07/29/2026
Where did my passion for creating monsters come from?
The answer is… books.
Growing up, both of my parents worked, so if I wasn’t drawing, I was usually reading.
We spent a lot of time at the library, and that’s where I discovered Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
As a little kid, I struggled with night terrors. Looking back, it’s funny that the very thing that scared me also helped me. Between those books and classic horror movies, I slowly learned to face the monsters in my imagination instead of running from them.
Then middle school came along, and I discovered Goosebumps.
From the very first book, I was hooked. Between my mom and dad, they managed to get me the first 26 books in the series. I read every one of them over and over.
Then in 1995, R.L. Stine released the Give Yourself Goosebumps books, and suddenly reading became a game. Every choice changed the story, and I couldn’t get enough.
As an adult, I can look back and realize those weren’t just scary books.
They were building blocks.
They taught me to imagine worlds, create characters, and tell stories. Along with comics, cartoons, and video games, they helped shape the creative person I am today.
💬 What book series completely captured your imagination as a kid? Was it Goosebumps, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Animorphs, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or something else?
Not our pic but def makes us jealous!
