Penpal (novel)

Penpal
Author Dathan Auerbach
Country United States
Language English
Genre Fiction, horror
Published 2012
Publisher 1000Vultures
Media type Print, e-book
Pages 252 pages
ISBN 098554550X

Penpal is a 2012 self-published horror thriller novel and the debut novel of American author Dathan Auerbach. The work was first published in paperback on July 11, 2012 through 1000Vultures and is based on a series of popular creepypasta stories that Auerbach posted to Reddit.[1] The book follows an unnamed protagonist that finds himself the focus of an obsessed stalker who tracks him throughout his childhood.

Film rights to Penpal were optioned by producer Rich Middlemas in 2012.[2]

Synopsis

Penpal is told via a series of recollections by an anonymous narrator trying to make sense of his childhood. As a very young boy he decided to participate in a penpal program where children tried to find penpals by attaching a letter to a balloon, which they released in the hopes that it would reach someone that would write back. While the other children receive responses, the narrator does not and it's assumed that his balloon did not reach anyone. However as he grows he and his childhood friend Josh begin to find that someone is following them and that this person is far from sane.

Background

The story line for Penpal is based on a series of stories that Auerbach posted to the subreddit "No Sleep" under the username 1000Vultures.[3][4] Auerbach posted the first story, "Footsteps", to r/nosleep in March 2010, where it received a large positive response.[5] He had initially meant for "Footsteps" to be a standalone story, but Auerbach chose to continue writing more stories following the same protagonist due to reader demand.[5] Each story was narrated by the same protagonist and each one opened with the same format, where the protagonist responded to a question posted by one of the readers.[2] During this time Auerbach also responded to user posts while in character as the protagonist.[2] Auerbach continued to post more stories and eventually chose to expand the Reddit stories into a full length novel.[1]

To finance the book's publication Auerbach chose to raise funds via a Kickstarter campaign, which raised $15,946.[4] He then published the book under his own imprint, 1000Vultures, after his Reddit username.[4][1]

Reception

SF Signal rated Penpal at four stars and wrote "Auerbach took something with childish innocence and twisted into a haunting tale of obsession. I look forward watching Auerbach improve with future works that are bound to give me nightmares."[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Barone, Matt. ""Penpal" Author Dathan Auerbach: From Anonymous Reddit Poster to Published Novelist". Complex. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Shaw-Williams, Hannah. "Redditor's Creepy Story Series Optioned For Film By Oscar-Winning Producer". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Beggs, Scott. "Another Reddit Writer Gets a Movie Development Deal". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Penpal Kickstarter". Kickstarter. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 Fenn, Mike. "How a Reddit horror story hit Hollywood". Daily Dot. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Sharps, Nick. "BOOK REVIEW: Penpal by Dathan Auerbach". SF Signal. Retrieved 1 April 2015.

External links

Original Reddit stories

  1. Footsteps
  2. Balloons
  3. Boxes
  4. Maps
  5. Screens
  6. Friends
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