Diary of a small town sensation: how the Wimpy Kid author built his dream bookshop

Growing up, Jeff Kinney discovered Tolkien, comics and computers at his local bookshop. When it closed he was bereft – would opening his own as an adult help to right that wrong?Author Jacqueline Woodson recently spoke about books being either mirrors or windows. Mirrors for seeing ourselves, and windows for seeing into other worlds. Growing up, I enjoyed both types of books, from the realistic contemporary fiction of Judy Blume to the epic fantasy of JRR Tolkien. I had access to books by these and every author in between courtesy of a bookstore a short drive from my house. I didn’t understand my privilege then, but I’ve come to understand it better over time.In the short time that it was open, I developed interests that would shape my career. I grew up at the advent of personal computing, and the books I read helped me along a path to becoming a programmer. I also developed a deep appreciation for comics, thanks to an expansive humour section at the bookstore. Those comic collections helped to prepare me for my dream career as a cartoonist. Had we not had a bookstore nearby during my formative years, I would have grown up to be a completely different person.We’ve had several romances develop from first dates in the cafe, and one couple is getting married this autumn Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-10-05 09:00:40 UTC ]
News tagged with: #local bookshop #judy blume #epic fantasy #formative years #bookstore

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'The Vatican Diaries' author John Thavis looks at the Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Francis

John Thavis released The Vatican Diaries' in 2013 and added a section about Pope Francis for the paperback edition. 'It has struck me how the level of enthusiasm around the world for this new Pope is definitely a notch or two above that inside the Vatican,' the author said. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Wimpy Kid book set for November

The next book in Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series will be released on 5th November 2014. A... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kinney's Wimpy Kid keeps number one spot

Jeff Kinney's eighth Diary of a Wimpy Kid novel, Hard Luck (Puffin), has retained top spot in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid kicks Alex Ferguson into touch

Manchester United legend's bestselling memoir pushed from the top of books chart by Jeff Kinney's weedy heroHis protagonist is a lazy schoolboy weakling, Greg Heffley, but now children's author Jeff Kinney has shoved the big man of football off the top spot in the UK official book chart.Hard... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid wins charts top spot

Jeff Kinney has notched up the biggest weekly sale for a children's book in over a year,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sherman Alexie to authors: Work at an indie bookstore on Small Business Saturday

Alexie, author of books including 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,' wrote a letter urging his fellow writers to handsell their books on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 'The most important thing is that we’ll all be helping Independent bookstores, and God knows they’ve helped us... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Wimpy Kid cover revealed

Puffin has released the cover and title of the eighth Diary of a Wimpy Kid book by Jeff Kinney... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid overall winner at BMS marketing awards

Puffin's campaign for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney [pictured] was... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors draw up 'manifesto' to save Venice's bookshops

Authors have called on the Venice Biennale to "mobilise intelligence and artistic talent... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors campaign to save Venice's bookshops

British novelist Michelle Lovric and Strega Prize-winner Tiziano Scarpa are among a large group... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global launch for eighth Wimpy Kid

Eight publishers worldwide will team up for a near-simultaneous release of the as-yet-untitled... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid tops charts in strong week for booksellers

Jeff Kinney's seventh Diary of a Wimpy Kid novel, The Third Wheel (Puffin), has become one of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid books to go digital

Puffin is releasing the first six Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney as ebooks for the first time on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Field of Dreams author to Friday Project

HarperCollins imprint The Friday Project is to publish a new novel by W P Kinsella, author of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Wimpy Kid for November

Puffin will publish the seventh title in the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series on 14th... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid wins Blue Peter award

Jeff Kinney's comic tale beats 10 bestselling titles to be named best children's book of the last 10 years. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid wins BMS marketing gong

The marketing campaign for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney has won the latest... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid for £5 as retailers ramp up Xmas campaigns

Sainsbury's is advertising Jeff Kinney's latest book in The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Half million print run for new Wimpy Kid

Publication Date: Tue, 30/08/2011 - 08:40 Puffin is to release an initial print run of half a million copies of the new Wimpy Kid title, Cabin Fever, published on 16th November. The print run is the largest in the history of the children's publisher, and will be Penguin's largest initial UK... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Puffin reveals more on sixth Wimpy Kid

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Tue, 03/05/2011 - 15:19 Puffin has revealed that a new Wimpy Kid book, the sixth in Jeff Kinney's series, will be published globally in the autumn. Exact publication date and the title of the book are not yet available and content will be embargoed... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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