Rick Riordan’s upcoming book, *Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer*, is heavily inspired by Norse mythology. When asked about his favorite god from the book, Riordan expressed his fondness for Loki, citing his charismatic yet malicious nature, while noting that he also enjoys Thor for his humorous portrayal, particularly how he watches television on his hammer.
Read More
Riordan’s character Hearth is deaf, which he intentionally created to demonstrate that heroism can exist regardless of disabilities. He drew on personal experiences from his time at a summer camp, where a counselor trained in American Sign Language left a lasting impression on him regarding the beauty of that form of communication.
The author also shared the inspiration behind the nine ducks of Boston, saying that their presence in the sculpture was based on the classic children's book *Make Way For Ducklings*. He decided to make the coincidence of having nine ducks more significant in his narrative.
Discussing the children of Loki—Hel, Fenris Wolf, and Jormungand—Riordan noted their personalities: Hel as cold and conniving, Fenris as cunning, and Jormungand representing sheer power. He emphasized that Fenris remains a terrifying thought, tying his character into traditional tales.
While addressing portrayals of Thor, Riordan clarified that his version differs from Marvel’s depiction. He expressed that he grew up enjoying Thor comics but aimed to adhere more closely to the authentic Norse myths for his characters. He emphasized Loki's cleverness and quick temperament, similar to how he is portrayed in historical legends.
Riordan was also asked about creating a crossover book involving characters from *Percy Jackson*, *The Kane Chronicles*, *The Heroes of Olympus*, and *Magnus Chase*. He found the idea amusing but stated it would be confusing and currently has no plans for such a project.
Reflecting on the success of the *Percy Jackson* series, Riordan explained that it originated as a bedtime story for his son, who faced challenges with ADHD and dyslexia. He shared that his son, Haley, has since turned 21 and is pursuing writing.
Mythology has long been a passion for Riordan, who credits it as a gateway into reading and writing since childhood. He typically outlines chapters before writing but allows flexibility as the story develops.
Among his creations, Riordan mentioned his fondness for Tyson due to his genuine and kind nature. However, he often does not base characters on real people, though he sometimes uses names of former students, such as Mrs. Dodds and Mr. Brunner.
The concept for Riptide, a pen that turns into a sword, originated from his childhood daydreams about the possibility of transforming a pen in class.
As a child, Riordan struggled with reading but enjoyed works by Roald Dahl and discovered *The Lord of the Rings* at age twelve, which greatly inspired him. He admires various authors, including Suzanne Collins for her work before *The Hunger Games*, Jeff Kinney for humor, and J.K. Rowling for her impact on children's literature.
When asked which cartoon character he would choose to be, Riordan confidently selected Bugs Bunny, wishing he could handle life with similar confidence.