The most commonly Googled question about the world’s most famous kids horror writer is ‘When did R L Stine die?’.

Perhaps the fact the ‘Goosebumps’ series debuted over two and half decades ago – and that the moniker R L Stine sounds likes it belongs to someone at least 99 years old – contributes to the idea that that the author is long dead.

But the creator of such horrors as a sadistic ventriloquist doll called Slappy the Dummy, a mind-controlling Halloween mask, and a turtle-munching monster disguised as a librarian is very much alive and kicking. And, he has revealed in an interview, he’s signed on to write six new horror novels to continue his ‘Goosebumps’ legacy.

The announcement comes in the midst of Banned Books Week, which is fitting given that Stine’s novels are some of the most challenged books of all time for their frightening content and occult themes. The books were made all the more notorious due to the artistic talents of cover designer and illustrator Tim Jacobus.

Stine, now 75, has typed all of his 300 books using a single finger and will no doubt bring his new novels to life in a similar fashion. At the height of the ‘Goosebumps’ craze in the 90s, he was adding a new instalment to the series every two weeks.

When asked if he had any plans on retiring from dreaming up plots that horrify and delight his young readers, Stine said:

‘I don’t think authors retire. I think of Robert B. Parker, who just dropped dead on the keyboard. I think that’s the way to go.’