Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia, faces an unexpected attack during a field trip when his math teacher, Mrs. Dodds, transforms into a Fury and attacks him. Gifted with a magical pen-sword by his favorite teacher, Mr. Brunner, Percy defeats Mrs. Dodds. Percy's troubled home life takes a tragic turn when his mother, Sally, is seemingly killed by a minotaur. Percy, accompanied by his best friend Grover (revealed to be a satyr), discovers Camp Half-Blood, where demigods like him are trained.
At the camp, Percy meets Chiron, a centaur, and other demigods like Annabeth and Luke. Percy is claimed as the son of Poseidon and learns that Zeus's thunderbolt has been stolen, with Percy as the prime suspect. After receiving a prophecy, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth embark on a quest to retrieve the stolen thunderbolt. Along the way, they face various challenges, including encounters with Medusa, the mother of monsters Echidna. They also meet other gods like the god of war Ares and the god of the underworld Hades, who informs them that his helm has been stolen as well and blames Percy. Seeing the thunderbolt in the backpack Ares gave them,Hades holds Sally hostage; they escape the underworld and confronts Ares. Percy fights Ares and defeats him, who then gives him the helm. This causes Hades to realize Percy's innocence, and he releases Sally.
Percy successfully retrieves Zeus's stolen lightning bolt and returns it to Mount Olympus. He is hailed as a hero at Camp Half-Blood and enjoys the remainder of his summer. However, on the last day of camp, Luke reveals himself as the true thief and a follower of Kronos. Luke tries to recruit Percy to join him in overthrowing the gods, but Percy refuses. In the ensuing confrontation, Luke attempts to kill Percy but fails. The ending sets the stage for future conflicts and challenges.
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I was resting on a lounge chair by the pool in the backyard. The sun was shining overhead, casting a warm glow on the tranquil surroundings. I was enjoying the moment of relaxation, as last week had been very hectic. 'Percy Jackson and the The Lightning Thief' had been released a week ago to critical acclaim and was on top of the best sellers list.
I had finished the book before the infamous party, so it was already in the process of editing when the incident happened. While I was recovering, Lucy led the editing process, and the book was soon ready to be published. There was significantly more money to be spent on marketing this time around.
I had told Lucy to focus on emerging social media to market the book, as more and more people my age and below were using it. It was the future, after all; Tumblr had just started in February of this year.
I already had an established fanbase, so things would be easier, as these kids were now five years older than when I released the first "Toy Story." The majority of them would be in the demographic that "The Lightning Thief" is targeting.
Lucy did an exceptional job with this. A dedicated website for "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" was created, offering sneak peeks into the story. I even had a Q&A scheduled, but the website crashed before it started due to overwhelming traffic. I really underestimated the size of my fanbase.
I opened the parasol and took out my laptop. There was already a Percy Jackson fan forum. I logged in and decided to join the forum under a pseudonym, curious to see what people thought about the book. Though the plot may have been from the original version, most of the dialogues and some scenes were my own. Seeing the success with both fans and critics, I think I did a good job.
The fans in the forum were discussing their favorite moments from the book, speculating about potential sequels, and sharing fan art.
"Huh, fan arts already. They work fast," I said out loud.
There were already arguments about shipping characters and which character Percy should end up with – just regular fandom stuff, which was good, in my opinion. The book was becoming as successful as the original one.
On Twitter, #PercyJackson was trending, and #DanielAdler too. I never used my Twitter before; it was Lucy who made it for marketing purposes. Seeing the reactions the book was getting I started interacting with fans through it.
I turned my head to see Lucy approaching with a handful of papers and a huge smile on her face.
"What's got you all excited?" I asked, seeing her expression.
"Well, maybe because your book became a bestseller and has been on top of the list for a week, and we project it will stay on top for weeks to come," she answered with an excited tone as she gave me the papers in her hands.
I couldn't help but grin as I read through the paper she handed me.
"Damn, Lucy, we need to give a raise to the marketing team," I said.
"I already did," Lucy answered.
"You need to prepare," she added pointing her finger at my chest.
"For what?" I asked, curious.
"For doing some interviews in the big leagues," she replied with a grin.
"Big leagues?" I asked, confused.
"The Tonight Show, The Today Show, you know, 'the big leagues.'"
"Really? Was I asked to be in those?" I asked.
"Not yet. Let's just say they've shown interest in having you as a guest if the books keep making waves as it is now in the coming weeks."
"Oh, wow," I replied.
"You are not good at speaking in front of an audience, Danny. These interviews are just the beginning; the book signings and other events will be larger this time. So maybe it's time to seek the help of a professional," she suggested.
"No, no, I got this," I said confidently.
"Really?" Lucy said with a bit of skepticism.
"Yes, I don't need help. Trust me," I replied.
"Alright, if you say so. I don't want you to make a fool of yourself and have that incident be all people talk about when they think about you," she cautioned, her expression serious.
Oh, I did not want that. Maybe it's better to get some professional coaching just to be sure.
"Hey, maybe you should find an expert just to be sure," I said, giving in to her suggestion.
A smile formed on her face. "Sure, Danny, if you think that's best for you."
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Lucy and her team's projections were proved right, as Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief remained on top of the bestseller's list for 4 weeks straight. Mom and Lucy and I were sitting in the living room as she listed out the talk shows I was invited to.
"....The Ellen Show, and finally, The Tonight Show," she finished.
"Really? I have to go on The Ellen Show?" I asked with a bit of reluctance.
"What's wrong with Ellen?" Mom asked, seeing my reaction.
I was never a fan of Ellen; I found her annoying. Oh, these two don't know she's an asshole behind the scenes.
"Nothing, I just don't like her show that much," I replied.
"Well, you can't snub her," Lucy said.
"Alright, so all of this next week then?" I asked; Lucy nodded. "Are you sure you are ready?" She asked me.
"Yes, this time I'm sure," I replied.
Lucy looked skeptical.
"I'm ready; don't worry about it," I said with confidence.
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I looked into the mirror of the dressing room provided for me at The Tonight Show studio. We had flown out to New York, and the first thing on the agenda was The Tonight Show, followed by an appearance on The Today Show in the morning.
"Wish I could've gone on the show with Conan," I said.
"Well, he is set to inherit this show next year," the woman who was doing my makeup replied.
Oh, if you only knew what was about to happen next year. Poor Conan is going to get fucked over by NBC and Jay Leno.
"Alright, I am done," she said as she looked me over. "You look great," she added and left the room.
I had met Jay before the show started; we talked about the topics we were going to discuss during the show. He was very professional, and I liked that.
I went outside and walked around the place. I heard someone calling me, and I looked behind me and saw Justin Timberlake walking towards me. He was the musical guest on the show tonight.
"Nice to see you again, Daniel," he said with a smile.
"Hey Justin, so any advice for me before I go out there?" I asked. Justin and I had talked after the Golden Globes ceremony was over; he was the one who presented me and Jon with the award. After all, he had become an acquaintance of sorts.
"Just don't think too much about it. Go out there and go with the flow. Jay is an expert; he won't make you look bad," he replied.
I was called by one of the production staff, so I said my thanks to Justin and made my way toward the stage.
I saw on the monitor that Jay was just finishing up his monologue. After a while, he went to the desk and began introducing me.
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Jay: "Alright, folks, our first guest tonight is an author. Not just any author; his new book, 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief,' has been on top of the New York Times bestsellers for the last five weeks. Please welcome Daniel Adler."
The audience applauded and cheered as I made my way to the stage, waving and smiling at the audience. The band played a brief, upbeat tune as I took the seat on the guest chair.
Jay: "Welcome, Daniel! Great to have you here."
Daniel: "Great to be here, Jay."
Jay: "I am still caught off guard by your age. Can you tell the audience and our viewers at home how old you are?"
Daniel: "I will be fifteen next month."
The answer drew gasps and applause from the audience.
Jay: "Fifteen, wow. That's incredible, Daniel. Most people your age are probably struggling with homework, and here you are topping the charts with your book."
Daniel: "Well, I still struggle with homework."
The audience laughed.
Jay: " Percy Jackson It's been a massive success, but Daniel, this is not your first time as a best-seller; you've previously written three other books, one of which was recently turned into a movie."
Daniel: "Yes, I've written three books in the Toy Story series. I was fortunate enough to have one made into a movie."
Jay: "Speaking of movies, you just won a Golden Globe recently. How did that feel?"
Daniel: "It was a surreal thing to experience, being on that stage, holding the award it's a moment I'll cherish forever."
Jay: "Tom Hanks was here, and he spoke very highly of you. Now I get what he was talking about."
The audience applauded.
Jay: "Now…I heard there's an interesting story about a Golden Globe incident. I am very interested to know what happened here."
Daniel: "Oh, that was quite unexpected. About four months ago, the award fell on me, and I was knocked out."
Daniel goes on to explain the story in detail.
Jay: "That could have been dangerous. That thing is heavy; maybe we should ask them to reduce the weight or something."
Daniel: "Thankfully, there was no lasting damage."
Jay: "Now, let's dive into 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.' What inspired you to write this series?"
Daniel: "You know, Jay, I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology, the stories of gods, heroes, and monsters. I wanted to bring those ancient tales into a more modern setting, making them accessible and exciting for a new generation of readers. Percy Jackson is essentially a modern-day demigod who is having his own adventure, just like the heroes of old."
Jay delved into questions about the book, exploring the creative process and methods I employed while writing. I answered as best as I could, and after a while, my time was up, and it was time for the next guest.
Jay: "Well, Daniel, it's been a pleasure having you here. I hope to see you here again. Daniel Adler, everybody!"
The audience erupted in applause as I smiled and waved, expressing my gratitude to Jay and the audience. The band played a cheerful tune as I exited the stage.
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Haley came downstairs to find Alex watching the recording of last night's Tonight Show.
"Hey, change the channel," Haley said as she sat down on the couch.
"Wait till I finish watching this," Alex replied.
Haley sighed and glanced at the screen. "What's so interesting about it anyway?"
"It's the author of the book I like. He's on the Tonight Show," Alex explained.
"Is this the children's book guy?" Haley said, looking at her sister.
"Yes and no. He doesn't write books like that anymore. His new book is way different…" Alex kept on explaining.
"Oh, this is the guy who you have a crush on," Haley teased her sister.
"No, stop saying that. I just like his book," Alex replied.
"I can see why you like him; he's cute," Haley said, looking at the screen.
"Yes... I mean, no... stop talking," Alex said as she continued watching the show.
"You know he moved near Grandpa, so there's a chance he might be going to the same school as me," Haley said with a grin.
"I doubt it; Daniel must be going to a private school," Alex replied.
"If he is, maybe I can become friends with him, maybe even more," Haley said, teasing her sister.
"Oh please, I doubt he would like girls like you," Alex fired back.
"Girls like me?" Haley asked.
"Dumb," Alex replied with a grin.
"I was kidding before, but I am serious now. Maybe I will get to know this Daniel when I go to school," Haley said as she walked out of the room.
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So the road-map for future chapters
The next chapter Daniel will start high school meet some new friends will meet Haley
After some chapters with Daniel in high school with Haley and his new friends
Will be the start of the pilot and the main TV plot will begin.
Will Start a P.a.treon next week you can join if you want to support me. Also to read ahead and give suggestions.
Next chapter will be tomorrow.