Friday, January 30, 2009
Tweets from Camp Half-Blood
Hey guys, between now and May 5, I will be sending out a series of exclusive inside details about The Last Olympian on Twitter. Sign up to follow my tweets from Camp Half-Blood. You'll get about one fact per week, and they will only be released on Twitter. The first sneak peek is posted now.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Around San Antonio
My visits for 2009 started off easy as I did a couple of events in my hometown of San Antonio.
Last Saturday I participated in Storyfest, which was organized by the Northside ISD Friends of the Library. About six hundred people turned out on a beautiful Saturday and packed the auditorium at Marshall High School. I understand people started lining up two and a half hours early to be sure they got seats. Wow! Thanks to everyone who came out. I saw some amazing homemade Camp Half-Blood T-shirts in the audience, and I was struck by the age range of the crowd. We had fans as young as seven, and as old as high school and college age (not to mention all the parents). I did a forty-five minute presentation and then signed books for a couple of hours. Everyone was very patient, and costumed storytellers kept the crowd entertained while they waited for their turn in line.
On Tuesday I visited Woodridge and Cambridge Elementary in the Alamo Heights district, where I grew up. Woodridge was the first author visit I’ve been able to walk to, as I live right down the street. The kids at both schools were great. It’s interesting doing a visit so close to home, because I see so many familiar faces – lots of former classmates of mine who are now parents. Every other question a kid asked me was, “Do you know ________?” Their moms, dads, cousins, grandparents – everyone had some connection to me somehow, it seemed, which is par for the course in San Antonio. Even with well over a million people, it’s still got that small town feel.
Next week I’m back on the road – off to Long Island for a week of school visits in Camp Half-Blood territory! Fingers crossed for good weather.
Last Saturday I participated in Storyfest, which was organized by the Northside ISD Friends of the Library. About six hundred people turned out on a beautiful Saturday and packed the auditorium at Marshall High School. I understand people started lining up two and a half hours early to be sure they got seats. Wow! Thanks to everyone who came out. I saw some amazing homemade Camp Half-Blood T-shirts in the audience, and I was struck by the age range of the crowd. We had fans as young as seven, and as old as high school and college age (not to mention all the parents). I did a forty-five minute presentation and then signed books for a couple of hours. Everyone was very patient, and costumed storytellers kept the crowd entertained while they waited for their turn in line.
On Tuesday I visited Woodridge and Cambridge Elementary in the Alamo Heights district, where I grew up. Woodridge was the first author visit I’ve been able to walk to, as I live right down the street. The kids at both schools were great. It’s interesting doing a visit so close to home, because I see so many familiar faces – lots of former classmates of mine who are now parents. Every other question a kid asked me was, “Do you know ________?” Their moms, dads, cousins, grandparents – everyone had some connection to me somehow, it seemed, which is par for the course in San Antonio. Even with well over a million people, it’s still got that small town feel.
Next week I’m back on the road – off to Long Island for a week of school visits in Camp Half-Blood territory! Fingers crossed for good weather.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Demigod Files on YouTube
I just posted a preview reading from "The Sword of Hades," which appears in The Demigod Files. You can check it out here! Hope you enjoy.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Ancient Rome on Google Earth
Check out this cool use for Google Earth -- take a tour of Ancient Rome and go inside some of the most famous buildings. The Flavian Amphitheater is especially impressive.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Demigod Files and other spring books
My box of Demigod Files just arrived! The book isn't out until Feb. 10, but I usually get my 'free sample' copies a few weeks early. The finished product looks awesome. That's my favorite part of being an author -- seeing a book finally complete, all shiny and new.
My favorite section of the book is The Sword of Hades. A lot of people have been asking me what happened to Thalia in the Battle of the Labyrinth, and why wasn't she part of the story. The answer: There are so many characters in the series I felt I couldn't include all of them without making the story unwieldy, so Thalia was off having her own adventures with the Hunters of Artemis. However, Thalia has an important part in Sword of Hades. It's the first adventure featuring all three children of the Big Three: Thalia, Nico and Percy. I won't say more than that, but it was fun to write.
My other favorite part was the sneak peek of The Last Olympian at the end. Of course, I know the story, but it still gives me a thrill to see the first section in print! May 5 will be here before I know it, and for those of you who are wondering, all the major characters will have parts in the book -- Thalia, Nico, Grover, Tyson, Percy, Annabeth, and the rest of the gang.
On that note, stay tuned . . . We may have information about the cover soon.
Other books my family is looking forward to this spring:
The Sorceress, by Michael Scott. Third in the Nicholas Flamel series. This is one of Patrick's favorites and we've been reading the books together. Great blend of fantasy and mythology. Excellent action scenes.
The Last Straw, by Jeff Kinney. Natch. The Wimpy Kid series is huge hit with Haley and me. Patrick hasn't read them yet (my mom is borrowing our copy) but he came home yesterday saying, "Cheese Touch!" because everyone in his class has been reading the books. Now, of course, Patrick has to read the book so he can find out what that means. Brilliant stuff.
The Sword Thief, by Peter Lerangis. 39 Clues, volume 3. We have to catch up with our old friends Dan and Amy Cahill, of course! I can't say anything about the plot, but within the story arc I designed, the idea for this volume was one of my favorites. I can't wait to see how Peter brings it to life.
And that's just off the top of my head. Should be good reading this spring!
My favorite section of the book is The Sword of Hades. A lot of people have been asking me what happened to Thalia in the Battle of the Labyrinth, and why wasn't she part of the story. The answer: There are so many characters in the series I felt I couldn't include all of them without making the story unwieldy, so Thalia was off having her own adventures with the Hunters of Artemis. However, Thalia has an important part in Sword of Hades. It's the first adventure featuring all three children of the Big Three: Thalia, Nico and Percy. I won't say more than that, but it was fun to write.
My other favorite part was the sneak peek of The Last Olympian at the end. Of course, I know the story, but it still gives me a thrill to see the first section in print! May 5 will be here before I know it, and for those of you who are wondering, all the major characters will have parts in the book -- Thalia, Nico, Grover, Tyson, Percy, Annabeth, and the rest of the gang.
On that note, stay tuned . . . We may have information about the cover soon.
Other books my family is looking forward to this spring:
The Sorceress, by Michael Scott. Third in the Nicholas Flamel series. This is one of Patrick's favorites and we've been reading the books together. Great blend of fantasy and mythology. Excellent action scenes.
The Last Straw, by Jeff Kinney. Natch. The Wimpy Kid series is huge hit with Haley and me. Patrick hasn't read them yet (my mom is borrowing our copy) but he came home yesterday saying, "Cheese Touch!" because everyone in his class has been reading the books. Now, of course, Patrick has to read the book so he can find out what that means. Brilliant stuff.
The Sword Thief, by Peter Lerangis. 39 Clues, volume 3. We have to catch up with our old friends Dan and Amy Cahill, of course! I can't say anything about the plot, but within the story arc I designed, the idea for this volume was one of my favorites. I can't wait to see how Peter brings it to life.
And that's just off the top of my head. Should be good reading this spring!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
What We're Reading
It's back-to-school week in the Riordan household. There was much groaning and grumbling as we filled up the backpacks, made lunches and found the school uniforms, but both boys had a good first day.
We got a lot of reading done this vacation. With two reluctant reader sons, it's so nice to watch them just pick up a book, sit down, and get immersed in a story. It happens more and more frequently these days, thanks in part to a whole slew of good novels being published. Right now, Patrick is halfway through Skulduggery Pleasant. I'm reading parts of it with him, and it's fun to revisit the novel again after two years. I love the dialogue between Stephanie and Skulduggery. Haley is reading the newest Warriors book. Thank goodness Erin Hunter is so prolific. Becky just finished Of All Sad Words, a mystery by our friend Bill Crider. He's one of the authors whose books we always order as soon as they are published, and fortunately he keeps 'em coming. Becky was quite upset during the cruise when she left Bill's book on the balcony and it got drenched in a sudden rainstorm. Fortunately it dried and she was able to finish it, though the book is now in pretty bad shape. As for me, I just finished a book "How Not to Die," written by Jan Garavaglia, a medical examiner who formerly worked here in San Antonio. Not my usual fare, but a fascinating look at the sad and sometimes avoidable ways people die. The short version: Don't drink, don't smoke, wear your seatbelt, and if you're having chest pains, don't take Pepto-Bismol and assume you'll be okay. Now I'm back into the Bone series by Jeff Smith. Books 4-8 arrived yesterday (hooray!) and I polished off #4 during the evening. By the way, I recently read the graphic novel The Watchmen (which I admit I had never heard of until the movie trailer came out). Wow! An absolutely stunning book. Very graphic and gritty. I would recommend it to high school and adult readers. I grew up reading my uncles' comics from the 50s and 60s, and the Watchmen reminded me why I was so drawn to that medium. Older readers, definitely check this out before the movie, because (yeah, you know I'm gonna say it) the book is always better.
Have a good week, everyone, and keep reading!
We got a lot of reading done this vacation. With two reluctant reader sons, it's so nice to watch them just pick up a book, sit down, and get immersed in a story. It happens more and more frequently these days, thanks in part to a whole slew of good novels being published. Right now, Patrick is halfway through Skulduggery Pleasant. I'm reading parts of it with him, and it's fun to revisit the novel again after two years. I love the dialogue between Stephanie and Skulduggery. Haley is reading the newest Warriors book. Thank goodness Erin Hunter is so prolific. Becky just finished Of All Sad Words, a mystery by our friend Bill Crider. He's one of the authors whose books we always order as soon as they are published, and fortunately he keeps 'em coming. Becky was quite upset during the cruise when she left Bill's book on the balcony and it got drenched in a sudden rainstorm. Fortunately it dried and she was able to finish it, though the book is now in pretty bad shape. As for me, I just finished a book "How Not to Die," written by Jan Garavaglia, a medical examiner who formerly worked here in San Antonio. Not my usual fare, but a fascinating look at the sad and sometimes avoidable ways people die. The short version: Don't drink, don't smoke, wear your seatbelt, and if you're having chest pains, don't take Pepto-Bismol and assume you'll be okay. Now I'm back into the Bone series by Jeff Smith. Books 4-8 arrived yesterday (hooray!) and I polished off #4 during the evening. By the way, I recently read the graphic novel The Watchmen (which I admit I had never heard of until the movie trailer came out). Wow! An absolutely stunning book. Very graphic and gritty. I would recommend it to high school and adult readers. I grew up reading my uncles' comics from the 50s and 60s, and the Watchmen reminded me why I was so drawn to that medium. Older readers, definitely check this out before the movie, because (yeah, you know I'm gonna say it) the book is always better.
Have a good week, everyone, and keep reading!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Books to Movies
An interesting article in the online Boston Globe explores how books are turned into movies -- or in most cases, how they are not turned into movies. I think we tend to judge by exceptions rather than the rule. We think about the very few books that are turned into decent movie versions, and forget that a) most books never get turned into movies at all, and b) of the ones that are turned into movies, the vast majority are dreadful adaptations. (Eragon, anyone?) Still, hope springs eternal. We think of books as stepping stones to the ultimate form of the story -- the movie -- despite the fact that I have never walked out of the cinema and said, "Wow, the movie was so much better than the book!" I love movies, don't get me wrong, but there's something to be said for appreciating a book as a book and not a potential screenplay.
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