Jeff Kinney

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Filip Wollak

A close-up of Jeff Kinney.

Jeff Kinney

media release: Presented in partnership with the Children’s Theater of Madison. Please note this event will be held at the Overture Center Capitol Theater. 

The event is free and open to the public but pre-registration is required. When the registration hits maximum theater capacity we will close pre-registration. You must bring a printed or digital copy of your submission form receipt to the event for entry.

At the event, seating will be by general admission. Doors will open at 4:15 p.m. If you do not arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the event, your seat will be released to the public.

Pre-signed copies of Hot Mess will be distributed for free to attendees courtesy of the Wisconsin Book Festival and the Madison Public Library Foundation. There will not be a signing line or personalizations at the event. Copies of Awesome Friendly Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books will also be available for purchase at the event.

In Hot Mess, book 19 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is in for a particularly awkward summer with his whole family.

When the Heffleys agree to spend summer break with both Mom’s and Dad’s relatives at the same time, they have to figure out how to be in two places at once. With Greg caught in the middle, can the Heffleys pull off the ultimate scheme? Or will their vacation turn into a hilarious hot mess?

This side splittingly relatable summer story is the funniest Wimpy Kid book yet! The Hot Mess Show is sure to be just as fun and entertaining. Jeff will be serving up laughs and celebrating the latest Wimpy Kid book, while satisfying your craving for family fun!  

In 1998, Jeff Kinney began writing down jokes and illustrations in a series of journals for what would later become Diary of a Wimpy Kid. After six years of working on this content, Jeff released the first of many daily installments on Funbrain.com in May 2014.

After receiving millions of views of this content on Funbrain, Jeff brought a printed sample of his manuscript to New York ComicCon in 2006. Shortly thereafter, he signed a multi-book deal with Abrams to turn the writing and illustrations into a book series.

Loosely based on Jeff’s own childhood, the series follows middle school weakling, Greg Heffley, as he journals the trials, tribulations and humor of dealing with family, friends and surviving middle school.

The first book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series was published in 2007 and gained instant success. Today, there are 18 books in the series in 84 editions and 69 languages. The books have sold more than 290 million copies globally.

In addition to the book series, Jeff has written and illustrated three spin-off titles in the Awesome Friendly Kid series, written from the perspective of Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson.

Beyond the books, the Wimpy Kid series has been adapted into four live action movies, three animated films on Disney+  and a Musical. Greg Heffley also lives outside the book pages in the form of a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, emojis and licensed products.