→2009→02→10→Books→Cartoons→web comics→Diary of a Whimpy Kid a hot web, print product
Books Cartoons web comics

Diary of a Whimpy Kid a hot web, print product

1 minute 4 comments

The Houston Chronicle has a profile of Jeff Kinney, the creator of the best selling series “Diary of a Whimpy Kid.” While I knew the book was a best seller (my kids have devoured the series of books), I wasn’t aware that the book was first a web product that is still doing well in both mediums.

About five years ago, when the education site was looking for content to boost its summer traffic, Kinney uploaded his book project. The material for the first three books can be read at Funbrain.com.

?I had always intended for the book to become a print property. I never had intended for it to become an online property,? Kinney said. ?What we found here is that the two can coexist and really benefit from each other.

?You can?t argue with the results. The book is both freely available online and doing really well in sales.?

Indeed, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is a best seller.

Previous Post
Fusco Brothers irks readers with use of “squaw”
Next Post
News Briefs for February 10, 2009

Comments 4

  1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is hilarious. And the art suits the writing perfectly. It’s no surprise it’s as successful as it is.

  2. Aha! Yet one more example of the viability of web properties and print properties not only co-existing but very likely each bolstering the other.

    I have been quietly watching from the sidelines this and related trends in the industry regarding the confluence between the two delivery vehicles (and that’s all they are: delivery vehicles, not distinct worlds) and I keep ending up with more and more “aha!”s.

    The newspaper industry moving toward online and away from print is similar.

    Bottom line: the two DO work with each other, and for the sake of the industry MUST work with each other — ’twill be a natural tho difficult evolution I think.

  3. Makes sense, especially if the storyline is something that works as a gift that you might give to someone, or want to keep a copy for yourself.

    I’m guessing this approach will work better for some types of “products” or genres than others.

    Anyway, congrats to Jeff and for some insight into the markets. Nice to see what works.

  4. I read this book in about a day im only 13 but I love it. It’s soo funny great work Jeff keep it up

Comments are closed.

Search

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get a daily recap of the news posted each day.

^ Top