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Diary of a Wimpy Kid Creator, Jeff Kinney joins Mumsnet for a Q&A- ANSWERS BACK

59 replies

RachelMumsnet · 19/10/2011 13:49

To celebrate the release of the brand new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book: CABIN FEVER, we're inviting Greg Heffley fans to send in their questions for author Jeff Kinney. When the Q&A closes, we'll send over your questions to Jeff and if your question is one of ten to be answered, you will win a copy of CABIN FEVER.

CABIN FEVER catches up with the Heffley family who are stuck inside when a fierce blizzard hits....the big question being; will they weather the storm?

If you haven't yet encountered the Wimpy Kid books, they are a mixture of comic-strip and novel and have sold over 50 million copies worldwide, as well as being turned into two feature films. They diarise the hilarious exploits of goofy student, Greg Heffley, his family and friends. Jeff Kinney began a comic strip whilst at Uni called 'lgdoof' which ran in the campus newspaper. He then spent six years writing the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which was published in daily installments on the educational website, Funbrain.com. In 2008 the diaries were published together as the first book in the series.

If your children are Wimpy Kid fans, send in their questions for Jeff before the end of day on Tuesday 25th October. You don't have to give any details about your child, although their age may be useful. We'll be announcing the winners and linking through to the ten questions and answers on publication date, 16th November.

OP posts:
barbie007 · 21/10/2011 16:00

My boys (aged 8 and 11) are HUGE fans of the books and I love both films, really funny.

Their question...
Has any of the funny stuff you write about actually happened to you in real life?

ThatllDoPig · 21/10/2011 09:56

My daughter wants to know. .
How do you manage to write like a kid so well? Have you got kids and if so do they like your writing?
thanks.

EmilyFellah · 21/10/2011 09:16

My son would like to know why you decided to write the books as diaries rather than just stories about Greg Heffley's life.

elizaco · 21/10/2011 09:00

Is there a book (apart from your own!) that you recommend every child should read?

lia66 · 21/10/2011 00:00

only just seen this but my 6 yr old dd has read all of the books and is now writing her own diary. Grin

I will ask her tomorrow what she'd like to ask. Thank you

We all loved the film

Catilla · 20/10/2011 22:01

My DS (7) was very excited to hear you were comin to MN, and after some thought asked if you were excited when the first film came out?!

chickflit · 20/10/2011 21:30

My DS's (9 and 7) want to know if you have any irritating brothers like Greg? They're both agreed that they each have an irritating brother.

As their mother and like a couple of others on the thread I would like to thank you for opening up the world of reading and writing to my son with ASD and dyslexia. The Wimpy Kid books are the only books he has read for pleasure and by himself, he adores them, I love hearing him laugh out loud while reading. His own journal is also a delight, even with his spelling mistakes and funny drawings.

lagrandissima · 20/10/2011 20:48

I'd like to know what books you used to read when you were a wimpy kid yourself?

GeorgeEliot · 20/10/2011 20:44

DS2 (aged nearly 10) would like to know where in America the Heffleys live.

DS1 (aged 12) wants to know if there will be more 'wimpy kid' films coming out.

Both big fans - thank you.

WhoIsThatMaskedWoman · 20/10/2011 18:57

These are the only story books DS (7) will read ATM - he and DD (9) fight over them constantly. He'd like to ask what made him want to write such brilliant books? And what makes a book a classic?
She'd like to ask which character Jeff would like to be - she'd like to be Holly Hills (sp?) "because she's really pretty". And how many books will there be?

TheFoosa · 20/10/2011 18:54

my dd wants to know

which book that you have written do you think is the best?

mariamagdalena · 20/10/2011 18:37

Questions pending but first I wanted to say thank you so much. Like Bugsy2, my DS has an autistic spectrum disorder, and your books have opened up fiction to him. The confusing world of other people's minds is becoming something he wants to investigate, rather than ignore.

I don't know if it's the cartoons, the humour, the characters, the way things are explained... whatever the magic ingredient is, please keep writing!

CatalaFCB2 · 20/10/2011 17:49

Hiya Jeff!

What was the first fan-mail you got sent and how were your feelings?

Many thanks for The Ugly Truth.

Bugsy2 · 20/10/2011 10:07

DS (12) is autistic spectrum & has dyslexia & yours are the only books he has willingly read by himself from cover to cover. Why do you think your books are so appealling to boys particularly?
PS: thank you so much for writing them & for having the films made. They have made all of my family laugh so much.

MmeBucket · 19/10/2011 23:10

DS (8) saw this and had a massive giggle fit and wanted to ask if he could have your autograph. His question was how did you learn to draw cartoons so well. (He's very into drawing, but not that great at it.) DD (6) wanted to know which one of your books is your favorite. (I told them we're in the US and wouldn't be able to do this, but they looked so sad I told them I would ask anyway.)

andybat · 19/10/2011 20:29

From DS (8) On The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid website, you said that Zoo Wee Mama can mean whatever you want it to mean. I think it means "oh doughnuts!" What do you want it to mean??

posey · 19/10/2011 20:26

Ds was so star struck at the news that Jeff Kinney was to be a guest of mumsnet that he couldn't think straight at all and the only question he could come up with was "how old are you?" to which dd (oh so cool 14 year oldHmmGrin) said "derrrr, you can find that on the Internet. You need to ask a proper question" [mutter mutter eyes rolling]
Anyway ds, undeterred, since I told him he's got a while yet to think of a great question, has gone off to bed with the purple book and a smile on his face Smile

Lilyloo · 19/10/2011 20:25

DS 9 absolutely loves your books he would like to know 'What is your favourite book to date from the series ? '
He would like to add his is Dog Days as it the funniest. He is very excited about the new release.

prettybird · 19/10/2011 20:01

Ds (11) wants to know what inspired you to draw the picture of Greg.

(By the way - the last two birthday cakes I was asked to bake for him were Diary of a Wimpy Kid ones - can be seen on my profile. At least they were a lot easier than Daleks/a Tardis Wink)

MrsHeffley · 19/10/2011 19:49

The Dtwin sons 8 would like to know if the Heffleys are based on your family either your childhood family or your family as a dad now?

Would just like to add my twin boys are addicted to your books,please don't stop writing them. I have 1 twin who was an avid reader a long time again,his brother was more reluctant, that is until he started nicking his brother's Wimpy Kid books.He too is now an avid, broad reader so thankyou,thankyou,thankyou!!!!!

We all love the films too, even dd 6.Were you pleased with how they were done?I identify a lot with Mrs Heffley(hence the name),she just has to be based on a real person(your wife perhaps).Dp and I actually want to adopt Rowley,where did you find the kid in the film,he's perfect casting.

When is the next film coming out?

morethemerrier · 19/10/2011 19:44

My 11 year old son would like to know, how long does it take to write a book and where do you write them? Do you write in silence or listen to music? Grin

Yourefired · 19/10/2011 19:31

Posting on behalf of DD1. Her question is: do you think Greg will ever become rich and famous?

ChippyMinton · 19/10/2011 19:11

DS2(9) would like to know if the cheese touch is based on a true event? Are the Heffleys still super-protective of Manny in Cabin Fever? Is Rowley meant to be Fregley's friend?

DS1(10) would like to know where you got the idea for the muddy hand (in Dog Days)? And is Fregley based on a real 'friend' from your childhood?

Your books are notorious and have been banned by the DC's school, because of the use of American English Confused. Well, dur, you are American after all!! We think they are great!

purpleturtletoise · 19/10/2011 19:08

DS1 (8) would like to know how long it takes you to produce the comic strips, like Creighton the Cretin and Zoo-wee Mama?

Tenebrist · 19/10/2011 17:57

My younger daughter is bilingual English-German and loves reading the books in both languages - both 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and the rather more prosaically titled 'Gregs Tagebuch'. You have a lot of fans in Germany! How much input do you have with the foreign language editions of the books, and do you notice any differences between different cultures in how the books are received?