Jeff Kinney
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Feature Cover Story<br />
through my own kids. I don’t necessarily draw<br />
ideas directly from them, but I do take in<br />
inspiration from the world that they’re living in.”<br />
In addition to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books,<br />
<strong>Kinney</strong> created Poptropica, a video game that<br />
offers a virtual world for children to play in.<br />
Where others might see books and video<br />
games as competing mediums for children’s<br />
attention, <strong>Kinney</strong> sees congruity. “What they<br />
share is storytelling,” he says. “Both a book<br />
and a video game are only as good as the story<br />
behind them.”<br />
<strong>Kinney</strong> is also busy with An Unlikely Story, a<br />
bookstore he and his wife, Julie recently opened in<br />
their adopted hometown of Plainville, Massachusetts.<br />
“A bookstore is an unusual choice, but the demand is<br />
suggesting that there was a really big need for it in the<br />
region,” he says. “We’re in a good location. We seem to<br />
have found that sweet spot. Now, the store feels like<br />
an integral part of the community. It already feels like<br />
it’s been a part of the town forever.”<br />
“I didn’t set out to write for children,<br />
but now I think that it’s meant to be.<br />
I think it’s because I like the same things<br />
that kids like. I like junk food. I like sports.<br />
I really like jokes. I’m basically just a kid<br />
at heart.”<br />
Looking ahead at future book projects, <strong>Kinney</strong> says<br />
he would like to branch out someday and write<br />
something other than the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.<br />
“Whatever I write, I’m guessing that it will be for kids.<br />
I didn’t set out to write for children, but now I think<br />
that it’s meant to be. I think it’s because I like the same<br />
things that kids like. I like junk food. I like sports. I<br />
really like jokes. I’m basically just a kid at heart.”<br />
For more information about <strong>Jeff</strong> <strong>Kinney</strong> and his<br />
books, visit www.wimpykid.com. •<br />
6 StoryMonstersInk.com | NOVEMBER 2015 | Story Monsters Ink