Rick Riordan’s ‘Heroes of Olympus’ Series to Launch via Live Webcast October 12

On October 12, 2010, join fellow demigods and go back to Camp Half-Blood with the most-anticipated new series of the season, The Heroes of Olympus, by bestselling author Rick Riordan. Disney Book Group (DBG) reveals plans for the largest gathering of demigods via a live webcast on the October 12 laydown for the first book in the series. The Lost Hero has a 2.5 million copy first printing and will be available simultaneously in hardcover, audiobook and eBook formats. The eBook teaser chapters of The Lost Hero has had more than 10,000 downloads to date.

The dedicated website for the series, www.heroesofolympus.com launched today with a first look at The Lost Hero book trailer, webcast viewing information, never-before-seen character art, tour information, and much more. Fans can join The Lost Hero celebration with Rick Riordan at Camp Half-Blood live, via a free webcast through the website. The event kicks off at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific on October 12. Fans signed into the webcast will have the exclusive opportunity to experience the launch festivities including a very special announcement from Rick Riordan. Downloadable event kits will be available on the website for fun ideas and activities to host your own The Lost Hero launch party.

“Excitement for Rick’s new series is a testament to his loyal fanbase,” said Jeanne Mosure, senior vice president, group publisher Disney Publishing Worldwide, “Kids, parents, teachers, librarians and bookstores have supported Rick and his books since Disney Book Group published his first children’s book, The Lightning Thief, in 2005. And this October, we’re so proud to bring fans The Lost Hero, the first book in his third children’s book series, The Heroes of Olympus.”

In Heroes of Olympus, Rick Riordan returns to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they’ll need the help of some familiar demigods. The Heroes of Olympus is a five book series and will have a new book published each year through 2014. In support of the release of The Lost Hero, Riordan will embark on an 11-city tour launching in Austin, Texas and continues on to Houston, TX; St Louis, MO; Kansas City, MI; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; and San Antonio, TX.

20 million books are in print in the US across Riordan’s two series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The Kane Chronicles and the books have been sold into more than 35 countries. Both series are mainstays on the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and IndieBound bestseller lists. The official Percy Jackson fan page on Facebook has more than 240,000 “likes,” and will include a tab for The Heroes of Olympus.