‘Goosebumps’ Author Reveals He Never Wanted To Write The Book

R.L. Stine has been giving readers goosebumps for 30 years, and helped kids develop a love for reading along the way. TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager sits down with the beloved author to talk about the series literary impact, the personal connection he felt to his main characters and how he almost didn't write the book.
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#Books #Kids #Goosebumps

[@youandiryan]

I am in my thirties and it's absolutely awesome to see RL Stine is still doing very well. He was a very big part of my childhood. He was a part of a lot of people's childhoods. So for a lot of people when you say the name RL Stine they have very fond memories.

[@grumpent]

Facts

[@youandiryan]

@@grumpent thank you my friend!!

[@simounobrien9096]

Agreed. R.L Stine is one of the very few Authors that inspired me to Read more books. He is indeed a Legend.

[@sonyslyer9946]

Amen! Facts🎉

[@youdofookinnotin]

He is big part of childhood for kids from Russia too ❤

[@Luckyduck82180]

I was born in 1980 and I grew up on his books. Love him

[@BrunaNeptune]

This guy is the whole reason I became a horror writer to begin with! I grew up on the Goosebumps series in the early 2000s in Elementary school! It's great to see the next generation read his books! ^^

[@techunity1401]

Do you have any books?

[@lucifer-ic9th]

This man made growing up in the 90 a million times better. Both the books and rhe tv series, ah the nostalgia...

[@SpookaBooHQ]

Grew up on these, now collecting them as an adult. Always will be a special childhood memory, whenever I look over the covers, a rush of pure nostalgia!

[@niabelizaire3596]

30 years later, Goosebumps is still one of the greatest children’s book series ever! 💚💯📚

[@alyssanicholson4312]

I agree! I love them so much❤

[@lc11214]

When I was younger, I loved going to the library after school. Hence, I can borrow those goosebumps books.

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

Beautiful name you have and I also enjoyed going to library for them...when I didn't have book reports to do, that is. 😁

[@radiofreealbemuth]

I didn't have cable growing up, so that's how I spent my days, at the library. Unfortunately I lived in Los Angeles, which is notorious for bad libraries. The children section was a small bookshelf. The ya section wasnt much better. It didnt have any goosebumps. I recently moved to Cleveland, and there are so many more libraries here, and the children section alone is bigger than the entire library in Los Angeles that I went to growing up. Makes me wish I had grown up in Cleveland instead of Los angeles.

[@ibobeko4309]

@@radiofreealbemuth I remember borrowing Goosebumps books at the library in Austria, Vienna in the early 2000s in a small library.

[@kevinc1001]

I'd get one whenever I went to the grocery store lol.

[@sonyslyer9946]

Yes! 🎉

[@steveparsley]

It's because of R.L. Stine Goosebumps books I learned how to read. What attracted me to his books was the cover art of monsters, living dummies, and mask that become part of you. THANK YOU MR. R.L. STINE

[@jemmajones6013]

Absolute genius. Even 30 years on i still read and watch Goosebumps. I hope more children today get to read and watch Goosebumps

[@alyssanicholson4312]

Me to!!!❤

[@thebookcorner1072]

Thanks to R.L Stine I took a chance and became a independent author. I might not end up becoming as great as him, but he was such an inspiration to me.

[@bullet4life25]

My childhood consisted of going to the local library with my mom and seeing what goosebump VHS were on the shelf for the week! My favorite “One day at Horrorland” thank you R.L Stine for the memories! 👻

[@LEGNDARY_MIST]

We need more information on the new Tv series for real😩 I can't wait for the new Goosebumps show, they better not mess it up.

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

I'm going to look up more information on the series. I'm very much wanting a remake of the series that stays faithful to the original stories.

[@12DollarMcChicken]

Whole reason I loved the bookstore in 3rd grade was because of Mr. Stine. S/O to the GOAT!

[@siddheshmisale3904]

Always waited for the Scholastic Book fair to get his books!

[@alyssanicholson4312]

They are the best!!!!❤

[@killapicklepiratepanda7373]

I was a teen when goosebumps came out I was in love with these books ❤❤ still am. There's a reason why he's called the Stephen King of kids

[@luissarg1524]

God I love r.l stile , my father would read to me Stephen King books as a child cause I’m weird like that and so one day I took “It” to school and got in trouble so I went o the library and tried to find something that was horror but for kids and it was very difficult but eventually I found “scary stories to tell in the dark “ and as you all probably know or are guessing. I also got in trouble for that but then they began giving us the Scholastic book log and I spotted “Goosebumps” and so that became my daytime horror fix until I could get home and finish my Stephen King books ,but plot twist. I just couldn’t put down the books and I recall even convincing my mother to pay for me to be in the “Goosebumps “fan club from Scholastics and it’s just such a big part of the creation for my love of writing and specifically writing horror stories because R.L Stine taught me that horror doesn’t always have to be visually horrific or gory , there are these fears we have as children that usually follow us into our adulthood and just yea he such a big artistic influence to me as a person and as an artist and he just seems so kind . Love everyone who has commented how he had influence on them .❤💀👻🤘🏻

[@caffe2285]

His books are memorable. I only read one book and i still am intrigued and remembered it to this day

[@idongesitusen5764]

My mom was more put off by the covers than the actual stories. It’s through him I stepped into becoming an author. ❤

[@shaliseshaw9385]

I still miss reading the Goosebumps books, "Say Cheese and Die, The Haunted Mask and The Haunted Mask 2, The Werewolf Of Fever Swamp, etc. and other Goosebumps books from the library. 📚📚📚📚📚📚😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@Adrienetteee]

I’m so sad they took goosebumps off Netflix😭

[@hotmcfly9247]

It’s still on there my guy check

[@Adrienetteee]

@@hotmcfly9247 No, they only have the special episodes, not like the other seaons

[@Weebookey]

Loved these so much as a kid. It’s a shame I sold them all but I’m keen to get all the originals now

[@Squakie]

Always gonna be part of my childhood

[@Emnitys2]

Happy 30 Anniversary Goosebumps 🥳

[@javeydones5163]

Kids need a lot of encouragement to read these days. I’m glad we still have books like these for kids to love. I also think we should encourage kids to read comics as well to introduce them to reading more.

[@WarrenSofine-tp7qf]

WOW RL.STINE GOOSEBUMPS IS FROM MY CHILDHOOD, GOOSEBUMPS IS A BIG PART OF MYSELF..I REWATCH THE 90 FILMS EVEN IN 2024

[@hannahmowen9437]

RL Stine is always an inspiration to me ever since when I was kid, I always wanted to write some stories and scary ones too!

[@amenenema474]

These books were such a huge part of my childhood!

[@marcelledecoteau4353]

It is amazing how children have been enjoying his books for that long. Now their children are also enjoying the same books. Now that there is a remake of the series. They can also enjoy the show. I think that is totally amazing.

[@kevinc1001]

I'm 37 and I'm trying to reread every single original 62 Goosebumps books in order it brings back memories.

[@Justinian43]

These books were born the same year I was, 1992. And in 2003 we met, I was not good at speaking english and from the first book, I connected and couldn't put them away and I learn to speak english with the first 62 Goosebumps books

[@zinachia7009]

0:54 Happy birthday to R.L. Stine! 🎂🎁🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎈♎

[@DruidsCalling]

Thank you R.L. Stein :)

[@austinrenteria]

Happy 30th Anniversary to Goosebumps.

[@charleskim1540]

I used to read and watch goosebumps back, when I was a kid.

[@lobaggins3328]

Literally rereading the series ❤

[@ishmael802]

Glad kids still reading these books

[@duffyy1]

Not only did he create a legacy and an icon he helped million of kids learn to read. He’s a saint.

[@BOND19951]

The books were awesome but the shows never failed to scare me as a kid.

[@adamtr1121]

Such a wonderful author

[@zachhaywood1564]

I recently reread these books as a 29 y/o (judge me) after loving them as a kid, and they surprisingly hold up very well. It's definitely not scary anymore, but it's still very entertaining in spite of that.

[@johnnygunzfilmbuff7821]

I'm 29 still scared or life. I grew up on rl Stine my favorite was the haunted mask.

[@chrisxavier3147]

Big part of my childhood!

[@FrederickGreer]

Happy 30 Years of Goosebumps everyone! 💚💚💚

[@melaniekinkiejacob7419]

I love reading because of RL Stines

[@okcsooners28]

He's exactly what you want him to be!

[@DhrubotararAsor]

He is AWESOME!!!!

[@michaelgonzales92mg]

Turning 31 this year, been a goosebumps fan ever since I was a kid. I mostly watched the show on Fox Kids but as I grew older I started reading the books and enjoying them very much. Currently reading "Werewolf skin" next on my list to read is "Welcome to Dead house". And can you believe he was inspired by EC horror comics? When you read the books you think no way this guy was inspired by something as graphic and gorey as EC horror comics, but its true. Thank you R.L Stine for these amazing books and the incredible TV series based on them.

[@vanessacabrera8120]

I remember we had book fairs and I would buy the books at school. And get the bookmarks as well

[@uinisefoochong5917]

I can honestly say I've read most of his books

[@MsDisneylandlover]

i love goosebumps and hunting hour.

[@alyssanicholson4312]

I love this!!!!!!❤

[@kylerowe9552]

Stine is a legend

[@Hannah-du4yg]

I LOVE THIS MAN

[@terrafray]

My main reason to went to library and read it, when smartphone has not been invented yet, and internet was still a luxury.

[@yugimtuazon3315]

I want to be like R.L Stine

[@semajjarrett3877]

Lucky for Mr. Stine, comedy bridges into horror seamlessly.

[@BeaufortRyan]

He didn't just wrote Goosebumps, but he wrote Spaceballs: The Book.

[@jaskell2057]

Yep and Fear Street Saga's

[@PlatinumEagleStudios]

He didn't write Goosebumps at all actually. Also please learn propper grammar. "He didn't just wrote" is incorrect. "He didn't just write" would be correct. But he never wrote Goosebumps. Stop believing in lies

[@jaskell2057]

I love the Fear Street Saga's too

[@uinisefoochong5917]

Goosebumps .... cam Jansen.... magic tree house a to z mysteries I've read it all

[@MsDisneylandlover]

i grew up on tv show

[@animefan2454]

Man is on league's with Stephen King. Love his books

[@prologueofzinachia7123]

I am the Covenant comic creator and artist to write and draw a lot of comics! I was influencing to the works of Wee Tian Beng and Kazu Kibuishi, Dead or Alive game series, Koei games (Dynasty Warriors series, Samurai Warriors series, Warriors Orochi series and Mystic Heroes), The Longest Journey game series, The King of Fighters game series, Street Fighter game series, Soul series, Final Fantasy game series, Guilty Gear game series and more!

[@Nopuppets10978]

0:01 to 0:53. Goosebumps books

[@MsDisneylandlover]

legendary guy love him

[@lilmamagc]

I miss when kids were into books

[@user-vz1fv1ft2r]

how do you do that?

[@OptimusProvost]

Slappy still scares the crap outta me!

[@PirateJamm]

Absolutely love goosebumps and the books! Although R L Stein had a lot of ghost writers. He was releasing a book every month. He had to call in secret writers to write books for him

[@MsDisneylandlover]

look him at 9 lol young

[@blachlee1962]

Speaking of bumps, the main mole seems to have grown after childhood. Excise it already!

[@daoyang5988]

I am a writer of author anime shows and TV shows on television. I write on my Samsung notes had taught me did thus by myself

[@laurajefferson8883]

RL Stine reading goosebumps books 📚 slappy world 😈 Laura Jefferson

[@katelynthewhitewerewolf6376]

RL Stine is my favorite Book Writer and he's written more books than Stephen King I like Stephen King's movies more than his books.

[@Colmenero444]

Kids that hated reading, read Goosebumps. Ironic isnt it.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

i know i am scary cat lol

[@micaylab1]

R.L Stein’s publishers or editors have obviously Never Heard Of Neil Gaiman Then!😒

[@lilmamagc]

I wasn't allowed to read these as a kid because some of the topics were demonic 🙃

[@AdonayDiabloSum]

Who is he really though? If you find out. You might scream. He never wrote those books. :)

[@ismellnumbers]

Are you joking lol

[@PlatinumEagleStudios]

@@ismellnumbers No. It's called ghost writers. look it up and educate yourself. He never wrote these books

[@shaliseshaw9385]

What happened to the facts about R.L. Stine disliking the Goosebumps books, "The Barking Ghost and Go Eat Worms?" 📚📚📚🐕🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

We don't talk about those books. 😊

[@nathansullivan8472]

I actually liked Go Eat Worms. The Barking Ghost, on the other hand, I don’t blame him for hating it.

[@katelynthewhitewerewolf6376]

@@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate It be cool to see more of the Original Goosebumps book series get a remake series.

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

@@katelynthewhitewerewolf6376 I agree. And even some that were made back in the 90's, but actually touch on the book.

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

@@katelynthewhitewerewolf6376 I love your pfp by the way.