Comments on: WIMPY KID as popular as Obama? http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:40:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Big Crowds Wait to Buy “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw”. « WimpyCool Blog http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2902004 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:31:36 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2902004 [...] Story and pictures (here). [...] […] Story and pictures (here). […]

]]> by: dave roman http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2864695 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:14:27 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2864695 "Are the books hits more because of sophisticated, effective marketing or because Kinney’s work is excellent?" Kinney's work is FUNNY and pitch perfect. They are hits because of strong word of mouth. They are easy to read, get into and lend themselves to re-reading several times over. I compare these books with the Simpsons. Something for everyone. “Are the books hits more because of sophisticated, effective marketing or because Kinney’s work is excellent?”

Kinney’s work is FUNNY and pitch perfect. They are hits because of strong word of mouth. They are easy to read, get into and lend themselves to re-reading several times over. I compare these books with the Simpsons. Something for everyone.

]]> by: dave roman http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2864689 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:11:25 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2864689 That is so exciting! I remember being at one of Jeff's early signings and thinking there should be a lot more kids! It's great to see the book really hitting with the audience!! Well deserved. That is so exciting! I remember being at one of Jeff’s early signings and thinking there should be a lot more kids! It’s great to see the book really hitting with the audience!! Well deserved.

]]> by: Brian Fies http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2858236 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:24:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2858236 Couldn't happen to a nicer or more deserving guy, really. Jeff is the best. Steven, I think Wimpy Kid is genuinely good stuff that very effectively taps into the brains of readers of a certain age. (Heck, I enjoyed it, too.) It's both gently subversive and unapologetically sincere. One argument I'd offer against it being a manufactured phenomenon is its pre-publication success online, where it was read by millions with no publicity at all. I think it's fair to say that, while Abrams has been very happy to ride the wave, it was probably as surprised as anyone when it hit. Sales of the first book built slowly by word of mouth. Ask some 10 year olds. Couldn’t happen to a nicer or more deserving guy, really. Jeff is the best.

Steven, I think Wimpy Kid is genuinely good stuff that very effectively taps into the brains of readers of a certain age. (Heck, I enjoyed it, too.) It’s both gently subversive and unapologetically sincere. One argument I’d offer against it being a manufactured phenomenon is its pre-publication success online, where it was read by millions with no publicity at all. I think it’s fair to say that, while Abrams has been very happy to ride the wave, it was probably as surprised as anyone when it hit. Sales of the first book built slowly by word of mouth. Ask some 10 year olds.

]]> by: Steven R. Stahl http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2858122 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:33:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2858122 When the Harry Potter books became hits, I saw comments to the effect that fantasy novels written for YAs and younger had been around for decades. So why was “Potter” such a hit? The same question could be asked re WIMPY KID. Are the books hits more because of sophisticated, effective marketing or because Kinney’s work is excellent? \ SRS When the Harry Potter books became hits, I saw comments to the effect that fantasy novels written for YAs and younger had been around for decades. So why was “Potter” such a hit? The same question could be asked re WIMPY KID. Are the books hits more because of sophisticated, effective marketing or because Kinney’s work is excellent?
\
SRS

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2858095 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:20:50 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/15/wimpy-kid-as-popular-as-obama/#comment-2858095 1,000,000 copy first printing. Last Straw (#3) = #1 on BN.com #1 = #27, #2 = #36, Do It Yourself = #57 And the first volume has been on the NYTimes bestseller list for 80-some weeks. In other words, we've got another Harry Potter, but without the media circus. Congrats, Charlie! 1,000,000 copy first printing.

Last Straw (#3) = #1 on BN.com
#1 = #27, #2 = #36, Do It Yourself = #57

And the first volume has been on the NYTimes bestseller list for 80-some weeks. In other words, we’ve got another Harry Potter, but without the media circus.

Congrats, Charlie!

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