American writer and producer (born 1943)
Robert Lawrence Stine (; born October 8, 1943), known by his pen name R.L. Stine, is an American novelist. He is the writer of "Goosebumps," a horror fiction novel series which has sold over 400 million copies globally in 35 languages, becoming the second-best-selling book series in history. The series spawned a media franchise including two television series, a video game series, a comic series, and two feature films. Stine has been referred to as the "Stephen King of children's literature". 
Stine wrote the teenage horror fiction series "Fear Street", which has sold over 80 million copies and has been adapted into a trilogy of films. His other horror fiction novel series include "Rotten School", "Mostly Ghostly," "Nightmare Hour", and "The Nightmare Room". He has also written dozens of humor books for children, under the alias Jovial Bob Stine.
Early life.
Stine was born on October 8, 1943 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Lewis Stine, a shipping clerk, and Anne Feinstein. He grew up in Bexley, Ohio. He comes from a Jewish family. Stine began writing at age nine, when he found a typewriter in his attic, subsequently beginning to type stories and joke books. Stine said that he remembered reading the "Tales from the Crypt" comic books when he was young and credited them as one of his inspirations. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While at OSU, Stine edited humor magazine "The Sundial" for three years. He later moved to New York City to pursue his career as a writer.
Career.
Stine wrote dozens of humor books for children under the name Jovial Bob Stine and created the humor magazine "Bananas". "Bananas" was written for teenagers and published by Scholastic Press for 72 issues between 1975 and 1984, plus various "Yearbooks" and paperback books. Stine was editor and responsible for much of the writing (other contributors included writers Robert Leighton, Suzanne Lord and Jane Samuels and artists Sam Viviano, Samuel B. Whitehead, Bob K. Taylor, Bryan Hendrix, Bill Basso, and Howard Cruse). Recurring features included "Hey – Lighten Up!", "It Never Fails!", "Phone Calls", "Joe" (a comic strip by John Holmstrom), "Phil Fly", "Don't You Wish...", "Doctor Duck", "The Teens of Ferret High", "First Date" (a comic strip by Alyse Newman), and "Ask Doctor Si N. Tific".
In 1986, Stine wrote his first horror novel, called "Blind Date". He followed with many other novels, including "The Babysitter", "Beach House", "Hit and Run", and "The Girlfriend". He was also the co-creator and head writer for the Nickelodeon children's television series "Eureeka's Castle", original episodes of which aired as part of the Nick Jr. programming block during the 1989–1995 seasons.
In 1989, Stine started writing "Fear Street" books. Before launching the "Goosebumps" series, Stine authored three humorous science fiction books in the "Space Cadets" series titled "Jerks in Training", "Bozos on Patrol", and "Losers in Space". In 1992, Stine and Parachute Press went on to launch "Goosebumps".
Also produced was a "Goosebumps" TV series that ran for four seasons from 1995 to 1998 and three video games; "Escape from HorrorLand", "Attack of the Mutant" and "Goosebumps HorrorLand". In 1995, Stine's first novel targeted at adults, called "Superstitious", was published. He has since published three other adult-oriented novels: "The Sitter", "Eye Candy", and "Red Rain".
In the first decade of the 21st century, Stine worked on installments of five different book series, "Mostly Ghostly", "Rotten School", "Fear Street", "The Nightmare Room", "Goosebumps Horrorland" and the stand-alone novels "Dangerous Girls" (2003) and "The Taste of Night" (2004). Also, a direct-to-DVD movie '. Starring Emily Osment, the film was released by Universal Home Entertainment on September 4, 2007 and was successful enough to spawn a spin-off, anthology, TV series '.
In 2014, Stine brought the "Fear Street" books back with his novel "Party Games" (). The release of the "Fear Street" novel "Give Me a K-I-L-L" took place in 2017 (). Jack Black portrayed a fictionalized version of Stine in the 2015 film "Goosebumps", while Stine himself made a cameo appearance in the film, playing a teacher named "Mr. Black". In the film's sequel, "" (2018), Stine had another cameo, as Principal Harrison, while Black reprised his role as Stine in several scenes. A "Fear Street" trilogy of films was released by Netflix in 2021.
In 2019, Stine appeared on an episode of the children's TV series "Arthur". In "Fright Night", which aired in the 23rd season of the show, Stine voices Bob Baxter, the uncle of main character Buster Baxter. In the episode, Bob is shown to moonlight as a writer of scary stories, alluding to his real-life career as the author of the "Goosebumps" series.
Awards and recognition.
According to "Forbes" List of the 40 best-paid Entertainers of 1996–97, Stine placed 36th with an income of $41 million for the fiscal year. His books have sold over 400 million copies worldwide as of 2008, landing on many bestseller lists. In three consecutive years during the 1990s, "USA Today" named Stine as America's number one best-selling author.
Among the awards he has received are the 2002 Champion of Reading Award from the Free Public Library of Philadelphia (that award's first year), the Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Award for Best Book-Mystery/Horror (three-time recipient) and the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (also received three times). In 1995, Stine was listed on "People Weekly"'s "Most Intriguing People" annual list, and in 2003, the Guinness Book of World Records named Stine as the best-selling children's book series author of all time. He won the Thriller Writers of America Silver Bullet Award in 2007, and the Horror Writers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. His stories have even inspired "R. L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse", 4D movie-based attractions at SeaWorld (San Antonio and San Diego) and Busch Gardens (Williamsburg and Tampa).
In 2013, Stine won the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2017, Stine was awarded the Inkpot Award.
Personal life.
On June 22, 1969, Stine married Jane Waldhorn, an editor and writer who later co-founded Parachute Press in 1983. The couple's only child, Matthew (b. June 7, 1980), works in the music industry.
Through their son, Stine and his wife have one grandson (b. February 2014).
Works.
Original series.
"Goosebumps".
"Goosebumps" (original series).
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"Give Yourself Goosebumps".
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"Give Yourself Goosebumps: Special Edition".
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"Goosebumps Presents".
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"Goosebumps Series 2000".
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"Goosebumps HorrorLand".
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"Goosebumps Most Wanted".
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Goosebumps SlappyWorld.
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"Fear Street".
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"Fear Street Super Chiller".
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"Fear Street Sagas".
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"Fear Street Seniors".
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"A Fear Street Novel".
"Ghosts of Fear Street (not written by R.L. Stine)".
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"Rotten School" (2005–2008).
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"The Nightmare Room".
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Stand-alone novels.
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Short stories (from other anthologies).
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Books written under the name Jovial Bob Stine.
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Citations.
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