What happened to Jeff Kinney when he made millions on Diary of a Wimpy Kid
How many people would love to make millions? Become multi-millionaires after all those years of trying to get their talent recognised. Those bleak times when doors were being slammed in their faces, and hope dashed with one breezy line or other like, Sorry, no thanks, good luck. Then, suddenly, that shining mesmerising moment when the break-through happens, gathering momentum, with all the accompanying fanfare and the cash pouring in. Now they can live the dream.
It happened to children’s writer, Jeff Kinney, whose crafty, funny, witty books, The Diary of A Wimpy Kid series, have even beaten Obama’s autobiography in the charts and knocked Dan Brown off the Number One slot.
The unusual, extraordinary difference is that Jeff wants none of the glamour, glitz, and luxury his sudden fortune could bring. The private planes, diamonds, Armani wardrobes, house in Malibu, penthouse overlooking Central Park, chauffeurs to drive his young sons to school. In fact he can think of nothing worse. He wants to live in Plainville, wear Dads’ jeans, drive an old car and keep his boys’ lives as simple and ordinary as possible. He wants to help out with the school baseball team, eat the same food and keep his head down. Next year, when Fox releases the movie of the sensational, fast-selling books, he’s going to have to try even harder to remain anonymous. But in this day of celebrity madness, consumerism and lack of spirituality, Jeff’s a cool guy who stands apart.
Here another clip of my interview with Jeff where he discusses how the fame of his book series has impacted his life:
Listen to the previous two audio clips from my interview with Jeff Kinney.
Tags: diary of a wimpy kid, Interviews, jeff kinney
November 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Your interview clip with Jeff is very interesting, wish I could hear the whole thing. It’s so refreshing to know that despite his hugh success, both creatively and financially Jeff Kinney is hanging on to the real things that matter in life. And on that note I think I shall pop into a bookshop and purchase the first in his series of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Thank you Sharon for bringing this to my attention.