R.L. Stine is a successful American author best known for the Goosebumps series of books. Due to the popularity of his books, Stine has become one of the world’s richest authors. Although he is well known amongst his fans and in the literary world, there are many facts about R.L. Stine that people do not know. So, what do you want to know about the talented author? Here are some R.L. Stine facts you may find interesting.

R.L. Stine
Image credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

R.L. Stine Facts: His Early and Personal Life

What Is R. L. Stine’s Full Name?

As an author, R.L. Stine always uses his initials, which makes many fans wonder what the R and L stand for. His full name is Robert Lawrence Stine.

Where Was R.L. Stine Born?

R.L. Stine was born on 08 October 1943 in Columbus, Ohio. His family is Jewish, and he grew up in Bexley, Ohio.

What Did R.L. Stine Read as a Child?

As he is famous for his children’s books, it makes sense that one of the R.L. Stine facts his fans want to know about is what he read as a child and if the books gave him inspiration. The author remembers reading the Tales from the Crypt comic books, which probably instigated his love of the horror genre. Stine also remembers using a typewriter he found in his attic to write joke books and short stories.

Where Did R.L. Stine Study?

R.L. Stine studied English at Ohio State University and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While he was a student, Stine was the editor of the humour magazine The Sundial for three years.

Is R.L. Stine Married?

Fans of the author may question, “Does R.L. Stine have a wife?” The answer is that R.L. Stine married Jane Waldhorn in 1969. Jane Stine is an editor and writer, best known as a co-founder of Parachute Press.

Does R.L. Stine Have Children?

Stine and his wife have just one child. Their son, Matthew (Matt), was born on 07 June 1980. Matt Stine works in the music industry.

Where Does R.L. Stine Live?

Although he is originally from Columbus, Ohio, R.L. Stine left his hometown after leaving university. He moved to New York City to pursue his writing career, and he has continued to live in The Big Apple ever since. He lives with his wife in an apartment in the city. According to Apartment Life, he loves the area where he lives so much that if they ever moved, they could not move more than three blocks. It means they would not have to change too much about their daily lives.

Facts About R.L. Stine’s Literary Career

When Did R.L. Stine Begin His Writing Career?

Stine began his writing career long before he published his first horror novel. During the 1970s, he wrote children’s humour books using the pen name Jovial Bob Stine. He was also the creator of Bananas, a humour magazine for teens.

What Was R.L. Stine’s First Book?

Stine wrote his first horror novel, Blind Date, in 1986. He followed this with novels, including The Babysitter, The Girlfriend, Hit and Run, and Beach House. In 1989, Stine began writing the Fear Street book series. His first novel in the Goosebumps series, for which he is best known, was the 1992 book Welcome to the Dead House.

How Many Books Has R.L. Stine Written?

One of the facts about R.L. Stine that people want to know is about the number of books he has written. The author is one of the publishing world’s most prolific writers, as he has written almost 500 books. He has a rule that he will write 2,000 words every day, then stop as soon as he hits his target. In addition to the extensive Goosebumps and Fear Street series of books, he has also written multiple stand-alone novels, anthologies, and short stories.

How Many Books Has R.L. Stine Sold?

Stine has sold more than 400 million copies of his books, which means he is one of the world’s best-selling authors.

Other R.L. Stine Facts

What Is R.L. Stine’s Net Worth?

One of the R.L. Stine facts people want to know is about his wealth. Due to his phenomenal success as a writer, R.L. Stine is a very rich man. So, what is R.L. Stine’s net worth? It is estimated that R.L. Stine’s net worth is $200 million, which means he is one of the world’s richest authors. His wealth is equal to that of paranormal writer Allison DuBois and higher than the net worth of authors Dan Brown and Stephenie Meyer. However, he is not as rich as writers such as J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Paul Coelho, or James Patterson.

Has R.L. Stine Won Any Awards?

Stine has won multiple awards throughout his career. These include the 2007 Thriller Writers of America Silver Bullet Award, the 2002 Champion of Reading Award, and the 2014 Horror Writers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, he won the 2017 Inkpot Award.

TV and Media

In 1989, Stine co-created Eureeka’s Castle, which aired on Nickelodeon until 1995. Stine was the head writer for the series. The Goosebumps series of books has inspired a television series and three films. The stories are also the inspiration for the Haunted Lighthouse 4D movie attractions at SeaWorld in San Diego and San Antonio and Busch Gardens in Tampa and Williamsburg.

Does He Have a Nickname?

Some people refer to R.L. Stine as the “Stephen King of children’s literature.” He earned the title due to his connections with both the horror genre and children’s literature.

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