R.L. Stine in the house
Jovial Bob!
Around this time last year, I was assigned a story for work that involved me checking out local haunted houses and evaluating their various levels of scarytude. Easy enough. There was a wrinkle, though. I was to have a pair of dauntless companions—in this case, beloved Goosebumps author R.L. “Jovial Bob” Stine and Peter Gilmore, current high priest of the Church of Satan (you really can’t make this stuff up).
The other day, I came across some Goosebumps-related Internet ephemera, and realized that I still had R.L. Stine’s email address, which I then used. Stine, author of a bazillion books and a known Wodehouse enthusiast, was gracious enough to answer a few of my questions.
I remember when you and I went out Haunted Housing last year, that you mentioned loving the Kindle? Could you briefly talk about how that happened? Doesn’t it feel kind of blasphemous?
I don’t think it’s blasphemous at all. I think the object is to get people reading. Does it really matter what package or device they use to read? This isn’t mine—I forget where I saw it. But someone wrote: What if we’d been using the Kindle for the past 300 years, and some guy came along with a new thing he invented, called a book. We’d laugh at him. We’d say: “But it only has one story!” “You can’t change the type size!” “You can’t download any more stories into it!” “It’s too heavy to carry!”
I still prefer a book, but the eReaders have a lot to recommend them, especially if they catch on with young people.
Presumably, then, you’re comfortable with technology. I have to admit, though, that I didn’t see R.L. Stine iphone apps coming. How’d that happen?
I think I was one of the first children’s authors to do an online chat, back when it was hard to do, and maybe six kids would show up. I’ve always loved messing around with technology. But I also think it’s important to go where the kids are. My web site—rlstine.com—has all kinds of fun stuff to get readers involved. And my new iPhone app— R.L. Stine’s Haunted House of Sound—seemed like a really fun way to reach my readers.
Here at HTML Giant, we style ourselves as the “internet literature magazine blog of the future.” Is this how you pictured the internet literature magazine blog of the future?
I have to admit I never pictured the internet literature magazine blog of the future until I checked out HTML Giant. Reading through the blog was kind of like being on Mars. All these authors I didn’t know! A lot of it seemed to be from a different planet, which of course, is why it’s so enjoyable.
How’d you stay so prolific over the years? Has your approach to writing varied in that time?
I don’t think I can quit. I wouldn’t know what else to do all day! I don’t think my approach to writing has changed at all. Someone described writing as an “addiction,” and in my case, I’m pretty sure it’s true!
Tags: Goosebumps, R.L. Stine
fantastic.
fantastic.
Awesome. Can you post whatever it is you wrote about haunted house hunting with Stine?
Awesome. Can you post whatever it is you wrote about haunted house hunting with Stine?
i’d love to read that too.
i’d love to read that too.
i think i just regressed fifteen years reading this.
my ten year old self experienced jealousy that you got to go haunted house hanging with r.l stine.
i think i just regressed fifteen years reading this.
my ten year old self experienced jealousy that you got to go haunted house hanging with r.l stine.
i can honestly say that “Welcome to Dead House” (the first goosebumps book) scared me thoroughly. also, i saw a homeless man at the liquor store the other day and he was wearing a “say cheese and die” hat. so the message lives on.
i can honestly say that “Welcome to Dead House” (the first goosebumps book) scared me thoroughly. also, i saw a homeless man at the liquor store the other day and he was wearing a “say cheese and die” hat. so the message lives on.
I’ll track down the link and put it in.
this reminds me of a
blog i love . guy reads and write about rlstine books. pretty funny
i like this synopsis a lot: curse of mummys tomb
hres how it starts:
“Call me Ishmael.”
“This is the saddest story I’ve ever heard.”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Let us add to the list of great opening lines this bon mot:
“I saw the Great Pyramid and got thirsty.”
this reminds me of a
blog i love . guy reads and write about rlstine books. pretty funny
i like this synopsis a lot: curse of mummys tomb
hres how it starts:
“Call me Ishmael.”
“This is the saddest story I’ve ever heard.”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Let us add to the list of great opening lines this bon mot:
“I saw the Great Pyramid and got thirsty.”
RL STINE FOR LIFE. I remember getting off school and being picked up by my grandma. We’d go to the mall and I’d pick out a goosebump book. Every single time. Probably twice a week. And in the time spent eating “Hot Dog on a Stick” or “Sbarros” , “Great Steak” I wouldn’t say a word to my grandma, and usually kill the whole book before I got back home.
RL STINE FOR LIFE. I remember getting off school and being picked up by my grandma. We’d go to the mall and I’d pick out a goosebump book. Every single time. Probably twice a week. And in the time spent eating “Hot Dog on a Stick” or “Sbarros” , “Great Steak” I wouldn’t say a word to my grandma, and usually kill the whole book before I got back home.
this is the dumbest, lamest thing i have ever read.
today is opposite day and i really mean i had my chin between both hands, eyes wide as pomegrantes, staring at the screen dreamily, back in elementary school.
i think he online chatted on AOL when i still had it.
remember dial tones?
this is the dumbest, lamest thing i have ever read.
today is opposite day and i really mean i had my chin between both hands, eyes wide as pomegrantes, staring at the screen dreamily, back in elementary school.
i think he online chatted on AOL when i still had it.
remember dial tones?
man…. RL has made authors out of a bunch of little kids…
man…. RL has made authors out of a bunch of little kids…
When it ran in the magazine, it was almost all photos, so this doesn’t make too much sense/seem too interesting out of context. I guess I need to write a separate account of that night. Like when we were breaking up the team for the evening, and RL Stine was taking a cab home, and I thought about springing for the cab since I was writing the story, but then remember that A) I had about $3 on my person, as usual, and B) R.L. Stine at that point had sold something like 300 million books, so could probably afford the cab. I think I told him to send the receipt to my office and I’d reimburse him. To his credit, no receipt ever arrived. Guy was awesome. I’ll try to think of other funny occurrences from my Satanic RL Stine bro down.
http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/own-this-city/68136/haunted-houses
I’m too old for Goosebumps, but I read all his YA fiction that predated Goosebumps and then, of course, moved on to Christopher Pike. I lived and breathed these two writers. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I’m too old for Goosebumps, but I read all his YA fiction that predated Goosebumps and then, of course, moved on to Christopher Pike. I lived and breathed these two writers. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
This made my day. I read Fear Street as a kid too.
This made my day. I read Fear Street as a kid too.
he looks tired.
i want to be alone with RL stine on mars.
he looks tired.
i want to be alone with RL stine on mars.
“God Hates Return To Ghost Camps”
Also, where was Gilmore in this mix?
“God Hates Return To Ghost Camps”
Also, where was Gilmore in this mix?
Thanks, R.L.
Thanks, R.L.
i still think christopher pike can kick his ass
i still think christopher pike can kick his ass
Holy crap, R.L Stine! That’s what he looks like?! I feel like digging up all my old Fear Street books now.
Holy crap, R.L Stine! That’s what he looks like?! I feel like digging up all my old Fear Street books now.
thats what it was called… Fear Street. That whole series interconnected, and when you think about it, was quite a feat…
thats what it was called… Fear Street. That whole series interconnected, and when you think about it, was quite a feat…
I did some freelance work for scholastic this past spring writing ‘behind the screams’ content for rereleased old goosebumps books.
I did some freelance work for scholastic this past spring writing ‘behind the screams’ content for rereleased old goosebumps books.
i like your books can you make about a boy named jalen and deandre please
i like your books can you make about a boy named jalen and deandre please
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boring
yo are one of the most cooliest writers ever but you could maybe makethem more scary
yo are one of the most cooliest writers ever but you could maybe makethem more scary