My eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Pabst, had done her master's thesis on Tolkien. She showed me how the trilogy was patterned after Norse mythology. She was also the first person to encourage me to submit stories for publication. The idea of writing a fantasy based on myths never left me, and many years later, this would lead me to write Percy Jackson.
Rick RiordanBut if she'd realized that nine desiccated zombie nymphs would be waiting for her, she never would have come down here.
Rick RiordanCoach Hedge grumbled as he tended their wounds. โHow come I never get invited on these violent trips?
Rick RiordanBrother dear,โ I said, โdid your soul leave your body while Amos was talking, or did you actually hear him? Egyptian gods real. Red Lord bad. Red Lordโs birthday: very soon, very bad. House of Life: fussy magicians who hate our family because dad was a bit of a rebel, whom you could take a lesson from. Which leaves usโjust usโwith Dad missing, an evil god about to destroy the world, and an uncle who just jumped off the buildingโand I canโt actually blame him.โ I took a breath. [Yes, Carter, I do have to breathe occasionally.]
Rick RiordanIโve met plenty of embarrassing parents, but Kronos, the evil Titan Lord who wanted to destroy Western Civilization? Not the kind of dad you invited to school for Career Day.
Rick RiordanTell you what," I said. "After the testing after the Demon Days, when things settle down -" "Things won't settle down." "- I'm going to take you to the mall." She blinked. "The mall? For what reason?" "To hang out," I said. "We'll get some hamburgers. See a movie." Zia hesitated. "Is this what you'd call a 'date'?" My expression must have been priceless, because Zia actually cracked a smile. "You look like a cow hit with a shovel.
Rick Riordan