‘Goosebumps’ Actor Miles McKenna to Publish Debut Children’s Book (Exclusive)

I Am NOT A Vampire follows Arlo, who is not a vampire, but wants to prove that he belongs as part of his vampire family in Pumpkin Valley. As he plans to transform during a harvest moon on Friday the 13th, Arlo soon finds that he has changed into something else instead.

McKenna shares that his own childhood experiences with vampires has some similarities in common with the book’s plot.

“I was raised in a family where being who I am wasn’t accepted, and I lacked the language to be able to advocate for myself,” McKenna said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “Halloween was my favorite holiday as it’s the one night of the year where everyone’s unique look is celebrated, and you can push the ‘acceptable’ boundaries of who you’re ‘supposed’ to be.”

“I asked to be a vampire in the first grade, but on Halloween night, I felt so wrong in my big black wig and gown that was bought for me. I didn’t know why those feelings were there,” McKenna continued. “The following year, in second grade, I asked again if I could be a vampire. My mom reminded me that I was a vampire the year prior. I corrected her and said, ‘I want to be a boy vampire!’”

McKenna recently gained recognition for playing comic relief James in the Disney+ series Goosebumps, based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling children’s book series. Aside from that breakout role, McKenna is also known for his role as a LGBTQ+ activist and his YouTube channel, which currently holds over 1 million subscribers. He previously published the book Out! How to Be Your Authentic Self in 2020.

I Am NOT A Vampire will be published through GLAAD and Little Bee Book’s publishing partnership, which launched in 2018. The companies aim to share positive LGBTQ+ representation in children’s literature. A portion of the proceeds from McKenna’s book will also go towards GLAAD and their efforts.

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“From the first line, I was charmed by Miles McKenna and his wonderful little Arlo,” Brett Duquette, Little Bee Books’ Editorial Director, said in a statement. “What a joy to be under Miles’s spell! While this playful story is full of laughs, most importantly, it will make kids feel safe. It shows them that they are worthy of love just by existing. That is powerful magic.”