Jeff Kinney - About the Author
See if you can imagine one of the most frequent questions asked of Jeff Kinney, the mind and pen behind the incredibly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Was this the question? "I'm often asked why I don't take drawing lessons," chuckles the author/illustrator. "I love that one."
That humorous approach to life encapsulates Kinney's creative approach. It makes sense that he got his start by cartooning for his high school newspaper. Jeff Kinney continued his cartoons for a college daily, honing his craft and refining his observational eye. It is training he recommends: "I think every kid should get involved in their newspaper or website in some way, whether it be reporting, cartooning, or creating graphics." "It helps keep you connected to what's going on at school, which makes the whole experience a lot more fun," encourages Kinney.
A dedicated dad, Jeff gets a kick from sharing books with his own kids: "I enjoy reading the Ramona Quimby books, just about any picture book, anything by Shel Silverstein, and Judy Blume books." He muses that "I became an author and an illustrator almost by accident... I wanted to be a 'real' cartoonist, but couldn't break in. So I said, "hey, maybe I'll just try out this book thing."
When cartooning for a newspaper did not work out as a long-term goal, Kinney took the book approach by mixing the cartoons and the text. Needless to say, that has worked well for him, though deep down, he confesses that "I think of myself as a cartoonist."
Jeff plumbed his own growing up years to create the series, putting everything through a strainer so that only the humorous parts remained. At the same time, Jeff wanted to write a book that would stand the test of time and that kids would want to read again and again. "It took me nine years to write the first book," he recalls. The first four years were dedicated to generating the book and the next four to writing and illustrating.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons first came out in the spring of 2007. It quickly caught the eyes of librarians and booksellers and by May it hit the New York Times bestseller list, by September it topped the list that also included the likes of Jerry Spinelli, Gail Carson Levine and Brian Selznick. The second book-Rodrick Rules-came out in January 2008 and was followed by The Last Straw in January 2009. Both sequels followed the trajectory of the first book by eventually landing in the first spot on the New York Times bestseller lists.
What's next for Greg Heffley, the infamous wimpy kid of the title? Kinney recalls that a kid recently asked him how many books he was planning to do. "I jokingly said I'm going to milk this cow as long as I can. The next kid asked me what the cow's name was."
Whatever he calls the cow, the Wimpy Kid is in good hands. Though he originally said the series would include five books, he now adds that "I'd really love to make it seven, but that's dependent on whether I have the creative juice to do it." As many readers know, "There's nothing sadder than seeing a creative endeavor fizzle out because there's nothing left in the creator's tank."
That said, the Wimpy Kid series can spark creative fire in its readers as they try their own version of Jeff's patented approach. "I think the books are good conversation-starters," muses the author. They provide "A way to get kids talking about their own lives and their feelings." The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-it-Yourself Book is ready-made for budding cartooning diarists and a perfect launching point for schools and libraries celebrating "Get Creative @ Your Library" this summer.
In the end, however, Jeff just hopes "kids will understand that reading can be fun." A sense of humor is often just another way of gaining perspective and what kid-or adult, for that matter-doesn't need that? Sure, the Wimpy Kid books are great at engaging reluctant readers and Jeff's own story is a testament to perseverance and creativity, but the reason that they will stand the test of time is because kids want to read them.
-- Interviewed by Ellen Myrick, May 2009
