Oliver
asked
Rick Riordan:
Do people often say your last name wrong? I've been saying Rick Rordian all my life!! My sister pointed it out to me a week ago and I slowly crumble when I remember all the times I've said "Rick ROAR-DIAN" was my favourite author! I'm a sham!!
Rick Riordan
Don't worry about it. I mispronounce my own name, too! Riordan really should be pronounced REE-or-dan. That's how they say it in Ireland, where it originates. My branch moved to Texas and decided, 'Let's be different and say it RYE-or-dan.' Dunno why. I never bother correcting people. I answer to everything including, 'Hey, you.' Fun fact: the name was Ó Ríorghbhardáin in Old Irish. Good luck pronouncing that. It means 'the king's bard.' The first time I was in Ireland, I thought, 'At last, I'm in a country where people will be able to pronounce my surname!' My family went to a restaurant in Dublin and gave our name to the host: "Riordan." "Got it!" she said. A few minutes later we heard: "Table of four for Rodriguez!" You can't win . . .
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Eleanor
asked
Rick Riordan:
Mr Riordan, I just wanted to say thank you. It means a lot to see people like me portrayed in the literary world. I just read Sun & the Star, and it was absolutely amazeballs. You let me know that a life like that is possible. So thank you :) (Also here’s a question mark because Goodreads won’t let me submit this without one: ?)
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