Rick Riordan: The Myth Master

Your first book Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was on the 2009 Booked Up list. Did this introduce you to new audiences?

I'm sure it helped! Not living in the UK, I don't always get to see exactly how children are introduced to my books, but recommendations from reliable sources like Booked Up are always great.

Booked Up is all about encouraging reading for pleasure - do you have any tips about how to get kids into books?

Plan a family reading time each night, and be sure to model reading with your children. If parents are too busy to read, children will likely feel the same way. Allow your children a wide variety of reading material to choose from. Let them be active participants in picking their own books. Strike up a friendship with a librarian or bookseller. They have a wealth of information about books that motivate young readers.

You are known as 'The Myth Master' - have you ever created your own myth? What would it be?

I don't need to! There are so many myths to explore, all I need to do is modernise them. I like to stick fairly close to my source material so young readers can use my books as a gateway into the original myths.

What is your favourite myth and god and why?

The Orpheus myth has always appealed to me, because Orpheus relies on musical skill rather than strength or weapons. I like Poseidon, because the sea is such a primal force, and so changeable.

Percy Jackson and your son are famously dyslexic - do you have any tips for helping kids with dyslexia get into reading?

Really, the same tips above work for dyslexic kids as well. E-readers can be a great tool for some dyslexic children because they break the text into less daunting sections. Some dyslexic kids do well with graphic novels or audio books. Every child is different, though, so it's important to try different strategies.

What were your favourite books when you were 9? Which books got you into reading?

I was a reluctant reader when I was young. I did like James and the Giant Peach and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. The series that turned me into a reader was The Lord of the Rings.

What are you writing at the moment?

The third volume of the Kane Chronicles, my series about Egyptian mythology. It will be out in spring 2012.

Find out more about Rick Riordan and his books

Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from 31 October to 4 November 2011