Aiki Flinthart
| Aiki Flinthart | |
|---|---|
 Aiki Flinthart selfportrait.jpg Flinthart with her lute | |
| Born | |
| 💀Died | 2021 Brisbane2021 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Australian |
| 💼 Occupation | Australian Speculative Fiction Author. |
| Known for | Writing Fight Scenes for Female Characters. Uncovered an error in the official 1520 archaeological map of the Tower of London. |
| Notable work | Fight Like A Girl — Writing Fight Scenes for Female Characters.
Blackbird Sing 80AD series |
Aiki Flinthart (died January 2021) was an Australian speculative fiction and young adult fiction author..[1][2] Her most popular work is the 80AD series, published in 2011, having received 500,000 downloads. Her work has been nominated for and won several awards.[3]
Biography[edit]
Her brother is Ditmar award-winning author Dirk Flinthart.[4] Before becoming an author she was a geologist.[5]
Flinthart wrote powerful heroines and historically accurate detail. She is considered an authority on writing female fight scenes[6], presenting workshops on how to craft these scenes, and having written the book Fight Like A Girl — Writing Fight Scenes for Female Characters.[7]Her martial arts writing expertise was informed by her accomplishments as a multiple blackbelt in the samurai martial art of Yoshinkan Aikido, jujitsu, and gracie jujitsu. She also practiced Japanese katana, the Jo, and was ambidextrous in archery, longbow, horsebow, and knife-throwing.[8][9]
Flinthart discussed her dyslexic son's reading as the motivation for writing her 80AD series and the runaway success of her books in the interview "A Writer's Journey" with Queensland Writers Centre[10].
While researching for a novel, Flinthart uncovered an error in the official 1520 archaeological map of the Tower of London. After consulting with the archivist of the Tower, the mistake was remedied, and her novel ‘Blackbirds Sing’ is now in the Tower of London library.[11]
Flinthart passed away in January 2021 from cancer. In honour of her memory and exemplary contribution to the speculative writing field, the Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) established The Flinthart Writers Residency,[12] 10 weeks of dedicated writing time within the Fishbowl writing space, plus a stipend and mentoring, for one writer each year. In February 2021, all donations to the QWC were allocated to the residency.[13]
Her final edited anthology, Relics, Wrecks and Ruins, which included stories by Neil Gaiman and Garth Nix, was published the day after she passed away. It has been described by Ian Mond in Locus Magazine as "24 eclectic and wildly entertaining stories (including five reprints) from a mix of new(ish) and familiar names including Garth Nix, Alison Goodman, Cat Sparks, James S.A. Corey, Kylie Chan, Jasper Fforde, and Neil Gaiman."[14]
Reception[edit]
In 2019, ‘Fight Like A Girl’ was developed into a masterclass for Genrecon[15], with lessons on how to write authentic fight scenes for women. The classes included live-action demonstrations of handling weapons including live-edge swords, wooden weapons, longbow, and throwing knives.
"Flinthart's Fight Like a Girl is a considered, credible, and practical writer's guide to crafting believable fights for female protagonists, as well as creating fights that serve the best interests of the story," according to Angela Slatter[16].
On Fight Like A Girl, Stephen Ramirez remarks, “[Flinthart] provides concrete examples of how to write—and not write—females engaging in combat with males, who are typically larger and stronger. As a bonus, she dissects poorly written scenes where the description of the fight is illogical. And she provides solutions.”[17]
On ‘How To Get A Blackbelt In Writing’, author, editor, and workshop facilitator Genevieve Flynn remarks, “both a call to arms and a comfort, ‘How to get a Blackbelt in Writing’ is a practical, easy-to-read guide for navigating the writer’s journey. Learn what it takes to get started - more importantly - keep going. From Aiki Flinthart: a woman who’s kicked arse as a martial artist and an author."[18]
She was also top-8 listed for the USA Writers of the Future awards[19]
Flinthart’s short stories have been published in several magazines, and have been shortlisted for Aurealis Awards. ‘Blackbird Sing’ was shortlisted for both Norma K. Hemming[20] Awards and Aurealis Awards.[21] It is also being recorded as an audiobook by Bolinda Publishing and is in production discussion for adaptation into a TV series. Of Blackbirds Sing Traci Harding said it was a "masterfully woven tale that is an absolute delight to read. I adored that each chapter told the story of a different woman. Every character is crafted to perfection in a tale that was gritty, vivid, and fascinating to read. Bravo. A clever saga that is quite the masterpiece."[22]
Flinthart's short stories and novels have received praise from contemporary authors. Juliet Marillier describes the Kalima Chronicles as delightful for lovers of epic fantasy[23], while Kylie Chan says that in the book Iron Flinthart has "merged three cultures into a fascinating amalgam and laid an interesting YA plot with great characters"[24]
She was recognized in memoriam at the 56th Nebula Awards ceremony on 5 June 2021.[25]
Bibliography[edit]
Non-Fiction[edit]
Flinthart’s non-fiction stemmed from her experiences in martial arts. She appeared on various podcasts due to her expertise on writing fight scenes for women, medieval times, and weaponry.
Fight Like A Girl: Writing Fight Scenes for Female Characters
How To Get A Blackbelt In Writing
Fiction[edit]
The 80AD series (YA Adventure/Fantasy)[edit]
80AD Book 1: The Jewel of Asgard
80AD Book 2: The Hammer of Thor
80AD Book 3: The Tekhen of Anuket
The Ruadhán Sidhe novels (YA Urban fantasy)[edit]
Blackbirds Sing - A Ruadhan Sidhe Origin Story
The Kalima Chronicles (YA Adventure/Fantasy)[edit]
Other Novels[edit]
Sold! (Contemporary Romance/Adventure)
Short Story Anthologies & Collections[edit]
Relics, Wreck and Ruins (Edited by Aiki Flinthart).
The Zookeeper’s Tales of Interstellar Oddities (With Pamela Jeffs)
Return (The Springfield Writers Group)
Short Stories[edit]
2016 The Snack - flash fiction competition runner up, published on QLD Writers Centre website.
2017 Flight - in anthology "Return" - published by Computing Advantages & Training.
2017 A Maiden's Fate - in anthology "Return" - publisher as above.
2017 A Little Faith - in anthology "Like a Woman" (short-listed in Australia's premier speculative fiction Aurealis Awards)
2019 Pigshit and Gold - in Dimension6 #18 magazine published by Cordelion Publishing (story shortlisted in 2019 Aurealis Awards).
2019 Infinite Monkeys - in AntipodeanSF # 249
2019 A Broken World Awaits in Darkness - in Aphelion #237
2019 In Every Reign a Little Life Must Fall - in "Elemental" anthology - publisher Computing Advantages & Training
2019 Fight Like a Girl - non-fiction article on writing fight scenes - Grimdark Magazine # 20
2020 Four Hours of Instability - in "Aries" (The Zodiac Series volume 4) - publisher Deadset Press
2020 A Gift for Aphrodite - in "Pisces" (The Zodiac Series volume 3) - publisher Deadset Press
2020 The Faktor Incident - in "Gemini" (The Zodiac Series volume 6) - publisher Deadset Press
2020 She Walks on Frosted Fields - in "Aquarius" (The Zodiac Series volume 2) - publisher Deadset Press (story top-8 listed in USA Writers of the Future award)
References[edit]
- ↑ "Summary Bibliography: Aiki Flinthart". Internet Science Fiction Database.
- ↑ "AIKI FLINTHART". GenreCon 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ↑ The University of Queensland. "Austlit". The University of Queensland. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ↑ "The Last Bastion". The Last Bastion. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ "Editing and Story Development". Aiki Flinthart - Author. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ Flinthart, Aiki (2019). Fight Like A Girl. Aiki Flinthart. ISBN 9780994592828. Search this book on
- ↑ romankato (2018-09-27). "Author to hold fight scene workshop". The Source News. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ "Blackbelt in Writing with Aiki Flinthart – Online Courses from Queensland Writers Centre". Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ "Writing Fight Scenes for Women: Masterclass with Aiki Flinthart – Queensland Writers Centre". Retrieved 2021-02-17.
- ↑ "A Writer's Journey". Queensland Writers Centre.
- ↑ "2020 Snapshot: Aiki Flinthart". Australian SF Snapshot Project. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ "The Flinthart Writing Residency". Queensland Writers Centre. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ "Donate". Queensland Writers Centre. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ↑ "Ian Mond Review Relics Wrecks and Ruins".
- ↑ "GenreCon 2019: Fight Like a Girl Masterclass with Aiki Flinthart – Queensland Writers Centre". Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ↑ Flinthart, Aiki (2019). Fight Like A Girl. Aiki Flinthart. p. 236. ISBN 9780994592828. Search this book on
- ↑ "Book Review—Fight Like a Girl". Steven Ramirez. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ↑ Flinthart, Aiki (2020-06-28). How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing. CAT Press. Search this book on
- ↑ Joni. "Writers of the Future 2nd Quarter Winners". Writers of The Future. Galaxy Press. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ↑ Tehani, ~ (2020-08-02). "2020 Norma K Hemming Finalists Announcement". The Norma K Hemming Award. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ Tehani (2020-03-25). "2019 Aurealis Awards shortlist announcement". Aurealis Awards. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ Blackbird Sing. ASIN 0655694773. Search this book on
- ↑ Flinthart, Aiki (2019). The Kalima Chronicles: Steel. ISBN 9780994592804. Search this book on
- ↑ Flinthart, Aiki (2018). The Kalima Chronicles: Iron. ISBN 9780648287865. Search this book on
- ↑ 56th Nebula Awards (Video) (Video). USA: SFWA. June 5, 2021. Event occurs at 1:13:08. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
External Links[edit]
- Aiki Flinthart Webpage.
- Aiki Flinthart at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Aiki Flinthart on AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource.
- [1] on Writers of The Future.
- Return on Amazon.
- Hogan, Mirren. Like A Woman. Independent. ISBN 1976722675. Search this book on
- Flinthart, Aiki. "Pigshit & Gold". Coeur de Lion. Coeur de Lion. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- Ian Mond Reviews "Relics, Wrecks and Ruins" on [2] on Locus Magazine.
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