geoff: Time now for our weekend
spotlight, with best-selling
children's author Jeff Kinney.
This month marks 15 years since
"Diary of a wimpy kid" made
Kinney one of the world's most
popular writers.
I spoke to him about his start
in children's literature and the
mark he's left.
Jeff Kinney is a literary
superstar among pre-teens and
their parents.
His best-selling book series,
"Diary of a wimpy kid," tracks
the the misadventures of
middle-schooler Greg Heffley,
sketched as a skinny boy with a
round head, semi-permanent
frown, and precious few strands
of hair.
Its 16 installments have been
translated into 65 languages and
inspired a film adaptation.
There are now more than 250
million copies of the series in
print worldwide.
I spoke with Jeff Kinney this
week about his unexpected path
to international success.
So as I understand it, you did
not set out to be a children's
author.
Jeff: I didn't.
I set out to be a newspaper
cartoonist, and that seems a
little antiquated at the moment
in a way.
But that was my big dream.
When I was in college, I went to
the university of Maryland
college park.
I had a comic in the daily paper
, circulation of about 30,000,
and I got really addicted to
that.
And that's what I wanted to do
for the rest of my life.
But when I went out into the
real world, I found out I had a
lot of doors closed in my face
and I had to find another way.
Geoff: So what did you set out
to accomplish when you wrote the
first book?
Jeff: I just wanted to have my
cartoons in print in some way.
So I actually worked on diary of
a wimpy kid, the first book for
about eight or nine years before
I showed it to anyone at all.
And I had a 1300 page first
draft.
I then brought that out into the
world.
Geoff: And how did you go about
creating this world of middle
schooler Greg Heffley?
Jeff: Well, I was a bit of a
wimpy kid when I was growing up.
I actually was an average kid,
but I had really wimpy moments,
for example, when I was on the
swim team.
I used to hide out from the swim
coach every single day in the
locker room, and I'd get so cold
sitting in that stall that I
would wrap myself in toilet
paper, to stay warm.
I think that's where Greg
Heffley was born, and I knew
that there were these comic
moments, these shameful moments
from my past that might give
people a laugh.
Geoff: I think that's why so
many kids connect with this
book.
I mean, Greg Heffley is not
defined by heroics.
He's not a superhero, he's just
a regular kid, flaws and all.
>> Yup, I'm pretty sure I'm
going to therapy for this.
Jeff: A lot of kids in
children's literature, the
protagonists are like miniature
adults, and they always do the
right thing.
They're brave, they're
aspirational characters.
While I was writing "Diary of a
wimpy kid," I was actually
reading Harry potter, and Harry
is brave.
He's magical, he's powerful.
He's famous, he's all the things
that I was not, so I wanted to
create a character who is more
like me.
And if you look at Greg on the
cover of the book, he's got a
frown on just about every cover.
And, you know, he looks like
he's not having an easy time of
things.
I think the books would be
really different if Greg looked
happy or joyful or strong on the
covers.
I think that kids wouldn't reach
for the books as much.
Geoff: Is there anything that
you try to teach kids through
the character of Greg Heffley?
Jeff: I'm really trying to teach
kids to laugh at their own
circumstances.
I like to think of my books as
being very similar to what a
stand up comedian does.
They stand on a stage and make
themselves vulnerable and
they're relatable.
And we're laughing along with
them because we can see
ourselves in those comedians.
Geoff: Kinney's illustrations
are simple, and his stories
about the absurdities and
indignities of middle school
life are straightforward,
relying on stinky, gross-out
humor that appeals equally to
boys and girls.
Jeff: You know, we found that
girls are much bigger readers
than boys.
So it doesn't surprise me that a
lot of girls read my books.
When I first started putting my
book out there, I started
getting emails from teachers and
parents who said, my reluctant
reader really loves these books.
And I've come to understand that
"Reluctant reader" can sometimes
mean code for boys.
So, you know, a lot of boys,
it's it's difficult getting them
to pick up a book, but once they
get a good book in their hands
, they are hooked.
Geoff: I asked my son, I said,
do you have a question for Mr.
Kinney?
And he said, when's the next
book coming out?
Jeff: I always have a book that
comes out in the fall, and I
think there is something really
special about that.
A cartoon character is like a
promise.
You know, we expect our cartoon
characters to stick around, and
that's why the best cartoon
characters don't just last for
years, they last for for decades
, because they're one thing in
life that can be really
reliable.
Geoff: What does it feel like to
be in this privileged position
where what you write reaches
millions of kids across the
world?
Jeff: At this point right now,
if I write a book and it's not
very good, still millions of
kids will read it.
So I don't take that privilege
lightly.
And in fact, that's what really
motivates me because I know that
there is an expectation that
these books are good.
So I feel like it's a
responsibility and I'm doing my
best to live up to that
responsibility.
Geoff: Jeff Kinney, happy 15th
anniversary of diary of a wimpy
kid.
Jeff: Thank you so much.
I really appreciate it.