Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan’s gripping stories introduce young readers to fantasy worlds of boy heroes and Norse mythology, where action and adventure reigns.
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Rick Riordan is a New York Times best-selling author of fantasy books for young readers. Riordan’s popular children’s literature includes Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, the Heroes of Olympus, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo.

The Percy Jackson stories tell the story of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson who discovers he is no ordinary boy, he is a demigod son of the Greek god Poseidon. While Riordan was writing the Percy Jackson books his son was being tested for learning difficulties – so Riordan wrote his Percy Jackson character to have ADHD and dyslexia too.

Riordan says writing Percy Jackson to have ADHD and dyslexia was his way of honouring all kids with these conditions. He says he wants to make sure kids know that it’s not a bad thing to be different, in fact, “Sometimes, it’s the mark of being very, very talented,” says Riordan.

As a child, Riordan was interested in Greek and Norse mythology. The first book Riordan read for pleasure was The Lord of the Rings.

Growing up Riordan was most interested in reading fantasy and science fiction books. When Riordan went to college he became interested in mysteries too. These influences are evident in Riordan’s fantasy novels for children.

Before becoming a full time writer, Riordan studied at the University of Texas and became an English and history teacher in San Francisco and Texas. Riordan writes books for children with the hope that his stories will get kids reading – and they have, his books have now sold tens of millions of copies around the world.

Riordan is the recipient of the Edgar Award, the Children’s Choice Book Awards’ Author of the Year, and is a two time winner of the Mark Twain Award. Riordan was born 5 June 1964 in San Antonia, Texas. He lives in Boston with his family.