Rick Riordan is the best-selling author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Kane Chronicles, as well as the Tres Navarre mysteries for adults. His latest series, The Heroes of Olympus, is a sequel to the Percy Jackson books told from the perspectives of seven different demigods. The Mark of Athena, the third book in The Heroes of Olympus series, brings together the characters from the first two installments — The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune — on a quest to defeat the earth mother Gaea. The best part? Annabeth, who’s been around since the days of The Lightning Thief, will finally get her say. Riordan took the time to speak with EW about his newest book — and why his wife and kids are his best editors. When you’re done reading the interview, check out the exclusive book trailer for The Mark of Athena below.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: My dad told me to tell you that you have big kids among your fans too. He wants to know if there will be another Tres Navarre novel.
RICK RIORDAN: [Laughs] You know it’s not anywhere in the near future because the kids books are keeping me so busy. I love [the Tres Navarre series], so not anytime soon, but never say never.
Why did you turn to children’s literature? What drew you to it?
Well, I was a middle-school teacher for many years. My students knew me as a storyteller. I would do mythology tales in the class and they would always say, “Mr. Riordan, you should be a writer.” I would always put them off and say, “No, no, I already write for adults.” It took me a while to figure out my students were right. It really is the audience I know best. What really triggered it for me was when my older son Haley was having trouble in school. The Percy Jackson story was something I told him as a bedtime story. That’s where the series came from. READ FULL STORY »
