Business and Individual S CORP, C CO WHEN ARE T
Children of the ’90s (and those who raised them) will likely remember the spooky preteen book series “Goosebumps.” Over 62 volumes, author R.L. Stine terrified and delighted young thrill-seekers, and the expanded series continues to do so today. The first book was released 30 years ago in 1992, and the year’s scariest month is the perfect time to revisit its origins and legacy. Though more than 400 million “Goosebumps” books have been printed internationally, the series was anything but a surefire hit. Author R. L. Stine didn’t even want to write the series, but his wife/editor convinced him that horror stories for 7–11-year-olds would do well. The series started as four books, beginning with “Welcome to the Dead House,” a tale about zombie children. In retrospect, Stine conceded that this first volume was too scary and didn’t inject enough humor. By the second book, “Stay Out of the Basement,” he believed he had his winning formula. But the series didn’t take off right away. There was no marketing budget, so “Goosebumps” relied on word of mouth to find kids who wanted to read them. Eventually, children learned about the series from friends, and it became a runaway smash beloved for its creepy tales, light jokes, and twisty endings. Stine mined his own childhood fears for story ideas, and kids gobbled them up, begging their parents for each new release. When Stine ran out of stories, he resorted to creating book titles and inventing plots around them. Most books took him three weeks to write, while the illustrator spent an average of 35 hours on the covers. “Goosebumps” soon became too popular to stay on the page alone, and a TV series began airing in 1995. In 2012, a live-action film starring Jack Black hit theaters. And there are now seven unique “Goosebumps” book series. Even countless library challenges from concerned parents in the 1990s couldn’t hold the franchise back. Adults looking to relive their youth through the series will find brisk reading and likely some amusement at what used to make their skin crawl. But if you have a child who is up for something slightly scary, it would be much more fun to enjoy them together as a family. Try reading aloud to each other or starting a family book club. It’s the perfect way to get into a family-friendly Halloween state of mind. 30 YEARS OF SCARES Behind the Classic Kids’ Book Series ‘Goosebumps’
Back in 1909, President William Howard Taft, along with Congress, started to impose taxes on corporate income. The due date for filing all tax returns was set for March 1 each year, but when a new
law was passed in 1955, the due dates for both corporate and individual income tax returns were changed. In 2015, due dates were changed again when the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 was passed to streamline the flow of all filed tax returns and ensure 1040s are received prior to the Form W-2.
April 15 is considered Tax Day, or the federal tax due date. If you
require more time to prepare and file your tax return, you may be eligible to request an extension.
It should be noted that self-
employed sole proprietors and C-corporations
Spooky Spaghetti and Eyeballs
Inspired by FavFamilyRecipes.com
Make your family dinners extra spooky this month with a frightening dish: spaghetti and eyeballs!
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