Ohio native R.L. Stine gives a packed library goosebumps
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“Goosebumps” author R.L. Stine shared ghost stories and took questions on his all-time favorite books during a recent author talk. Photos: Kristen Swilley/Axios
R.L. Stine, the bestselling horror author and proud Ohio native, brought more laughs than screams to a sold-out appearance Thursday at Cincinnati's downtown library.
Why it matters: For millennials who grew up devouring "Goosebumps" books in the '90s, the visit offered a chance to relive a little childhood magic — and introduce their own kids to the man behind the monsters.
The scene: Stine descended the library steps to a packed house of horror fans.
- He kept the crowd laughing, recalling a Baltimore teacher who once asked for a photo because "my kids all think you're dead."
- He also read Shel Silverstein's poem "Haunted" and revealed "The Haunted Mask" is his personal favorite "Goosebumps" story.
The Ohio connection: Stine recalled discovering "Tales from the Crypt" at his hometown barbershop in Columbus and reading Ray Bradbury at a nearby library.
- He also spent part of his childhood visiting grandparents in the Queen City, where he developed an appreciation for its hills.
- In an exclusive interview with Axios, Stine joked that visits to his grandmother also introduced him to heartburn at age 6, thanks to a meal cooked in chicken fat.
The local lore: Stine also wrote two books inspired by the Beast, Kings Island's legendary wooden roller coaster.
- He rode it twice, including a return trip after being invited back.
- Stine still considers it one of the great wooden coasters.
What he's saying: "I'm just a little poor kid in Columbus, Ohio and here I am tonight," Stine told the crowd.
The bottom line: Decades after giving a generation nightmares, Stine is still finding reasons to smile about his unlikely career and giving grown-up "Goosebumps" fans, including one Axios reporter, a chance to feel like kids again.
What Stine's saying about Ohio book challenges
