Rick Riordan and MPR host Kerri Miller at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota
Yesterday was my birthday (thanks for all the Facebook birthday wishes!), and last night I went with Randy to hear Rick Riordan interviewed for Talking Volumes, a local book series on Minnesota Public Radio. There were 1100 people there, and they said they could have sold out the venue three times over. Love that! Hundreds of excited tweens and teens, thrilled to hear one of their favorite authors. Riordan was funny and personable. Here were a few of my favorite tidbits:
- On teaching middle school for 15 years: I’m still a teacher. But now I have several million students…and I don’t have to grade their homework.
- On the funny chapter titles in the Percy Jackson series: I wrote the titles last, and I would look through the chapter for the weirdest thing in it. If I couldn’t find a good title, I knew the chapter wasn’t weird enough yet.
- On who characters are based on: Most of my characters are made up. But not Mrs. Dodds, the evil math teacher. She’s a real teacher I taught with.
- On who inspired him: Mrs. Pabst, my 8th-grade English teacher
- On his favorite Percebeth moment: If you don’t speak fangirl (laughing), that’s Percy and Annabeth. The underwater kiss.
- On his favorite demigod: I have a soft spot for Frank Zhang.
- On the hardest scenes to write. Combat scenes. There’s a huge combat scene in House of Hades where it’s armies versus armies. Trying to keep everything clear for the reader and also keep the pacing up…
It was a great night. I’ll post a link to the podcast of the interview once MPR puts it up!
My birthday was just a couple of days ago so we’re almost birthday buddies, Laura. Happy, happy birthday! Love this about Riordan & that he has those thousands of students. My grandson (12) certainly thinks he’s the best! Thanks for those short bits!
You, too, Linda! He was a lovely speaker. I wish we could have gotten a ticket for my nephew:>(
My birthday was just a couple of days ago so we’re almost birthday buddies, Laura. Happy, happy birthday! Love this about Riordan & that he has those thousands of students. My grandson (12) certainly thinks he’s the best! Thanks for those short bits!
You, too, Linda! He was a lovely speaker. I wish we could have gotten a ticket for my nephew:>(
My students would be so in awe of you. When I mention having “met” an author, they say, “Wow, you know so many famous people.” I keep mispronouncing his name and my students tell me so. How do you pronounce Riordan?
I look forward to seeing the video
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Margaret! I met his mom at Texas Library Association a few years ago, and she said it as if it were spelled Ryerdon. RYE-er-dun. Most people mispronounce it Ree-OR-dun. But sure enough, the host and emcee, etc., all said Ryerdon. So that’s it:>)
My students would be so in awe of you. When I mention having “met” an author, they say, “Wow, you know so many famous people.” I keep mispronouncing his name and my students tell me so. How do you pronounce Riordan?
I look forward to seeing the video
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Margaret! I met his mom at Texas Library Association a few years ago, and she said it as if it were spelled Ryerdon. RYE-er-dun. Most people mispronounce it Ree-OR-dun. But sure enough, the host and emcee, etc., all said Ryerdon. So that’s it:>)
Belated Happy Birthday! What a treat. I think I’ll see if my son is old enough to read a Rick Riordan.
Thanks, Catherine! I’ve only read a few of them, but now, hearing him speak, I want to read more. My nephew (12) is a huge fan.
Belated Happy Birthday! What a treat. I think I’ll see if my son is old enough to read a Rick Riordan.
Thanks, Catherine! I’ve only read a few of them, but now, hearing him speak, I want to read more. My nephew (12) is a huge fan.