Christopher Paolini“into the sky to win or die”

By: Haylee Kai

Growing Up• Born on November 17th, 1983, as a Scorpio, in Los Angeles California

to Kenneth Paolini and Talita Hodgkinson. • The family moved to Paradise Valley, Montana when he was just three

years old• Paolini was home schooled for the entirety of his education and

graduated High School.

This picture is taken on the backdrop of his hometown, Paradise Valley, Montana. You can see how this can be

inspirational.

Being Discovered• Eragon was published in 2002 by Paolini

International, LLC, his parents company. His sister drew the original cover art for the book.

• Paolini toured to over 135 schools in order to promote the book. He was dressed up like a character straight from medieval times.

• Carl Hiaasen’s stepson found Eragon in a bookstore later that same year and showed it to his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf.

• Knopf offered to publish Eragon and the remaining books in the Inheritance cycle.

• In August of 2003 the second edition of Eragon was published.

• By age 19, Paolini had become a New York Times Bestselling Author, where his book spent 21 weeks as the number one book.

The original cover drawn by Paolini's sister, Angela.

The Family Business• Paolini’s entire family has helped him

to make his books possible. About ten years ago they all decided to make the Inheritance cycle their family business.

• His father runs all the finances. • His mother takes care of all the fan

mail. • His sister manages his mental health. • All four of them edit.

Christopher and his sister .

Influences• J.R.R. Tolkien• E.R. Eddison• Phillip Pullman• Bruce Coville• Frank Herbert• Brian Jacques• Paradise Valley, Montana,

where a majority of his landscapes and ideas come from.

Fun Facts• Christopher Paolini has a sort self appointed uniform

that he wears: a button up nicely pressed shirt tucked into dark jeans, with a belt and his metal rimmed glasses. He is the classic nerd.

• His room is decorated with dragons. He has a dragon coffee table, dragon side table, dragon clock, dragon shelf, dragon lamp, dragon letter holder, and a dragon mounted on his outside door.

• Upon the release of Inheritance he bought himself his own genuine sword.

• His sister Angela inspired Angela, the bone throwing witch who helps to guide Eragon through his adventure.

• Paolini was himself a reluctant reader. He refused to learn to read. It wasn’t until he discovered fantasy that the doors tryuely opened for him.

• Eragon was also made in into a movie!

Eragon• Released in 2002 by Paolini

International, LLC. • Contains all of the archetypal

ingredients of a fantasy novel.• A young farm boy discovers a

stone in the mountains. This stone hatches into a dragon named Saphira. Run out of their hometown by the evil king Galbatorix, Saphira and Eragon go in search of the Varden, a group of rebels that hope to overthrow the king.

Eldest• The second book in the cycle was

published in August of 2005. • Also became a New York Times

Bestseller. • This story follows Eragon and

Saphira on the path to the realm of the Elves where Eragon will complete his training as a Dragon Rider.

Brisinger• Released in September of 2008. • Originally this was supposed to

be the final book in the trilogy. However, upon writing it Paolini decided that the story was too complex to be contained in only one final book.

• This story continues to unfold the story of Eragon and Saphira as they fight the evil King. Eragon is one of the last remaining Dragon Riders. As war develops, many secrets are illuminated.

Inheritance• This is the fourth and final book

in the Inheritance Cycle. • Published in November of 2011. • Since the story was originally

intended to be trilogy Inheritance picks up where Brisinger left off. We find out the results of the war an the fate of the kingdom of Alagaesia.