Read: Authors R. L. Stine, Nnedi Okorafor and Edgar Allen Poe

What do R. L. Stine and Nnedi Okorafor have in common? On the surface, not a whole lot. Stine is a 79 year old white male best known for his horror series for children and young adults. Most of us have heard of Goosebumps, which boomed in the 1990s, and many of his original Goosebumps readers (primarily Millennials) transitioned to reading the Fear Street series as teenagers. He is extremely prolific, having written literally hundreds of books. I devoured his work as a 1990s kid, and he remains a popular horror author for children. Here is something you may not know about Stine: he is hilarious. In fact, he started his writing career writing joke books for kids. Someone suggested he write a horror novel instead. He did, and it became a bestseller. So he wrote another. That one became a bestseller too. So he said forget comedy (his words). The rest is history.

You may not have heard of Okorafor directly, but you are almost certainly familiar with her work: she authored the Black Panther comics. That is far from all, however. She has written multiple comics, novels (including series), and screenplays. Born in America to Nigerian parents, she is 48. She classifies her work as African futurism and African jujuism. Her work is a beautiful mix of fantasy, science fiction, and African culture. Her book Who Fears Death is slated to become an HBO series. That is the work I chose to read before hearing her speak. Who Fears Death is an excellent blend of fantastical elements and real social issues. I highly recommend it.

So what do these two authors have in common? They have very different life experiences, are of different generations, and write in different genres. They have some different views on the meaning of writing. However, they have both written fiction for young adults and had their works adapted for film and television. They are cultural icons. They also offer some similar advice for writers. One piece I have heard from every author I have ever heard speak: you have to read prolifically in order to write. They also agreed that writing is their lifeblood; they are not sure what they would do if they were not writers.

Okorafor and Stine were both selected to speak at the centennial celebration for Richmond's Poe Museum. Despite admitting that Poe did not have much of an influence on them directly (neither spoke extensively on Poe, mostly focusing on their own works and writing experience), they both acknowledged Poe's influence on American literature. Okorafor noted that "Poe looms large." Stine remembered reading Poe's works in horror anthologies he was drawn to as a kid.

Poe's influence on American literature and culture more broadly is undeniable. Many of you have probably watched the new Netflix show Wednesday...Poe is an important historic figure in that show. Poe lived with adoptive parents in Richmond, spending his formative years here. I highly recommend a visit to the Poe Museum if you find yourself in the Richmond area. It is a quaint little space and always changing. You will be surprised at the kinds of things you will learn. Did you know that Poe also wrote science fiction? That he was remarkably unsuccessful in college? He went into gambling debt while at the University of Virginia. His adoptive father wanted him to take over the family tobacco business (a classic Virginia industry) but ultimately ended up cutting Poe off financially. Poe's path lie elsewhere. His life is a "follow your dreams" story. Can you imagine American literature without "The Raven" or the "Pit and the Pendulum"  or the "Tell-Tale Heart"? Even authors like Stine and Okorafor, who admit to not having been greatly influenced by Poe directly, are familiar with and impacted by his work. The authors that influenced them, for example, were almost certainly influenced by the work of Poe. Poe was a pioneer in the genres Stine and Okorafor are famous for.

We are long past the opportunity to hear horror master and great American poet Edgar Allen Poe speak, but I have always loved hearing writers talk at events, especially if I have read their work. You get to see the incredible duality of the author. When you read them, they are an often ambiguous Creator. When you hear them speak, you see them as a person. You begin to understand what influences and what drives them. It provides a completely new kind of depth the next time you pick up one of their works.

I could write much more about these three authors. I am drawn to each of them for different reasons: Poe for his darkness turned to success, Stine for his influence on my childhood, and Okorafor for her meaningful approach to the sci fi/fantasy genre. For the sake of time and brevity, I want to close with a discussion of the meaning of a writer's work. During the discussion portion of the event, Okorafor and Stine were asked, "How do you make a story both meaningful and entertaining?"

I know enough of Poe to know that he did this by writing from his own trauma and pain. I imagine that many of his stories came from a need to purge some of the darkness in his own mind. Readers do find that darkness entertaining...but we all also find it meaningful, because we have all experienced darkness in our ways. That madness and pain is fascinating but also frighteningly relatable. Aren't most modern peoples a little mad?

Okorafor said that she did not necessarily approach writing a story with the idea of making it meaningful. However, she said that meaning comes from within. When she writes a story, something about it compels her to put it on the page (I interpret this, again, as a need to purge). Her works do address social issues and generational trauma, including violence and genocide, female genital mutilation, and prescribed gender roles. I find her work meaningful because it addresses these social issues and speaks to lived experiences, even when the main characters are powerful sorcerers. Her stories are powerful and empowering in more than one way.

Stine's answer to this question was interesting. He said that his stories aren't meaningful. He says he writes simple to entertain. He writes for fun and enjoyment and does not think about social issue or meaning as he does so. I, however, do not think he gives himself enough credit. There absolutely is meaning in his work: his novels have influenced generations of children. In some cases, he inspired children to read. In others, he inspired children to write. He himself noted receiving letters and comments from people telling him that his books helped them get through traumatic life events and difficult childhoods. There is certainly meaning in that. There is meaning in the ability to entertain and to inspire. There is meaning in being able to pull your reader into a story and have them become invested in it. If nothing else it builds imagination, and that is am important trait for children and adults alike to obtain and maintain.

I highly recommend reading each of these authors...I reread Goosebumps #1 Welcome to Dead House after hearing Stine speak and still thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved Okorafor's adult themes and mystical elements. And Poe...well Poe is Poe. You won't regret diving into his works either.

If you have questions about this event, the Poe Museum, or any of these authors, please feel free to drop a note below! I would love to hear from you.