“Pharaoh” of the Provo City Library introduces Rick Riordan
I just got back from the Rick Riordan signing and it was so much fun! I’m going to just highlight my favorite parts of the event because Channel 17 in Provo is actually broadcasting it online next week if you want to watch it yourself. Rick Riordan is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Percy Jackson Series
Rick started off talking about how when Percy Jackson was still being published, he came out to Provo and he was used to like 50 people coming to his signings but 100s of people came when he got here in Provo. “Ever since then – Provo is awesome!” he said. When his publishers asked if he wanted to go back to Provo he said “Absolutely!” Provo is one of the lucky stops on his eight city tour. And Provo was the only library on the tour. Utah loves to support authors!
Rick Riordan – Author Rockstar
Funniest story ever – As a young teenager he tried to get a story published in a magazine. He got a rejection letter after a few months. His mom was so proud that he got rejected that she framed it. When he was in college his mother’s house burned down to nothing – except for his rejection letter. His mother reframed his rejection letter and it’s still hanging in her house.
No wait! This is the funniest story ever – Before Rick wrote middle grade fiction, he wrote some adult murder mysteries. He was a school teacher and one of his students asked him one day if they could read his book and write a report on it. Rick said, “No! That’s not appropriate! There’s violence and bad language…” Every kid in the classroom got a gleeful smile on their face. “Really??” So all the kids in his class went out and bought the book and highlighted all the bad words. Then they asked him why he didn’t write books for kids. Rick thought that was a pretty good point.
He didn’t write the Percy Jackson series until he started telling his son mythology stories at bedtime. When he ran out of greek myths to tell, his son asked him to make some up. So Rick made up a character that had ADHD and dyslexia, like his son did, and said that having those was a characteristic of being a demi-god.
Rick took some questions from some cute kids who had dressed up with cool Egyptian and Greek outfits. My favorite question was from an adorable 10 year old boy in an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt.
Kid: “Why do Zeus and Ra have a truce?” Meaning, they are the top Gods of each of the mythologies so why aren’t they fighting. Rick said it’s really hard to surprise him with a question and no one had ever asked him that. I thought the kid was pretty smart. Rick said that they co-exist and don’t interact much. They might not even know about each other.
He didn’t do a signing line, so my book wasn’t personalized (and I didn’t get a picture with him), but I got a cool signed copy of The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide. He got to the school at 5:30 and signed 1000 books which I thought was very awesome of him. I had the hardest time picking a book to giveaway to you guys but I figured all his books are so good that I can’t go wrong! I ended up getting The Lost Hero which is the first book in the Heroes of Olympus series. I read it last year and loved it.
Giveaway
Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter to win a SIGNED hardcover of The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan.
About Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.
For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award.
Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two sons.
My name is Jessica. I love to read Young Adult and classic literature. I’ve been a book blogger for six years and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’m a very curious reader. Writing about all the questions and thoughts I had while reading a book is the best hobby ever.
I’d have to go with Dionysus or Bacchus. It’s the pleasure principle.
I asked my daughter this question because she is very into mythology and she picked Anubis.
I really like Artemis. She’s amazing.
I love Baset. I’m a cat lover after all.
Poseidon pops into my mind, I have a fear of water, lol, but I am very intrigued by all things pertaining to it, and admire Poseidon and most of his stories. And of course, Artemis too!
I think Athena is the epitome of a strong woman!
Athena…a strong woman!
I like Apollo.
It’s either Athena or Hermes
Artemis! Goddess of the hunt :) Although it was hard to pick – I love greek/roman mythology. I need to read up on Egyptian mythology. I’m surprised that I never did when I was little because I loved all things Egypt.
My favorite is Poseidon!
I absolutely LOVE Anubis. I don’t know why, but he’s always been my favorite of all the gods, regardless of which mythology we’re talking about.
Also, JEALOUS that you got to see Rick Riordan! He’s one of my very most favorites! :D
I like Athena, Artemis, and Aphrodite. All girls haha. Thanks for the giveaway!
I like Athena or Medusa!
That’s easy! I love the goddess Bastet because she is the god of cats.
Posiden!
My favorite is Poseidon!
Artemis!
thank u for the giveaway :)
Thanks for having such an interesting giveaway.
I love Artemis!
Artemis!
Poseidon and Artemis :D
Athena!
I love Athena the best
Apollo!
Ohh that’s a tough question! I’ve always loved Athena for some reason – can’t quite pinpoint why!
I like Athena! Thanks for this giveaway – I would love to win this book!
Athena
Thanks for the giveaway!
my favorite Greek goddess is Artemis! Thanks for the giveaway!
Artemis! I love how tough she is usually depicted! Yay for fighting women!
I’m so jealous that you got to attend this! Rick Riordan started his tour in my hometown, but I was out of the country during that time so I wasn’t able to attend :( It sounds like it was awesome though!
Athena
My favorite greek goddess is prob Hera :)
Athena or maybe Artemis?
I really have no idea……:) maybe poseidan
I love Hades :P
Hades <3
From Rick Riordan’s books I’ll go with Hades.
I prefer the Greek pantheon, and Artemis or Athena would have to be my favorite. :-)
Hmm, one of the females, Hera or Athena. Hard to choose when they act so petty sometimes.
I like Pan. Who doesn’t want to dance around all day drinking wine?
Zeus…he’s the most powerful.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love Aphrodite and Zeus
Aphrodite is my fave, I think
I don’t have a favorite but I think Hades or Zeus are pretty interesting. :) Thanks for the fun giveaway, and for the awesome stories. I’m glad you had a great time…too funny about the rejection letter!!
Lauren from http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
I really like Athena . Wisdom is imoportant to me.
I think either Aphrodite or Apollo is my favourite
Artemis is my favorite and my default Apollo too because he is her twin! Thanks for the chance at this great giveaway!