Meet Goosebumps author R. L. Stine
Are you a fan of the spooky and silly? Then you’re going to love the new movie Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (rated PG). It’s based on the Goosebumps
series by R. L. Stine. The movie, out on Blu-ray and DVD on September 2nd, stars Bella Thorne (from Shake It Up), Calum Worthy (from Austin & Ally), Madison Pettis, Roshon Fegan, and Ryan Ochoa. Ryan plays Max, a boy who’s finally gotten his crush Cammy (played by Bella) to go with him on a date. What could possibly go wrong? Well, when evil ghosts, ghouls, and other sinisters creatures get involved, a LOT does. It’s up to Max and his ghostly friends Tara (played by Madison) and Nicky (played by Roshon) to set things right in time for Max’s big date on Halloween!Read what R. L. Stine has to say . . .
Q: Max loves magic. Did you like magic when you were a kid?
R. L. Stine: I loved magic as a kid, and I still love it now. When I was eight, I got a magic kit for my birthday. It was my favorite gift. I practiced for hours, making a quarter turn into a nickel, turning threes into aces. The kit had one hundred tricks. I think I bored my family to tears performing every one of them. I definitely thought about those magic shows when I started writing Mostly Ghostly.
Q: Did you believe in ghosts when you were a kid?
R. L. Stine: Yes, I did. Behind our house, in the woods, there was a tall mound of white stones. No one knew why they were there or how they got there, but my brother and I were convinced that there was a dead person under that pile of stones. We believed that his ghost came out at night to haunt our neighborhood. We played in the woods all the time. But we always stayed away from that mysterious pile of stones, and we never went there at night.
Q: Did you discuss the movie with the cast?
R. L. Stine: I read the script and gave the writers and producers some notes, but I never get very involved with the films and TV shows based on my books. I know that my job is to write books. I leave the movies and TV shows to the professionals. And it’s worked out pretty well.
Q: Do you have a favorite book that you wrote?
R. L. Stine: I am best known for books that are scary and funny. But what I really love most is the funny stuff. That’s why I love Mostly Ghostly: it has as many laughs as gasps. My favorite Goosebumps books are the ones with funny characters like Slappy the Dummy and Murder the Clown.
Q: What is your real-life favorite book?
R. L. Stine: My favorite author when I was young, and to this day, is the science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury. One of the scariest books I’ve ever read is Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes (for ages 12 and up).
Q: What’s your advice to a kid who would like to become a writer?
R. L. Stine: I started writing when I was nine years old. I made little joke books and I drew the pictures. I soon learned I could not draw a thing. I had no talent. But I just kept writing. I always tell young people that the best way to become a writer is to BE a writer. Write stories. Write songs. Write articles for your school paper. And keep writing. Everything you write teaches you something and gives you confidence.
I can’t wait to see how Jack Black will play R. L. Stine in the upcoming Goosebumps movie
! What do you think? Are you going to see Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? Are you a fan of the book series? Share your thoughts in the Comments below! Add a Comment