The 39 Clues

Rick Riordan is an American author best known for his fantasy novels for young readers. Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1964, Riordan was a teacher before turning to writing full-time. His debut novel, "Big Red Tequila," was published in 1997. Riordan's breakthrough came in 2005 with the publication of "The Lightning Thief," the first book in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series. The series became a global bestseller, selling over 45 million copies worldwide. He has since written multiple other series in the same universe, including "The Heroes of Olympus" and "The Trials of Apollo." Riordan has received numerous awards for his work, including multiple Newbery Medals and the Mark Twain Award. His books have been praised for their humor, action, and clever integration of Greek and Roman mythology into modern settings. Riordan's success as an author has cemented his status as one of the most beloved and influential children's and young adult writers of the 21st century.