Rick Riordan's Blog, page 3

Hello to my wonderful readers, and a very happy October — month of magic, mystery, and here in New England, crisp autumn air and leaves changing color! I do love this season, and it’s made ever better when I get to share fantastic news with you.

Daughter of the Deep tour is underway!

If you haven’t signed up to join us on the Daughter of the Deep tour, some events still have space, though others (like last night’s kick-off with Barnes & Noble) have sold out. I will be sharing the latest updates and answering questions from the attendees, so please join us! I’ve also heard that, despite supply chain woes, the first printing for hardcopies of Daughter of the Deep has now shipped to the retailers, including the signed editions for the events, so you should be able to get your copy shipped at least by the new official release date of Oct. 26. Phew! Thanks to Disney Publishing for working overtime and struggling against Herculean challenges to get you these books.

And thanks to my fans for embracing this new adventure, Daughter of the Deep. My first sci-fi novel, introducing hero Ana Dakkar, had pre-orders that were even higher than my previous book The Tower of Nero (and the pre-orders on that were excellent). Every time I write a book, I still half expect no one will buy it or read it, because I spent years writing in obscurity, but every time I am so grateful that so many of you continue to want to join me on this wild ride of storytelling, even beyond Percy Jackson. I hope you have as much fun reading about Ana’s adventures as I had writing them!

As I announced last night at the tour event, we are presently developing Daughter of the Deep as a feature film for Disney+. Becky and I will be producing through our company Mythomagic, and I will be co-writing the script with a wonderfully talented partner — more on that soon!

That Nico Newsblast

Entertainment Weekly broke the news exclusively last night, after I announced this project during the first Daughter of the Deep tour event: Nico and Will are invading Tartarus! Read the full details here. I will only add that it is so exciting to work with Mark Oshiro! They are an incredibly gifted author, and if you haven’t already read their books, what are you waiting for? You can also follow Mark on Twitter at @MarkDoesStuff.

I have never co-written a novel with anyone. I have never invited another writer into the Percy Jackson world to do their own take on my characters in this way. But for the Nico and Will novel, this seems incredibly important, and Mark is just the person to do it! This is not a ‘ghost-writing’ or ‘assistant writer’ situation. This is a full 50-50 partnership in which we share equal credit and an equal advance, and I can’t wait for you to see the results. Already, Mark has amazed me with their beautiful writing about our favorite guys, Nico and Will. So very excited to continue the project! We do not have a title for the book yet, nor are pre-orders available yet. The tentative publication date is 2023. As soon as I have more info, I will update you! Thank you, Mark, for accepting the invitation and bringing your talents to this crazy wonderful project!

Some of you have asked: But wait, didn’t Rick say he was done with Percy’s world? Not exactly. I said I did not anticipate doing any more massive five-book series in this world, like PJO, Heroes of Olympus, and Trials of Apollo. That is still true. But if you have read The Tower of Nero, you probably saw how I left little clues that might lead to stand-alone adventures for various characters, like this Nico-Will book. What do you think? Could you imagine further partnership projects, with me teaming up with great own-voices co-writing partners to reinterpret and put their own stamp on various demigods’ stories? I guess we will have to see what the future holds . . .

The Cursed Carnival hits the Bestseller List

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint family hit the New York Times bestseller list yesterday with The Cursed Carnival, which is a pretty amazing accomplishment for a short story anthology! All our contributors are now New York Times bestselling writers if they weren’t already, as well they should be! Congrats and sincere thanks to all the contributors. And again, thank you to all the readers who have embraced the imprint and its mission. I’m also glad you’ve enjoyed my contribution on Irish mythology, My Life as a Child Outlaw.

PJOTV

I will just say here that things are moving forward in exciting ways! All signs are positive! Come on by one of the Daughter of the Deep events, and I’ll give you the latest during Q&A!

So excited to announce the latest up-and-coming titles from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint! Still confused what the imprint is about? Answers here!

First up, a brand new look for Carlos Hernandez’s award-winning SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE, and the upcoming sequel SAL AND GABI FIX THE UNIVERSE!Doesn’t that Pura Belpré award sticker look nice? In the sequel, Sal has to prevent a rogue Gabi from another universe from destroying his own! Oh, it’s so, so good.

Carlos’ Twitter: @WriteTeachPlay

Jacket art by Guilherme Asthma (Instagram: guilherme_asthma)

Designed by Phil Buchanan (Twitter @fillbuchanan)

Both on sale May 5, 2020!

Next, the third and final volume of J.C. Cervantes’ blockbuster Maya-myth-inspired Storm Runner trilogy: THE SHADOW CROSSER! I think this is the best cover yet, and I love them all! In this adventure, Zane Obispo and his friends try to rescue the Maya gods from the clutches of a faceless enemy.

J.C. Cervantes’ Twitter: @jencerv

Jacket art by Irvin Rodriguez (irvinrodriguez.com)

Designed by Phil Buchanan (Twitter @fillbuchanan)

On sale September 1, 2020!

And coming in October, you are not ready for TRISTAN STRONG DESTROYS THE WORLD! When Tristan’s Nana is abducted, he has to return to Alke, the land of folktale heroes and gods, where, instead of getting a hero’s welcome, he gets KO’d. Yikes!

Kwame Mbalia’s Twitter: @KSekouM

Jacket art by Eric Wilkerson (Instagram: ericwilkersonart)

Designed by Tyler Nevins (Twitter: @TylerNev)

On sale October 6, 2020!

And finally (for now) how cool is this? Sarwat Chadda’s CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD! Sikander, the son of Muslim immigrants, has a quiet life helping his parents run their deli until the day Nergal, the ancient Mesopotamian god of disease, shows up demanding he turn over the secret to eternal life.

Sarwat Chadda’s Twitter: @sarwatchadda

Jacket art by Kerem Beyit (Twitter: @KBeyit)

Designed by Jamie Alloy (Twitter: @JamieAlloy)

On sale January 5, 2021!

WOW, WOW, WOW. Pre-order these asap, guys. You have your reading plans figured out through January 2021!

 

It’s been a while since I’ve done a round-up of the books I have read, so here’s what has been keeping me entertained, inspired and amazed the past few months. As always, it may appear that I love every book I read, but that’s hardly the case. I just choose not to mention the books I didn’t love or couldn’t finish, because there are enough bad reviews in the world. So let’s concentrate on what I really enjoyed!

I loved Moreno-Garcia’s vampire novel Certain Dark Things, so I was excited to read her take on the Maya gods. Set in Mexico in the 1920s, the book follows Cassiopeia Tun, the ‘poor relations’ granddaughter of a small town patriarch in the Yucatan. Cassiopeia’s mother disgraced the family by eloping with Cassiopeia’s dark-skinned father, then had no choice but to return to her family when her husband died. Now Cassiopeia is forced to work as the family maid, while her arrogant cousin Martín misses no chance to boss her around and get her in trouble. Cassiopeia’s future seems hopeless and bleak until in a moment of defiance she opens a locked chest in her grandfather’s bedroom, and releases an imprisoned Maya god of death, Hun-Kame. Formerly the king of the Maya Underworld, Xibalba, Hun-Kame was overthrown by his treacherous twin brother Vucub-Kame, who charged Cassiopeia’s grandfather with guarding the box that held Hun-Kame’s bones. As extra insurance against Hun-Kame’s return, Vucub-Kame also took bits and pieces of his brother — an eye, a finger, a necklace — and scattered them across the land so Hun-Kame could never be whole again even if he somehow escaped. Hun-Kame rises from his prison neither man nor god, but determined to reclaim his throne. He enlists Cassiopeia as his comrade-in-arms, and the two set off across Mexico to restore Hun-Kame by finding his missing bits. Meanwhile, Vucub-Kame recruits Cassiopeia’s repugnant cousin Martín to stop them. The quest narrative is marvelous, with demons, evil spirits, sorcerers and flappers dancing the Charleston. The romantic tension is electric between Cassiopeia and her god of death companion, who cannot possibly feel love (or can he?) What I especially loved is Moreno-Garcia’s refusal to offer easy solutions, or to cast any of her characters as completely good or evil. We come to understand everyone’s motives, and to feel sympathy for the devil (or at least the gods of Xibalba). This is a delicious novel with Maya mythology seamlessly interwoven into a Jazz Age love story adventure.

I’m not sure why I picked up this book. It just sort of found its way into my hands. A historical novel set in Moscow from 1918 through the 1950s, it follows Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, a cultured and well-educated Russian nobleman who rushes back to his country in the early days of the Revolution, only to narrowly escape the firing squad and get sentenced to life imprisonment within his hotel, the Metropol. He is given this small mercy only because he once wrote a poem that some Bolsheviks consider to be proto-Revolutionary, and because Rostov himself never took sides in the conflict. A novel spanning decades with the action all confined within one building might sound claustrophobic, but not in Towles’ hands. He brings the world to the Metropol, and gives us a fascinating look at the changes in Russia from the early days of Lenin through the Stalinist era and into the Cold War under Khrushchev. Rostov makes the unlikeliest friends: high Party members, CIA operatives, scholars, movie stars, and a precocious girl named Nina who ‘adopts’ him and shows him all the back corridors and secret rooms of the hotel which she has explored. Though this is not a fantasy novel, it reminded me of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia, because Towles manages to contain an entire world in a building. In fact, there is literally a secret passage in the back of a wardrobe, which Rostov uses to good effect. It is a novel of humorous vignettes and deft character studies, held together by the reader’s constant concern for Rostov’s safety. In the tumultuous U.S.S.R., almost no one is safe. A hero one day can be shot as a traitor the next. How can our friend the Count possibly have a happy ending? Is he, in fact, as one friend proclaims, the “luckiest man in Russia” because he is confined to the Hotel Metropol? I won’t give away the ending, but I found the book sweet, satisfying, touching, and surprisingly funny. Towles is a consummate storyteller.

You think I torture my characters? Pffft. I am a rank amateur compared to R.F. Kuang! Set in an alternate Asia and inspired by the Opium Wars and 19th Century colonialism in China, The Poppy War is the story of Rin, a small-town orphan whose only chance to escape poverty and an oppressive arranged marriage is to score top marks on the government’s exams and earn a place at Sinegard Academy, where the Nikara Empire’s best and brightest are trained for leadership. Imagine a combination of West Point, Oxford and Hogwarts, and if that sounds intriguing, it is! Just don’t get too attached to the place, because Rin’s training at Sinegard is only the beginning of our story. Nikara (think Qing dynasty China), a vast but disorganized empire with out-of-date technology and many warring internal factions, is on the verge of war with its old nemesis the Mugen Federation (think Imperialist Japan). Rin and a few other ragtag misfits with an aptitude for shamanist magic may be the only secret weapon that can stop Mugen from completely destroying their homeland. The problem is the type of magic Rin summons cannot easily be controlled. It could drive her crazy, take her over completely, or, you know, possibly start Armageddon. But other than that, I’m sure everything will be fine!

Not really. Though the beginning of the book may read like the fantasy narrative we all know and love — obscure girl goes through training to discover she is the Chosen One — Kuang subverts that narrative and quickly turns our expectations upside-down. She shows us how sinister a training academy can be, how it can be used for nefarious purposes, and how easily the teacher-student relationship can turn abusive and traumatizing. Who are the good guys here? Are there any? Kuang gives us no easy answers, but she lets us feel sympathy for our young protagonist Rin and her comrades. The cruelty and horror of war are vividly described, so be prepared for violence — graphic and awful, but entirely appropriate to the narrative. The big question becomes what Rin will choose. Is victory worth the price of her soul? No one is spared in this book. Everyone is beat up, orphaned, traumatized, killed, gravely injured, driven insane, dehumanized, abused and/or tortured. I loved it! I mean . . . I didn’t love the horrors described, or the vast amount of suffering, but the stakes were real, the story was grimly compelling, and the characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. Highly recommended. Now I am going to take a deep cleansing breath and prepare myself for more painful enjoyment (enjoyable pain?) in Kuang’s two sequels!

 

I bought this book as soon as I read the premise, and the novel exceeded my high expectations. What happens to all those children in fantasy novels who come back from fantastic worlds — when Lucy emerged from the wardrobe, or Alice from the looking glass, or Max from the Land of the Wild Things? Surely that’s got to be a traumatic re-entry into mundane reality. Every Heart a Doorway takes that idea and runs with it, introducing us to Miss West’s Home for Wayward Children, where such young folk are given a safe place to recover and recuperate after their otherworldly experiences. Some of the children have been to lands of order, some to lands of chaos, some to dark, some to light. But all have been kicked out and forced to return home, and now they long to return to their fantasy realms. Miss West tries to console them, and convince them to accept the grim reality that they can never return. The home is part school, part orphanage, part addiction recovery center. Each child has been permanently marked and changed by their experiences. Our protagonist Nancy still yearns for her time in the realm of the dead, where everything seemed more peaceful, more ordered, more comfortable. She misses the silence and the shadows. She knows the lord and lady of death would welcome her back, if she could just find the way. Then, shortly after Nancy’s arrival, children at the school begin to be brutally murdered. Who is the killer, and why are these deaths happening? The story is poignant and sweet — a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, while also serving as a great mystery. It is a short read, but powerful, and I especially appreciated the way Nancy was represented as romantic asexual. I just don’t see many characters like this in fiction, and I found her portrayal believable and well-done. I am glad this book is the beginning of a series!

 

 

Phew! Just back from the winter solstice meeting on Mount Olympus. I promised you a report. I don’t have any solid news yet, sorry, but I did petition the gods directly, so we’ll see what happens! The transcript of my talk with the Olympians is below.

 

Notes from Winter Solstice Meeting 2019,

Mount Olympus

600th Floor, Empire State Building

New York City

 

 

INT. MOUNT OLYMPUS – THRONE ROOM

 

We see an aging mortal writer in the midst of a great chamber. He is dwarfed by a semicircle of giant thrones inhabited by the Olympian deities.

 

Rick Riordan

Thank you for seeing me, O great Olympians.

Zeus

We understand you want . . . (checks notes) a reboot. What is wrong with your present boots?

RR:

No, Lord Zeus, a reboot adaptation of my books about Percy Jackson.

Zeus:

I knew that. Percy . . . Yes, he’s a good lad. Those movies, though –

Ares:

Oh, gods! No. Just NO. I wanted to KILL somebody.

Hermes:

To be fair, Ares, you always want to kill someone.

Ares:

THAT’S NOT THE POINT!

Athena:

Mr. Riordan, we already rained fire and pestilence upon that studio.

RR:

Yes, Lady Athena, and I appreciate that.

Athena:

The particular division that made those horrendous adaptations has been dismantled. And the remainder of the company has been . . . (dramatic pause) acquired. (Glances at Zeus) Which corporate hydra did we send to devour it? Starbucks? Amazon?

Hephaestus:

(grumpily) Disney. I made a very competitive bid with Hephaestus-TV, but I was rejected! Bah!

Athena:

I remember now. The hydra of the Mouse God. A powerful force indeed! At any rate, Mr. Riordan, after your first movie experience, didn’t you swear on the River Styx that you would never go to Hollywood again?

RR:

I may have made some rash statements to that effect.

Hades:

We take oaths on the River Styx very seriously, Riordan. Don’t make me claim your soul before its time!

RR:

No, Lord Hades. Of course not. I just thought . . . well, honestly, I’d be happy to just write books and ignore Hollywood forever, but my fans really, REALLY want me to try again, seeing as there are so many new opportunities now that Disney has acquired the rights –”

Artemis:

I loved Frozen. Oh, gods. Elsa is Hunter Squad goals!!!

Ares:

I preferred Mulan. The new live action version looks lit — like nuclear bomb lit.

Aphrodite:

You are all silly. The Little Mermaid is the best. (sighs)

Poseidon:

For once, I agree with you. (clears throat). But we’re getting off track. Riordan needs to appease his fans. That is something we gods can understand. What would you have us do, mortal writer person? A hurricane against Los Angeles? A tsunami? This is, after all, my son Percy’s reputation we’re talking about!

RR:

No, Lord Poseidon, nothing so dramatic. The executives I have talked to so far have been interested. I think they’ve listened to me. But there are many people that must give their input. Many executives to speak with.

Hermes:

 

True. The servants of the Mouse God are myriad.

RR:

 

Right now, they are considering my words, and talking, and pondering.

Athena:

That is wise. Such actions must be carefully considered.

Hermes:

Ugh, but pondering, though. That could take months. Years. Decades.

RR:

(sighs) True, Lord Hermes. It is a very long process. That’s why I was hoping you gods could give me your blessing. Perhaps send some good omens our way? Really, any support could help.

Zeus:

(stroking his beard) We could get a hashtag trending on social media.

RR:

Actually, my fans already did that, without me even asking. It shot to #1 worldwide on Twitter.

Demeter:

(busily sorting different kinds of cereal in a large bowl) You could spend more time meeting with people in Hollywood.

RR:

I have already done that. I’ve gone to L.A. twice this fall, each time for a full week of meetings.

Artemis:

(winces) That is a lot of time in L.A.

Athena:

Perhaps we could show Disney how beloved these books are. We could grant you tremendous success and years on the bestseller lists.

Hermes:

(waves his hand impatiently) Guys, Riordan’s already got huge success. Those Percy books have been on the bestseller list for ten solid years. That should be a strong enough message!

Ares:

Well, I suppose that leaves us no choice but a full frontal assault. I will summon the war chariots!

RR:

That’s not necessary, Lord Ares! Just your blessings are all I ask. May I continue to negotiate and push for a new adaptation? Will you favor my efforts?

Poseidon:

Absolutely! Those books have brought me incredible publicity. Er, I mean, they’ve brought all of us incredible publicity.

Ares:

Hmm. I didn’t come across as a very nice guy.

Silence.

Athena:

Anyway, what would this new adaptation look like, Riordan?

RR:

I have some very specific ideas, but it’s too early to say. We have to wait to see what the minions of the Mouse God are willing to consider. The most important thing is to do a faithful adaptation that makes the fans of my books happy. They’ve been waiting for over ten years, and I really don’t want to let them down.

Hermes:

Yes, fine, but what’s our cut?

RR:

Your cut? Um, well . . . you get lots of publicity. New readers hearing about you, learning your names and your deeds. I’ll even burn a sandwich in your honor.

Hermes:

Peanut butter?

RR:

Sure.

Hermes:

You are a shrewd negotiator, Riordan. I will support you.

Zeus:

Would you be willing to take some notes on the script, though? For one thing, I should be played by Brad Pitt.

Ares:

No, I’m Brad Pitt!

Demeter:

 

(looks up from her large bowl of cereal) No, Brad Pitt is mine! (blinks) Wait, what are we talking about?

Hera:

(glances up from her Good Housekeeping magazine) Go back to sorting your Frosted Flakes, Sister. (narrows her eyes at Riordan) I always come off looking like the villain in your books, Riordan. Why is that? Why should I support you?

RR:

Ah. Well, Lady Hera –

Zeus:

Don’t be touchy, my dear. He took artistic liberties, that’s all.

Hera:

Hmmm.

Zeus:

Speaking of artistic liberties, what if – hear me out – what if we made Percy Jackson a teenaged vampire?

Poseidon:

Never! But I think the story would work well if we made all the characters be in their early twenties. And we turned it into a sort of spy thriller meets romantic comedy.

Athena:

Or perhaps you could just let the author do what his millions of fans want and be faithful to the source material.

Zeus:

Well . . . I suppose you’re the goddess of wisdom for a reason.

Athena:

Also, I want to be played by Brie Larson.

Hermes:

Dibs on Benedict Cumberbatch.

Hades:

I want Stan Lee to have a cameo.

Zeus:

Stan Lee is dead; may the gods rest his soul.

Hades:

You’re talking to the Lord of the Underworld, here.

RR:

(under his breath) Suddenly an animated adaptation isn’t sounding so bad.

Aphrodite:

I just want to know when the casting calls are.

RR:

(confused) My lady?

Aphrodite:

Well, I know I don’t have any acting experience, but I look perfect for the role of Aphrodite and my friends all tell me I’m very dramatic.

Artemis:

You are Aphrodite, you nitwit.

Aphrodite:

Don’t be rude! I just want an audition.

RR:

Uh . . . okay. So then do I have your permission to keep pressing for a new adaptation?

Muttering and whispering among the gods.

Zeus:

Very well, mortal writer person, but even with the gods on your side, this will be a difficult struggle, and it may be a long time before you get a clear answer. Unlike the Olympians, Hollywood does not work during the winter holidays. Everyone is out of the office until after New Year’s.

RR:

Yes, Lord Zeus. But I must keep trying. For the fans! For the children!

Hera:

(rolling her eyes) You’re as dramatic as Aphrodite. By the way, I expect my part to be played by Elizabeth Taylor.

RR:

But she’s – (catches a warning look and a shake of the head from Zeus.) – I’ll see what I can do, Lady Hera.

Zeus:

Excellent! Now if you’ll excuse us, Riordan. We have other business to attend to. These climate disasters aren’t going to create themselves.

 

Riordan exits, bowing and scraping.

 

Zoom out from Mount Olympus to an aerial view of Manhattan.

 

Fade to black.

 

Bhí mé in Éirinn dhá uair sa samhradh seo. Seo an scéal! (I was in Ireland twice this summer. Here’s the story!)

An chéad uair, ghlac mé cúrsáil timpeall an oileáin le mo bhean chéile agus mo mhac.  (The first time, I took a cruise around the island with my wife and my son.) Thugamar cuairt ar Bhaile Átha Cliath, Port Láirge, Corcaigh, Beanntraí, Gaillimh, Doire, Béal Feirste agus Oileán Mhanann. (We visited Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Bantry, Galway, Derry, Belfast and the Isle of Man.)

Dála an scéil, bhí mé ag foghlaim na Gaeilge le bliain anuas.

Hope you all enjoy the fourth volume of the series!

I’m delighted to share with you the two latest covers from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. (Questions about what the imprint is? Click here!)

First up, Tehlor Kay Mejia’s brilliant middle grade debut: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears!

Artwork by Vanessa Morales.

Publication date: August 2020

What it’s about:

Space-obsessed 12-year-old Paola Santiago and her two best friends, Emma and Dante, know the rule: Stay away from the river. It’s all they’ve heard since a schoolmate of theirs drowned a year ago. Pao is embarrassed to admit that she has been told to stay away for even longer than that, because her mother is constantly warning her about La Llorona, the wailing ghost woman who wanders the banks of the Gila at night, looking for young people to drag into its murky depths.

Hating her mother’s humiliating superstitions and knowing that she and her friends would never venture into the water, Pao organizes a meet-up to test out her new telescope near the Gila, since it’s the best stargazing spot. But when Emma never arrives and Pao sees a shadowy figure in the reeds, it seems like maybe her mom was right. . . .

Pao has always relied on hard science to make sense of the world, but to find her friend she will have to enter the world of her nightmares, which includes unnatural mist, mind-bending monsters, and relentless spirits controlled by a terrifying force that defies both logic and legend.

 

Also, the third installment of Roshani Chokshi’s blockbuster series: Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes!

Artwork by Abigail L. Dela Cruz

Publication date: April 7, 2020

What it’s about:

The third book in the Hindu-based, best-selling Pandava series by Roshani Chokshi, in which Aru and her cohorts, Mini, Brynne, and Aiden—and now a pair of twins—each search the Otherworld for Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree.

War between the devas and the demons is imminent, and the Otherworld is on high alert. When intelligence from the human world reveals that the Sleeper is holding a powerful clairvoyant and her sister captive, 14-year-old Aru and her friends launch a search-and-rescue mission. The captives, a pair of twins, turn out to be the newest Pandava sisters, though, according to a prophecy, one sister is not true.

During the celebration of Holi, the heavenly attendants stage a massage PR rebranding campaign to convince everyone that the Pandavas are to be trusted. As much as Aru relishes the attention, she fears that she is destined to bring destruction to her sisters, as the Sleeper has predicted. Aru believes that the only way to prove her reputation is to find the Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree that came out of the Ocean of Milk when it was churned. If she can reach it before the Sleeper, perhaps she can turn everything around with one wish.

Careful what you wish for, Aru . . .

You will want to pre-order these as soon as you can, because they are both fabulous!

We had a great time at the Boston Pride Parade yesterday — beautiful weather and a festive celebration! Wow, that was a big parade, too. We watched for about an hour, walked across downtown, had lunch, came back and the parade was still going! Here are some pictures Becky took if you didn’t get to attend. : )

My son Haley and I at the Boston Common, waiting for the parade to start.

Always good to begin with the LGBTQ biker clubs!

Some well-rainbowed Harleys!

The cast of the Rocky Horror Movie group. It makes me happy that this is still a thing after so many decades.

Lots of MAGA (Make America Gay Again) signs at the parade.

Dog pride.

The neighborhood drag bar was well represented!

The Lambda car club had some great rides.

This picture says it all. These shoes were made for fabulous walking.

This school had an entire squad of stilt walkers. That takes a lot more skill that I have!

Lots of Stonewall anniversary commemoration.

Pride is always a fun time in Boston — a day of celebrating, well, everyone! Hope Pride Month is great for you, wherever and whoever you are.

Trials of Apollo, book 4: THE TYRANT’S TOMB will be published on September 24, and I can now announce where I will be going on tour! As always, apologies if I am not coming to a place near you. I only do eight events a year maximum, and only in the U.S. (and very occasionally Canada), but I hope you enjoy the book, whether or not you’re able to see me in person! Read on for more details, and if you’re interested in a particular event, contact the host bookstore! All of these events require that you reserve a spot/get a ticket in advance, and almost always the events sell out, so get your spot as soon as the store will let you!

First up:

WASHINGTON, D.C., Monday, September 23:

It’s been several years since I’ve visited the D.C. area, and I’m looking forward to working with the great folks at Politics and Prose again! Join us for this launch event and get your book the day before the official publication date!

Get your tickets here: https://www.politics-prose.com/event/book/rick-riordan-tyrant-s-tomb-trials-of-apollo-book-4-gw-lisner-auditorium

Store website: https://www.politics-prose.com/

 

DECATUR, GA, Tuesday, September 24:

Hello, Georgia! It’s been too long since I’ve visited the Atlanta area, and I’m always delighted to see the fine staff at Little Shop of Stories and the Michael C. Carlos Museum, co-hosts of this event. Come join us at the beautiful Glenn Memorial Church!

For more information, check the store’s website: http://littleshopofstories.com

 

KISSIMMEE, FL, Wednesday, September 25:

Okay, Central Florida, here’s your chance! I had a great time in Kissimmee last time I was there, and I’m delighted to announce I’ll be coming back for another event hosted by Books-a-Million. Check with the store for more details, and hope to see you there!

BAM website: https://www.booksamillion.com/storefinder?id=7587203092029

 

HOUSTON, TX, Thursday, September 26:

Fellow Texans, I’m coming home! Well . . . sort of. A stop in Houston for one night, anyway, and I would love to see you guys. Blue Willow always puts on an A+ event. Texas-sized fun will be had!

Get tickets here: https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/event/rick-riordan-1

Blue Willow Bookshop website: https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com

 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, Friday, September 27

*Flails excitedly* Not only is this the first public event I’ve done in Albuquerque and all of New Mexico in . . . well, ever? I will be joined by two phenomenal New Mexico-based writers from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, J.C. Cervantes (THE STORM RUNNER, THE FIRE KEEPER) and Rebecca Roanhorse (RACE TO THE SUN)! I can’t wait for this event. Three authors! Three times the awesome! Somebody better get me some of that excellent New Mexican food while I’m in town!

This event will be held at the University of New Mexico and is hosted by Bookworks! Get your tickets here:  bkwrks.com/rick-riordan

Store website: https://www.bkwrks.com

 

SAN DIEGO, CA, Saturday, September 28

San Diego, this is it! You guys have been asking when I’m coming to your town for ages, and here it is. I have not done an event in San Diego since Comic Con NINE YEARS ago, and it is unlikely I’ll be back anytime soon, so if you want to come say hi, this is your chance! Barnes and Noble will be hosting me in conjunction with the San Diego County Office of Education, the event to be held at Mt. Carmel High School.

Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-rick-riordan-to-celebrate-the-trials-of-apollo-in-san-diego-tickets-60768836225

The hosting B&N’s store website: https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2984

 

MENLO PARK, CA, Sunday, September 29

Yay, Bay Area! Yay, Kepler’s Books! Disney Publishing never has to twist my arm too hard to get me back to Northern California, where I lived for most of the 1990’s. Always a treat to come back, and to work with Kepler’s! Come by and say hello — I can promise a lot of good silly fun and talk about books! Besides, all the action of THE TYRANT’S TOMB happens in the Bay Area with our friends at Camp Jupiter, so how could I not do an event here?

Get your tickets here: https://www.keplers.org/upcoming-events-internal/2019/9/29/rick-riordan

Store website: https://www.keplers.com

 

NAPERVILLE, IL, Monday, September 30

Chicagoland, it’s been too long! Come out and join me at the beautiful Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove, compliments of the most excellent Anderson’s Bookshops. Popcorn! Fun! Books! I always love visiting this venue and meeting the readers of Chicago.

Get your tickets here: https://rickriordanandersons.brownpapertickets.com

Bookstore website: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com

 

And that’s the tour! If you live near any of those places, I hope to see you! If not, I hope you enjoy THE TYRANT’S TOMB anyway! It’s going to be quite a ride!

Good news, everyone! I finished work on Trials of Apollo 4: THE TYRANT’S TOMB around April 1!

The book won’t actually be out until September 24 because, well, that’s how long it takes to prepare, print, promote and distribute a book, even after the writer is done writing. I know that’s frustrating to you guys who have been waiting since THE BURNING MAZE to find out who I kill what happens in the next volume, but hang in there!

Since then I have been taking a breather to refresh and recharge the creative batteries before diving into Apollo #5, the final volume of the series. I am incredibly lucky to be able to take a nice break like that! I thought you might like to see where we’ve been, since the places we explore tend to end up in my books, sooner or later . . .

First, Becky and I spent a quick week in Italy, all very under-the-radar, to get some inspiration for writing those evil Triumvirate villains. Also, gelato.

ROME

Here’s a view of the Spanish Steps from our hotel in room. The weather was beautiful, which was a nice change from cold rainy Boston!

The seagulls were holding a convention on the rooftop next door, probably plotting to steal our gelato:

I availed myself of the public drinking fountain:

And visited the Roman Forum, which is still impressive even in ruins:

I somehow restrained myself from yelling, “Friends! Romans! Countrymen!”

The Museo del Vittoriano had side-by-side exhibits of Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollack, which wasn’t what I was expecting on a trip to the Roman ruins, but the exhibits were great, especially after we’d seen the “Warhol A to B” retrospective at the Whitney in NYC a few months before.  Here’s me in the groovy light show room. I’m pretty sure I had those flower decals on my bedroom window when I was a kid in the 1970s.

And here’s me getting Pollacked:

We ran into Diana at the Musei Capitolini. Oh, hey, I know you!

And Mr. D after a wild night of pinochle and Diet Coke:

While walking through the park of the Villa Borghese, we stumbled across the Temple of Aesculapius. Beautiful place, but the doctor was not in.

FLORENCE

After a few short days in the Eternal City, we hopped on the Frecciarosa train to Florence. Our first experience on the Italian train system, and we were duly impressed. Amtrak, we need to talk . . .

Two views of Florence from our hotel room. It did not suck.

We had more lovely weather, including this afternoon in the city’s botanical garden.

Sunset over the Arno River.

I made a new friend at the archaeological museum, which has an incredible collection of Etruscan artifacts, including Grimace the Lion here.

And Sonny the Chimera:

I’d seen pictures of this bronze sculpture for years but up close it’s much more a impressive, and a lot bigger than I realized!

NEW YORK

Finally we headed home to the States, and after a few days of rest in Boston, went down to New York to see our older son Haley, who is working in Manhattan this spring doing an internship in higher education. While there, we saw the musical HADESTOWN, which was a lot of fun! Stand-out performances from Eurydice, Hades and Hermes (pictured below). The story was based on . . . Greek mythology? Dunno. Never heard it of.

We also went to Madison Square Garden to see Billy Joel on his 70th birthday. Another blast from my childhood! The entire audience was wearing paper party hats, but they did not supply birthday cake. Oh, well. We did get a surprise set from Peter Frampton, though, so that made up for it! That’s Billy and Peter jamming below. Oldies but goodies!

CHARLESTON

Finally, Becky and I celebrated Mother’s Day with a weekend trip to Charleston, S.C. I had been only once before, way back in 2008 when I was promoting the first 39 Clues book. I’d always wanted to go back, and was glad to have the chance to explore the beautiful old city with Becky.

One of our favorite discoveries was the cemetery of the Unitarian Church. If you have to pick a place to sleep for eternity, this is not a bad choice:

We loved strolling the streets in the historical district, which reminded us of a sort-of Baja Beacon Hill, the historic area of central Boston. The Charleston Slave Mart Museum was powerful and unsettling, as such a place should be. The Old Provost and Dungeon was full of interesting history about pirates and rebels. The various historical homes turned into museums did a good job capturing life in the colony and the antebellum state — both the privilege of the rich whites and the lives of the enslaved.

I kind of liked the harp decorations on the Hibernian Society building:

And the South Carolina Aquarium was an unexpected treat — very friendly and helpful staff, and super-cool displays, like Mr. Pufferfish who did not want to stay still long enough for his close-up:

The moray eel, however, was happy to mug for us:

And we met J.K. Rowling!! (the loggerhead turtle) who was being rehabilitated after losing a flipper in the wild. The poor creature had been found “very lethargic and covered in barnacles” and brought to the aquarium for help, Their rescue program is really impressive!

On our last evening in town, we visited Pounce Cafe, which works with local shelters to help get stray cats adopted. I’d never been to a cat cafe before, but it was a lot of fun. Pounce is doing good work. That one location has apparently found homes for 977 cats, and at any given time they have fourteen to sixteen in the cafe.

This is Jackson — yes, like Percy Jackson — who had us figured out the moment we sat down. He knew we’d be given a bag of crunchy treats to feed the locals, and demanded ALL of them. Reader, he received most of them.

Becky spent some time playing with Josie, an adorable one-year-old female.

Tradd the tuxedo cat took a nap in the appropriately labeled basket.

We loved spending time with the felines, but we didn’t adopt any. Our two rescue cats at home would not have been pleased. If you’re ever in Charleston, though, check out Pounce!

Thanks, Charleston, for the great weather and wonderful hospitality. We loved our time there.

PHEW! Now we’re back home in Boston, where it’s still struggling to get warm, but it is good to be back. The fifth Apollo book is waiting to be written, and now I have all sorts of diabolical wonderful ideas!