Jeff Kinney: Creator of The Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney was born in 1971 in Maryland. His father worked for the government at the pentagon and his mother was an educator. He has an older sister and a younger brother.

Education

Kinney attended Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland. In the early 1990s he attended the University of Maryland where Jeff ran a comicstrip called Idgoof in the University campus newspaper known as The Diamondback, as he always wished to be a newspaper cartoonist. He chose to start writing instead when he saw that writers we more in demand than cartoonists.

Career

Jeff held on to many of his fond childhood memories in his heart including growing up with his siblings that inspired him to write the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid in 1998. He took eight years before sharing it with a publisher from New York. His book was published in 2007 and in no time became the New York Times Bestseller.

The most interesting fact about this book is that today there are more than 81 million visits on its online version and is read by thousands of kids each day across the globe. In 2010 the samebook was made into a movie starring Zach Gordon as the protagonist Greg Heffley.

The other popular books of Kinney from the same series are Diary of a wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do it yourself, The Ugly truth etc. His last book from the series was published in 2011 which left his millions of readers waiting for the next one.

Till date there have been twelve books published in the series and add to that the movie, Jeff's popularity is as ever on the rise. 

Career Highlights

Jeff also launched a child oriented website Poptropica. he is the one that wrote and designed the online game for children. It is an interesting virtual world for the kids where they can play games, read books, comics, write articles on interesting facts and communicate with eachother. While Jeff tops the list of the New York Times Bestselling authors, he also won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Childrens book award which was a clear choice by children through voting.

In 2009, Jeff Kinney was chosen as one of the 20 Artists & Entertainers in the list of The World's Most Influential people.

Publications

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series:

The main series comprises 19 books, beginning with "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (2007) and continuing through to "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess" (2024). Each installment delves into Greg's life, capturing the challenges and hilarities of adolescence.

Rowley Jefferson Spin-off Series:

Kinney expanded the universe with a spin-off series narrated by Greg's best friend, Rowley Jefferson. This series includes:

1. "Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal" (2019)
2. "Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Adventure" (2020)
3. "Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories" (2021)

These books offer a fresh perspective on the "Wimpy Kid" world, showcasing Rowley's viewpoint.

Supplementary Works:

In addition to the main and spin-off series, Kinney has authored supplementary books that provide deeper insights into the "Wimpy Kid" universe:

• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book" (2008): An interactive journal encouraging readers to create their own stories.
• "The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary" (2010): A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" film adaptation.
• "The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter" (2017): Details the production of the later films in the series.

These works enrich the reader's experience, offering behind-the-scenes content and interactive elements.

Adaptations:

Kinney's work has transcended the literary world, inspiring film adaptations that bring Greg Heffley's adventures to the big screen. The films include:

• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (2010)
• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" (2011)
• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" (2012)
• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" (2017)

These adaptations have expanded the series' reach, introducing the stories to a broader audience.

Family and Personal Life

Kinney lives in Plainsville, Southern Massachusetts with his wife and his two sons, Will and Grant. He married his wife Julie in 2003. 

This 45 year old creative, heart winning writer who humbly describes himself as a slow writer andillustrator is a man who made childhood treasured in the hearts of millions. Memories are something thatnot everyone has the talent to revisit and transcend to a revolutionary childrens world.

In May 2015, Kinney and his wife Julie opened An Unlikely Story, a local bookstore and cafe in their town.

Conversation with Diary of a Wimpy Kid Author, Jeff Kinney