Virtual Illinois Libraries Presents “Still Afraid of the Dark: An Evening with R.L. Stine,” February 24
Tuesday, February 24, 7 p.m.
Presented by the Rock Island, Silvis, and East Moline Public Libraries
Cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the planet's “most prolific author of children’s horror novels,” Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine will discuss his illustrious and still-expanding body of work in Still Afraid of the Dark, a virtual February 24 presentation by Illinois Libraries Present being simultaneously hosted by the Rock Island, Silvis, and East Moline Public Libraries.
The 82-year-old Stine is best known as the writer of Goosebumps, a horror fiction novel series for children which has sold more than 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, which resulted in the author being recognized as the "Stephen King of children's literature," Stine also wrote the teen horror fiction series Fear Street, which has sold more than 80 million copies and has been adapted into a series of films. His other works include Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, Nightmare Hour, and The Nightmare Room, and he has also written humor books for children, under the alias Jovial Bob Stine.
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, and 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 (received during the 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, while 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. Stine's 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.
Becky Spratford, an acclaimed horror maven and editor of Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature, will join R.L. Stine in conversation, and the virtual session is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
The virtual program Still Afraid of the Dark: An Evening with R.L. Stine will take place on February 24, participation in the 7 p.m. event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.org; by calling (309)755-3393 and visiting SilvisLibrary.org; and by calling (309)755-9614 and visiting EastMolineLibrary.org.
