Bastei Lübbe AG: Children's author Jeff Kinney - Recently published 8th volume of Diary of a Wimpy Kid takes off - new sales record

No other children's author is currently as sought after as American Jeff Kinney, no other (anti)hero is as well-known as Greg Heffley, who depicts everyday life in Diary of a Wimpy Kid - and who is encouraging girls - but above all also boys around the globe to read.

115 million copies of his books and audio books have so far been sold - and this was before the success story continued on 21^st November with the eagerly anticipated publication of the 8th volume' Hard Luck' - in which Greg's best friend suddenly gets a girlfriend!

Jeff Kinney spent two days in Germany publicising his new bestseller. In Munich and Cologne he spent hours signing hundreds of books, drawing Greg, shaking countless hands and having his photograph taking with fans big and small. Many fans arrived clutching not only the latest volume to get signed, but also all seven previous volumes - although all went home smiling with their signed books in hand.

At the farewell evening on his Germany tour the author was greeted with a very special surprise - his Cologne publisher threw a big party for karaoke fans. Jeff Kinney was overwhelmed by the dedication of the team surrounding publisher Stefan Lübbe and was not afraid to take to the microphone himself. He sang two songs for his enthralled audience, stayed late into the night and celebrated with publishing staff and friends. It was a noisy Greg karaoke party, and one which both Jeff Kinney and the staff at Bastei Lübbe AG will remember for a long time.

Baumhaus Verlag, which is part of Bastei Lübbe AG, initially anticipated a circulation of 700,000 copies in Germany. The book shot straight to number 1 on the Media Control bestseller list. Since its publication, it has already passed the million mark. 'Even based on the massive scales achieved by other Greg books, this is a new record for us', enthuses Baumhaus-Publisher Bodo Horn-Rumold.

But what's next? Jeff Kinney, who always plays his cards close to his chest, admitted his fans will have more fun to come over the next few years with their beloved Greg Heffley.