R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine's many books include Say Cheese and Die!, Be Careful What You Wish For, Monster Blood, and Night of the Living Dummy.

From his interview with Andrew Peterson for ITW:

As a kid, you read horror and watched horror movies. Why do people enjoy being scared--why do we read horror novels and watch horror films?

We all like to have creepy adventures and face untold horrors--when we know we're safe at the same time. We all have that wonderful feeling of relief when we wake up from a nightmare and realize it was only a dream. Horror movies and books allow us to enjoy the nightmare because we're aware the whole time that we're not experiencing real horrors.

This is a metaphorical question, but do you ever get emails from parents who've caught their kid reading your books under the covers with a flashlight--after lights out? How do you respond?

I receive many letters from parents who tell me their kid never liked to read--and then they caught them reading Goosebumps or Fear Street under the covers late at night. That's always a thrill for me. You know, my career really isn't about terrifying kids--it's all about motivating them to read.

If you could change one thing or aspect of the publishing industry, what would it be and why?

I'd...[read on]

--Marshal Zeringue