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MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT 1: R.L Stein To write more Thrillers

Scholastic to Launch Bone-Chilling New Book Series by World-Wide Bestselling Author R.L. Stine

Goosebumps HorrorLand(TM) to Terrify Readers and Web-Crawlers in Spring 2008

NEW YORK, May 17 Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, is delighted to announce that it will publish an all-new series from R.L. Stine, author of the monstrously successful Goosebumps(R) series-featuring Stine's hallmark combination of humor and horror. Goosebumps HorrorLand(TM), an original twelve-book series, is scheduled to launch with two books in April 2008 and a $500,000 marketing campaign for the series. The deal to extend Scholastic's Goosebumps franchise was negotiated by Lisa Holton, President of Scholastic Trade and Book Fairs, and Joan Waricha, CEO & Chairman, Parachute Publishing.

Since the Goosebumps books debuted as a monthly series in 1992, more than 300 million copies have been sold worldwide in 32 languages-selling at the phenomenal rate of four million books per month in the mid-1990s. In 2003, Scholastic acquired from Parachute Publishing the Goosebumps trademark and all related rights on a worldwide basis in all media. The Goosebumps series continues to sell millions of copies worldwide each year, and the official Goosebumps website at http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumps is currently one of the most highly-trafficked kids' websites.

The new series will be an immersive storytelling experience welcoming fans to HorrorLand, a vast theme park which R.L. Stine describes as "the scariest place on Earth." In a Goosebumps first, the new series will be a serialized adventure, and the story won't end on the final page of book one, Revenge of the Living Dummy. Instead, the spine-tingling and funny bone-tickling adventures will continue on the Internet and in books #2-12, each of which can also stand alone. The first nine HorrorLand books all will feature a combination of frightful new faces as well as the vilest villains from the original Goosebumps series. Ordinary kids are being summoned to HorrorLand-but why? Readers are in for the ride of their lives as the cast of characters trapped in the theme park grows larger with each book, and their situations become more and more perilous.

Books #10-12 will take place entirely in HorrorLand. Who-or what-is behind the evil plot to assemble these kids? The answer will be revealed in the final book. Soon after the debut of books #1 and #2 in April 2008, Scholastic will begin to reissue original Goosebumps books-ten bestselling titles that tie in with each new story as it unfolds in HorrorLand.

Scholastic will launch HorrorLand with a dedicated website that, with the publication of each book, will further the narrative and provide corresponding clues to help readers unlock the secrets to HorrorLand. In addition, the web site will offer readers original Horrorland material not available in the books-including ten free internet-only related stories, bonus downloads, interactive games, and more.

"I missed my subway stop last week reading the first manuscript," said Lisa Holton. "When I wasn't laughing I was on the edge of my seat, holding my breath. Bob Stine has done it again-with HorrorLand he will take millions of readers on a thrill ride like no other."

"I thought writing 87 Goosebumps books was enough for a human-but everywhere I go the kids keep begging me to write more," said R.L. Stine. "I'm so pleased to be able to do what I've always done: listen to my audience!"

R.L. Stine is one of the best-selling children's authors in history. In 1986 he wrote his first teen horror novel, Blind Date, which became an instant best-seller. Many scary novels followed, including Beach House, Hit And Run, and The Girlfriend. In 1989 he created the Fear Street series, the best- selling young adult book series in history, with more than 100 titles. Goosebumps began in 1992. The book series quickly became a hit around the world. Translated into 32 different languages, it made Stine a worldwide publishing celebrity. In addition, Scholastic Media developed the Goosebumps TV series, which was the number-one rated kids' show in the U.S. for nearly five years, an award-winning global consumer products campaign, and a chart- topping home video series. Other R.L. Stine book creations include: Rotten School, Dangerous Girls, The Haunting Hour, and The Nightmare Room (also a TV series). R.L. Stine lives in New York City with his wife Jane, co-chair of Parachute Publishing, and his dog Minnie.

Parachute Publishing, L.L.C. is the top independent producer of children's books and entertainment. Parachute's books have spent over 80 weeks on The New York Times "Bestseller" lists and Parachute's books with R.L Stine have sold almost 400 million copies.

Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school- based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company's Internet Site, http://www.scholastic.com.

Article courtesy of PRNewswire.com
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