AUTHOR BIO

Rick Riordan
For Rick Riordan, a bedtime story shared Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas,
with his oldest son was just the beginning Riordan started writing as a young adult.
of his journey into the world of children’s He wrote short stories, unsuccessfully
books. submitted a few of those stories for pub-
lication, and edited his high school news-
Already an award-winning author of paper. But he didn’t take writing seriously
mysteries for adults, Riordan, a former until after he graduated from college and
teacher, was asked by his son Haley to tell was teaching in San Francisco. While
him some bedtime stories about the gods Riordan and his family (wife Becky and
and heroes in Greek mythology. “I had sons Haley and Patrick) enjoyed living
taught Greek myths for many years at in California, he was nostalgic for Texas.
the middle school level, so I was glad to On an impulse, Riordan decided to try his
comply,” says Riordan. “When I ran out of hand at a mystery novel, which he set
myths, (Haley) was disappointed and in his hometown of San Antonio.
asked me if I could make up something Featuring a private-eye/English Ph.D.
new with the same characters.” named Tres Navarre, Big Red Tequila was
published to rave reviews in 1997. Today,
At the time, Haley had just been diag- “I think kids want Riordan’s Tres Navarre series has won the
nosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Greek top three awards for the mystery genre—
mythology was one of the only subjects the same thing from a the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus.
that interested the then second-grader in
school. Motivated by Haley’s request,
book that adults want— Despite his success in the adult mystery
Riordan quickly came up with the charac- a fast-paced story, market, writing for children was never far
ter of Percy Jackson and told Haley all from Riordan’s mind.
about “(Percy’s) quest to recover Zeus’s characters worth
lightning bolt in modern-day America,” “Back when I taught middle school and
says Riordan. “It took about three nights caring about, wrote adult mysteries, my students often
to tell the whole story, and when I was asked me why I wasn’t writing for kids,”
done, Haley told me I should write it out humor, surprises, says Riordan. “I never had a good answer
as a book.” for them. It took me a long time to realize
and mystery.” they were right. Kids are the audience I
Despite his busy schedule, Riordan man- know best.”
aged to carve some time out of his daily routine to write the first
Percy Jackson and the Olympians book, The Lightning Thief. And in Young readers—in addition to reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and
deference to his son, Riordan chose to give the character of Percy educators—agree. Kirkus, in a starred review, called The Lightning Thief
certain attributes that hit close to home. “[a] riotously paced quest tale of heroism that questions the realities
of our world, family, friendship and loyalty,” while Publishers Weekly
“Making Percy ADHD and dyslexic was my way of honoring the praised The Sea of Monsters, book two in the Percy Jackson and the
potential of all the kids I’ve known who have those conditions,” says Olympians series, as “a sequel stronger than (the) compelling debut,”
Riordan. “It’s not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it’s the mark containing “humor, intelligence and expert pacing.” Both titles in the
of being very, very talented.That’s what Percy discovers about himself Percy Jackson series have received accolades and awards, and The
in The Lightning Thief.” Lightning Thief has recently been optioned for a feature film.

HYPERION BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

And while it’s obvious that Riordan has a knack for writing for kids,
he readily admits that writing for young readers is not that much BOOKS BY Rick Riordan
different than writing for an older audience.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians,
“I think kids want the same thing from a book that adults want—a Book One:
fast-paced story, characters worth caring about, humor, surprises, The Lightning Thief
and mystery,” says Riordan. “A good book always keeps you asking • 2006 ALA Notable Children’s Book
questions, and makes you keep turning pages so you can find out
• New York Times Notable Book
the answers.”
• Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
Recently, Riordan made a “reluctant” decision to leave teaching, a Tr. ed. 0-7868-5629-7 • $17.95
ISBN 13: 978-0-7868-5629-9
career he thoroughly enjoyed, to write full-time. However, he’s
Pbk. ed. 0-7868-3865-5 • $7.99
keeping his hand in education by conducting lots of author appear-
ISBN 13: 978-0-7868-3865-3
ances in classrooms across the country, and even some in Europe.
“I love teaching,” says Riordan. “I love working with kids . . . maybe
some day I’ll go back to the classroom. I’m not ready to say it’ll Percy Jackson and the Olympians,
Book Two:
never happen. But for now, the books are keeping me very busy.”
The Sea of Monsters
To learn more about Rick Riordan, • Book Sense 2006 Summer Children’s Pick
visit his Web site at www.rickriordan.com • Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
Tr. ed. 0-7868-5686-6 • $17.95
ISBN 13: 978-0-7868-5686-2

Percy Jackson and the Olympians,

Book Three:
The Titan’s Curse
Tr. ed. 1-4231-0145-6 • $17.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-4231-0145-1

Hyperion Books for Children

114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com