Author Study: Rick Riordan

By: Noelle Devlin

in San Antonio, TX

Born on June 5, 1964

Underground NewspaperOriginally went to Texas State ~guitar

Graduated with double major in history and english from University of Texas

Became a middle school teacher (camp half blood)Mythology was his favorite subject to teach

Married with two sonsStarted writing when he was 13

Became an award winning author for adult books first

Books For AdultsBig Red TequilaThe Widow’s Two StepThe Last King of TexasThe Devil Went Down to AustinCold SpringsSouth TownMission RoadRebel Island

While teaching middle school his students asked him, “Why not write books for kids?”“I never had a good answerfor them. It took me a long time to realizethey were right. Kids are the audience Iknow best.”

A bedtime story started it all.Haley wanted more myths beyond what his father, a former teacher knew.Took 3 nights to tell the story to his son and after he was done his son told him he should put it into a book.Haley was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia in 2nd grade.

“Making Percy ADHD and dyslexic was my way of honoring thepotential of all the kids I’ve known who have those conditions, It’s not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it’s the mark of being very, very talented. That’s what Percy discovers about himself in The Lightning Thief.”

A Reluctant DecisionHe quit teaching to become a full time writer. To keep

close to education Riordan is conducting many classroom visits across the country and

in Europe.Riordan says he now

understands what it was like for his students to turn in

essays to him because he felt very nervous when first

doing a trial run of Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief

with his 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Lightning ThiefThe Sea of MonstersTitan’s CurseThe Battle of the LabyrinthThe Last Olympian

The Demigod Files

The Ultimate Guide

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel

Favorite Characters to Write AboutTyson: Cyclops

½ brother to Percy Jackson

Son of Poseidon

Grover: SatyrPercy Jackson’s protector

and best friend

Heroes of Olympus

The Lost Hero

The Son of Neptune

Greek Mythology

Awards A New York Times BestsellerSelected for Al Roker’s Book Club For Kids, the Today ShowA Best Book of 2005, School Library JournalA New York Times Notable Book of 2005A Best Book of 2005, Child MagazineBluebonnet Award Nominee 2006, Texas Library AssociationAskews Torchlight Award (UK) Winner, 2006Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book List, 2005VOYA Top Shelf Fiction List for 2005ALA Notable Book for 2005YALSA Best Book for Young Adults 2005Red House Children’s Book Award Winner (UK), 2006CCBC choice award 2006, Cooperative Children’s Book CenterA 2006 Notable Children’s Book, National Council for Teachers of EnglishA Publishers Weekly National Children’s BestsellerWarwickshire Book Award Winner (UK), 2007

The Kane ChroniclesThe Red PyramidThe Throne of FireBook # 3 Egyptian

Mythology

“I think kids wantthe same thing from a

book that adults want—a fast-paced story,characters worth

caring about,humor, surprises,

and mystery.”

39 Clues: The Maze of Bones“The book dazzles with suspense, plot twists, and snappy humor, but the real treasure may very well be the historical tidbits buried in the story.”– School Library Journal, starred review

http://youtu.be/UDC26RlT8yE

http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx

http://www.percyjacksonbooks.com/

http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/

Website ResourcesTeacher’s Guide

Map of Camp Half Blood

Greek Mythology knowledge

Map of the Underworld

Resources for Students and

Teachers

Ten Signs You May Be A Half Blood

Author’s Rationale for the Series

News and Events

Egyptian History

Egyptian Games

Meet the gods section

“A good book always keeps you asking questions, and makes you keep turning

pages so you can find out the answers.”