The Gods of Olympus are alive in the 21st Century. They still fall in love with mortals and have children who might become great heroes, but most of these children meet horrible fates at the hands of monsters by the age of twelve. Only a few learn the truth of their identity and make it to Half Blood Hill, a Long Island summer camp dedicated to training young demigods. Such is the revelation that launches young Percy Jackson on a quest to help his real father, Poseidon, avert a war among the gods.

Rick Riordan is the author of the New York Times #1 best-selling The Lost Hero, the first book in the Heroes of Olympus series. Kids across the country voted him Author of the Year for that book through the Children's Book Council in association with Every Child a Reader. Rick also penned the New York Times #1 best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: Book One: The Lightning Thief, Book Two: The Sea of Monsters, Book Three: The Titan's Curse, Book Four: The Battle of the Labyrinth and Book Five: The Last Olympian. The first two books in his Kane Chronicles, based on Egyptian mythology, The Red Pyramid and The Throne of Fire, were New York Times #1 best sellers as well. Rick lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and two sons.