writing worthwhile. Not the money. That’s nice, but if you write with money as your WHY, you’ll end up hating writing.
Write because you want to help people understand each other; to empathise with people who don’t think as they do. Write to tell stories that might help change the world for the better.
The world needs to change and authors can help with that. We should help with that.
Sounds idealistic, but I don’t give a damn.
New Release - FIRE: Book 2 of the Kalima Chronicles.
The price of freedom must be paid, but not in coin.
With the immediate threat of war on Kalima averted, Alere, Kett, and Corin must track down Alere’s sister, Mina. But Alere struggles to use her new-found powers, only certain that Mina is in danger. When slavers decimate Mina’s ship, the situation turns lethal. Jarran, the new Jun First of Mamlakah, has been captured along with Mina.
Now Alere and her companions must recover the Jun First and Mina from Hassan Nasim, the most brutal Slavemaster of Melcor, – before Jarran loses his new throne to rebellion.
In the attempt to free her sister and friends, Alere will risk more than just her own life and theirs. She’ll gamble with the sovereignty of her Jundom, and the lives of the people of Mamlakah, itself.
If she fails, it means death or slavery for everyone she loves and destruction for Xintou House.
But succeeding could be even worse.
Do you have a favourite spec fiction movie or TV series?
It might be old hat and predictable, but I love Firefly. Most TV series are predictable. You can tell from episode one or two what’s going to happen. But Firefly was so beautifully scripted and the characters so real and fascinating that it’s one of the few I’ve rewatched several times.
Star Trek Voyager was great for the gender balance, even if Janeway got annoying. I even liked Star Trek Enterprise. Enjoyed the first season of Discovery, too.
Oh, and who doesn’t love The Princess Bride?
Do you have advice for emerging writers?
Writing is a creative pastime. But publishing – whether traditional or self-published – is not creative. Keep in mind WHY you write and don’t get sucked into the economic grind of it.
I write because I like changing people’s lives in a positive way – even if it’s small.
When I wrote 80AD – in which the lead 14 year old male character learns to deal with his grief and anger – I had fan mail from a 12 year old boy thanking me because he related and it helped him get through the death of a family member.
And a grandmother wrote that she bought the books for her grandson and ended up reading them to him – giving her a chance to spend time with him in a way she never had before.
And a woman named her son after one of my characters because she loved the story so much.
And a teacher in China uses my novels to teach her students English, because there are Chinese characters in the story.
Those are the things that make writing worthwhile. Not the money. That’s nice, but if you write with money as your WHY, you’ll end up hating writing.
Write because you want to help people understand each other; to empathise with people who don’t think as they do. Write to tell stories that might help change the world for the better.
The world needs to change and authors can help with that. We should help with that.
Sounds idealistic, but I don’t give a damn.
~~~
Thanks, Aiki!
~~~
New Release - FIRE: Book 2 of the Kalima Chronicles.
The price of freedom must be paid, but not in coin.
With the immediate threat of war on Kalima averted, Alere, Kett, and Corin must track down Alere’s sister, Mina. But Alere struggles to use her new-found powers, only certain that Mina is in danger. When slavers decimate Mina’s ship, the situation turns lethal. Jarran, the new Jun First of Mamlakah, has been captured along with Mina.
Now Alere and her companions must recover the Jun First and Mina from Hassan Nasim, the most brutal Slavemaster of Melcor, – before Jarran loses his new throne to rebellion.
In the attempt to free her sister and friends, Alere will risk more than just her own life and theirs. She’ll gamble with the sovereignty of her Jundom, and the lives of the people of Mamlakah, itself.
If she fails, it means death or slavery for everyone she loves and destruction for Xintou House.
But succeeding could be even worse.
Buy Link for FIRE
On special NOW! - IRON: Book 1 of the Kalima Chronicles
Kalima, an Earth-colony world with little iron ore and no fossil fuels, is entrenched in a peaceful feudal society. The Jundom of Mamalakah is ruled by the ambitious Hanna Zah-Hill, wife of the Jun First. Deep in debt, she wants technological progress. But Mistress Li, leader of the Xintou House, prefers to keep the status quo. And has the power to do so.
On special NOW! - IRON: Book 1 of the Kalima ChroniclesWhen Alere Connor – failed xintou-telepath but skilled swordswoman – is sent by Xintou House to act as mistress to Jun First Radan Zah-Hill, she unwittingly triggers a revolution against the House and against the throne. On his deathbed, Radan reveals the existence of a hidden iron deposit. With several factions vying for political domination of the Jundom, control of the iron would tip the balance of power.
Alere is accused of the Jun First's murder and flees for her life. She must reach and warn the Jun Second, Rafi Koh-Lin, on whose lands the iron ore lies. If she fails, all-out war is inevitable - the first ever war in the seven hundred year history of Kalima.
On the way, Alere will uncover the old and bloody secret of her own existence; the reason for her failure as a xintou-telepath; and unlock and even darker future for herself and her companions.
But only if she survives.
Thanks for visiting Darklight On Aiki! Iron and Fire are fantastic books. Loved them!
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