[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ HOST: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

HE IS A MERCHANT BY DAY WITH TALENT AND BIG DREAMS WHO HOPES SOMEDAY TO BE THE CHARLES SCHOLZ OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> I WOULD NEVER TELL ANYONE TO BE THAT, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY IN MY HEAD.

THE DAY TODAY IS JUST GETTING% THE COMIC OUT THE DOOR.

I WAS LIKE TO YEARS AHEAD OF MY DAILY DEADLINE AND I HAD TWO KIDS.

AND NOW I AM THREE WEEKS AHEAD.

IT GETS EASIER IN SOME WAYS AND HARDER IN OTHERS.

AS THEY GROW.

>> BUT YOU WILL GET LOTS OF NEW IDEAS OUT OF IT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING.

THAT'S THE REASON I HAD THE KIDS.

IT FEELS LIKE YOUR BODY GOES ON FIRE.

>> IT IS SIX DEGREES, BUT THE SUN IS RISING.

THE WATER IS LAPPING BEAUTIFULLY AS IT CRASHES THE SAND.

IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL MORNING TO GO IN.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL?

>> GOOD, SO GOOD.

♪ HOST: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL IS OFF TONIGHT.

PAMELA: FIRST OFF, PEANUTS CARTOONIST CHARLES SCHOLZ OFFERED THIS ADVICE TO THE NEXT GENERATION, LEARN TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF.

RHODE ISLANDER WILL WILSON HAS TAKEN THAT LESSON TO HEART.

HIS SYNDICATED CARTOON APPEARS IN MORE THAN 100 NEWSPAPERS NATIONWIDE, BUT HIS CAN CONTRIBUTE IN REPORTER DAVID WRIGHT DISCOVERED, WALLACE THE BRAVE TAKES ITS INSPIRATION CLOSER TO HOME IN SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

HOST: FATHER AND SON DOCKSIDE ENJOYING MISCHIEF IN JAMESTOWN ACROSS THE WATER FROM NEWPORT.

IT IS EXACTLY THE SORT OF SCENE YOU MIGHT FIND IN THE COMIC STRIP WALLACE THE BRAVE, SET AND A MYTHICAL SEASIDE VILLAGE CALLED SNUG HARBOR.

WILL: WELL, I'M SURE AS MOST RHODE ISLANDERS KNOW THERE IS AN ACTUAL SNUG HARBOR SOUTH OF WHERE WE ARE IN JAMESTOWN.

I GREW UP AND I LOVE SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

BUT SNUG HARBOR, THE NAME ALWAYS HAD A NICE RING TO IT.

SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR A QUAINT LITTLE SEASIDE TOWN.

HOST: THAT IS WILLIAM HENRY WILSON.

LIKE SOME OF THE GREAT COMIC BOOK SUPERHEROES, HE HAS A SECRET IDENTITY.

BY DAY, HE OWNS AND OPERATES GRAPES AND GOURMET, A LOCAL WINE SHOP.

BUT HE IS ALSO A NATIONALLY SYNDICATED CARTOONIST.

UNDER THE PEN NAME WILL HENRY.

WHAT PAYS THE BILLS?

THE COMIC STORE OR THE LIQUOR STORE?

WILL: IT IS THE COMIC STRIP NOW WHICH IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

BUT THE LIQUOR STORE WAS AN OPPORTUNISTIC ENDEAVOR.

I WAS WORKING HERE IN MY EARLY 20'S AND THE OWNER WAS VERY NICE.

IT WENT UP FOR SALE, HE LIVED IN ARIZONA AND DID NOT WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE.

AND HE OFFERED IT TO ME AT A DISCOUNT PRICE.

AND I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT PRICE.

AND BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DO CARTOONS, I JUST BROUGHT MY DRAWING DESK DOWN HERE.

HOST: THAT LITTLE DRAFTING TABLE UNDER THE WINE RACK IS HIS WINDOW ONTO THE WORLD.

CARTOONING WAS SOMETHING HE USED TO DO IN HIS DOWNTIME, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS HIS DREAM JOB.

WILL: I GOT MY REAL FIRST TASTE OF PROFESSIONAL CARTOONING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, WHERE I WAS READY FOR THE DAILY CAMPUS.

AND IT WAS COOL.

THEY PAID $15 A WEEK FOR THREE COMICS, WHICH WAS ENOUGH FOR A 30 PACK IN A BIG MAC.

HOST: IT WAS CALLED DORMANT MATES?

WILL: ROOM MATES.

TYPICAL COMIC STRIP, A COUPLE OF ROOMMATES AND THEIR BEER DRINKING MOUSE WHO LIVES IN THE HOUSE.

HOST: WAS THE SUBJECT MATTER MORE ADULT?

WILL: OH, OF COURSE.

19-YEAR-OLD KID LIVING IN A DORM ROOM.

YEAH, IT WAS A LITTLE MORE ADULT, A LITTLE MORE ADULT.

HOST: AFTER HE GRADUATED HE TRIED HIS HAND AT A NEWLYWED COMIC STRIP, ORDINARY BILL.

WILL: THAT WAS ABOUT OUR WIFE AND I IN OUR MID-20'S.

HOST: STARTING A FAMILY.

WILL: NOT QUITE THERE YET, IT WAS BEFORE THE FAMILY, MORE ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP, AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL COMIC.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO DRAW, BUT I KIND OF ROPE MYSELF INTO A BOX WITH IT.

-- I KIND OF WROTE MYSELF IN A BOX.

HOST: HOW SO?

WILL: IT WAS ABOUT MY WIFE AND I AND WHEN I WOULD WRITE A STORY LINE WHERE I WANTED TO ASK FOR THE CHARACTERS, I WOULD GET IN TROUBLE.

IF I DID A COMIC WHERE THE CHARACTERS WOULD BREAK UP FOR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE CHARACTERS WOULD DO, I'D HAVE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW CALL ME UP AND SAY WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?

HOST: HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH WALLACE DEBRAY?

WILL: I WAS SITTING AT THAT DRAWING TABLE AND LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND I JUST SAW A KID ON A PYLON AND IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND THEY WERE LAUGHING.

AND ANOTHER KID CAME AND JUST PUSHED HIM OFF OF IT AND HE FELT IN THE WATER.

SPLASH, HE POPPED OUT AND HE WAS LAUGHING IN YEAR-TO-YEAR, JUST SO HAPPY.

I THOUGHT THAT IS A MOMENT I WANT TO CAPTURE.

FUN, OCEAN, KIDS BEING KIDS AND THERE WAS LIKE A CLICK MOMENT WHERE I SOUGHT A PATH TO A SUCCESSFUL COMIC STRIP.

HOST: VERY BRIEFLY, FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, HERE ARE THE TREMENDOUS PERSONAE.

WILL: THE MAIN CHARACTER IS WALLACE.

HE IS JUST AN ENERGETIC, HAPPY, VERY POSITIVE KID.

I WANTED TO REBUT THE WHOLE TREND OF PARENTS NOT BEING SUPPORTIVE OF KIDS OR KIDS BEING KIND OF WHINY BRATS.

I WANTED A VERY POSITIVE, HAPPY FAMILY, WHICH WAS MY EXPERIENCE.

HE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER, HIS BEST FRIEND IS SPUD, WHO IS KIND OF A NEUROTIC WEIRD KID.

HE IS VERY SELF-CONSCIOUS OF THOSE WEIRD THINGS, BUT WALLACE CELEBRATES THEM AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES THEM CLICK.

HOST: THERE IS WALLACE'S KID BROTHER, STERLING, WHO NEVER MET A BUGGY WOULD NOT EAT.

AND THEN THERE IS AMELIA, WHO IS THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN.

WILL: SHE IS VERY FEISTY.

SHE IS THE ONE THAT LIKES THE PHONE.

SHE IS THE ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE MUCH PATIENCE FOR THEM.

HOST: HOW CLOSE IS THIS FAMILY TO PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW?

ARE THE CHARACTERS BASED ON ANYONE IN PARTICULAR?

WILL: SUSPICIOUSLY CLOSE.

HOST: THERE IS FEISTY AMELIA.

AND YOUR SISTER'S NAME IS AMELIA.

WILL: AND I WOULD NEVER CROSS HER.

THE CHARACTERS ARE ACTUALLY BASED ON MY FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, MY LITTLE BROTHER, IAN.

AS A KID HE WAS WILD.

THEY USED TO CALL HIM NAKED IAN.

I'M SORRY, BROTHER.

SON, BOTH OF WHOM INSPIRED BUG EATING STERLING.

HOST: PEOPLE HAVE COMPARED IT TO PEANUTS, CALVIN AND HOBBES, IT IS OLD-FASHIONED IN WAY.

WILL: YEAH, I AM TRYING TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE THE KIDS ARE -- THERE IS TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD, BUT I WANT WALLACE, THE MAIN CHARACTER, TO BE THE ONE THAT SAYS THAT STUFF IS FINE, BUT I ENJOYED BEING OUT IN NATURE.

I ENJOY BEING OUT IN JUST THE WORLD.

HOST: THAT INDIFFERENCE TO TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETHING WALLACE COMES BY HONESTLY.

WILL: I AM AN OLD-SCHOOL GUY.

I STILL HAVE A FLIP PHONE.

WE STILL HAVE AN APPLETV FROM 2010.

AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TRICKLES INTO MY COMIC.

HOST: IT IS THE WORLD YOU HOPE FOR YOUR KIDS.

WILL: I HOPE SO.

YEAH, REALLY ABSOLUTELY.

HOST: THE INSPIRATION ALWAYS CLOSE TO HOME.

WILL: WHEN FIRST STARTED DRAWING THIS COMIC I WAS 29, 28.

I HAD NO KIDS, I WAS MARRIED.

AND THE CHARACTERS, ESPECIALLY THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS, WERE VERY MUCH BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES.

ME BEING THE CHILD AND THE PARENT CHARACTERS WERE MY PARENTS.

AFTER A COUPLE KIDS AND BEING IN THE FAMILY LIFE, I HAVE NOTICE TO THE PARENTS OF KIND OF EVOLVED INTO MY WIFE AND I.

AND THE KID CHARACTERS, I SEE A LOT MORE OF MY KIDS IN THEM.

HOST: INTERESTING.

WILL: THERE HAS BEEN AN EVOLUTION OF THAT, PERSONALLY AND IN THE COMIC STRIP.

HOST: IN OTHER WORDS, THE CARTOONIST AND HIS CHARACTER HAVE EVOLVED TOGETHER.

WILL: A LOT OF WHAT I WROTE ABOUT MY PARENTS WAS IDEALIZED BECAUSE IT WAS MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD AS OPPOSED TO EXPERIENCE AND REAL LIFE.

WHICH HAS ITS PLUSES.

ROSE-COLORED GLASSES I SUPPOSE.

HOST: CAN YOU POINT TO AN EXAMPLE WHERE YOU GOT AN IDEA FROM SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

WILL: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE WAS A COMIC THAT JUST RAN LAST SUNDAY WHERE WHEN I JOHN MICA COMIC'S, I WILL EITHER DRAW THEM HERE AT THE LIQUOR STORE -- WHEN I DRAW MY COMICS I WILL% TELL THEM HERE OR AT MY STUDIO.

I CAME DOWN FROM THE STUDIO AND MY WIFE WAS WEARING A CAPE AND A DR. SEUSS PAT AND SHE IS HOLDING A LADLE AND THE KIDS ARE HALF NAKED.

THEY'VE GOT STUFF ALL OVER THEM AND THEY'RE PLAYING THIS IMAGINARY GAME.

AND I JUST THOUGHT, THIS IS CRAZY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

AND THEY ALL MADE FUN OF ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN COSTUME.

SO, THOSE KIND OF MOMENTS I TRY TO CAPTURE FOR THE COMIC.

BECAUSE THEY ARE SURPRISING TO ME, BUT THEY ARE REAL.

HOST: IT'S THE KIND OF COMIC STRIP THAT DOES HAVE MULTIPLE AUDIENCES IT WOULD SEEM.

THERE'S A LEVEL IN WHICH KIDS WOULD ENJOY IT, BUT ALSO GROWN-UPS GET A CRACK OUT OF IT.

WILL: I HOPE SO.

IT'S THAT PIXAR SWEET SPOT, WHERE EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THE FUTURE.

HOST: WHO WERE YOUR INFLUENCES?

WILL: I MEAN, I'M GOING TO -- HOST: WHO DO YOU REALLY ADMIRE?

WILL: I CAN SAY ALL THE COMIC TRIPS YOU'VE HEARD OF, BUT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT COMIC STRIP THAT ARE BEING DONE RIGHT NOW THAT I ADMIRE.

DUNCE IS A NORWEGIAN COMIC WHICH I LOVE.

IT IS ABOUT A FATHER AND SON LIVING ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

AND THEN I LOVE MAC AND UDO WHICH IS AN ARGENTINIAN COMIC.

BUT THAT IS A GREAT COMIC.

I FIND A LOT OF INSPIRATION IN THAT.

HOST: DO YOU HOPE SOMEDAY TO BE IN THE PANTHEON OF THE ONES THAT ARE MORE FAMILIAR TO OUR AUDIENCE AT LEAST?

WILL: SECRETLY, YES.

I WOULD NEVER TELL ANYBODY THAT, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY IN MY HEAD.

BUT THE DAY TODAY IS JUST GETTING THE COMIC OUT THE DOOR.

IT IS A DAILY COMIC AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT IS A GRUELING SCHEDULE, BUT IT IS A QUICK SCHEDULE.

I WORK FOUR DAYS A WEEK WITH SOME NIGHTTIME COLORING, SO I WILL PROBABLY DO 748 A WEEK, WHCH BANKS SOME FOR LATER.

-- SEVEN OR EIGHT A WEEK.

I WAS TO YEARS AHEAD OF MY DAILY DEADLINE AND I HAD TWO KIDS AND NOW I AM LIKE THREE WEEKS AHEAD.

IT GETS EASIER IN SOME WAYS AND HARDER IN OTHERS.

HOST: BUT YOU WILL WILL: GET LOTS OF NEW IDEAS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING.

THAT'S THE REASON I HAD THE KIDS.

PAMELA: OUR THANKS TO DAVID READ FOR THAT REPORT.

NEXT, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW JEFF KINNEY BY NAME BUT YOU DO KNOW HIS ALTER EGO WHO HAS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL FAME.

GREG HADLEY IS THE HERO OF THE CHILDREN'S BOOK SERIES DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.

WHEN WE FIRST REPORTED THIS STORY BACK IN DECEMBER HIS 16TH BOOK HAD JUST BEEN PUBLISHED AND DISNEY PLUS HAD PREMIERED AN ANIMATED MOVIE ABOUT THE BELEAGUERED MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE.

WE SPENT TIME WITH THE AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR WHO LIVES IN OUR AREA AND LEARNED HOW KINNEY IS USING HIS FAME TO GET BACK TO A SMALL TOWN.

HIS IS AN UNLIKELY STORY.

JEFF: I THINK KIDS WERE LOOKING FOR A CHARACTER WHO WAS NOT HEROIC, WHO WAS FLAWED.

AND I WAS FLAWED AS A KID.

I AM FLAWED AS A GROWN-UP.

PAMELA: AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR JEFF KINNEY HAS TURNED THOSE FLAWS INTO FICTION THAT HAS CAPTIONED -- CAPTURED THE JOY OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE WORLD.

A MIDDLE SCHOOL OR WHO KEEPS A JOURNAL ABOUT HIS ANTICS IN DIARY OF A WOULD-BE KID.

HIS 16TH BOOK HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED.

HIS HEADQUARTERS IS THIS SPACIOUS, THIRD FLOOR STUDIO IN PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS NEXT DOOR TO NORTH ATTLEBORO.

JEFF: I FEEL AT THIS PLACE IS LIKE THE MUPPET SHOW.

BACKSTAGE AT THE MUPPET SHOW.

I JUST POST THROUGH HERE AND DO MY WORK AND THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING CRAZY GOING ON LIKE CHILDREN'S YOGA OR THE UKULELE GROUP.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING REALLY FUN GOING ON.

PAMELA: THAT IS BECAUSE THIS LITERARY HUB IS A COMMUNITY CENTER.

KINNEY RESCUED A STORE AND RENAMED IT AT UNLIKELY STORY.

INSIDE IS AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE AND CAFE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, PERFORMANCE SPACE ON THE SECOND STORY AND HIS STUDIO ON THE TOP.

>> IS YOURS AND UNLIKELY STORY?

JEFF: I GUESS IT IS UNREMARKABLE IN SOME WAYS.

I AM AN AVERAGE GUY OF AVERAGE INTELLECT AND AVERAGE ABILITIES, KIND OF GOT LUCKY.

PAMELA: LUCK AND A LOT OF PERSEVERANCE, THE WIMPY KID SERIES IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOOK SERIES OF ITS KIND.

HE HAS SOLD MORE THAN 230 MILLION COPIES AND BEEN ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST FOR MORE THAN 800 WEEKS.

YOU'VE SEEN IT GREG HOUGH LEASE IMAGE AS TWO DIFFERENT BALLOONS IN THE MACY'S PARADE.

THERE HAVE BEEN WIMPY KID MOVIES.

THE SERIES HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN 74 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND SOMETIMES SOMETHING GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION.

NOT EVERY COUNTRY HAS A WORD FOR WIMPY.

JEFF: IN BRAZIL, THEY CALL IT DIARY OF A BANANA.

SO GREG IS SHAPED SORT OF A BANANA.

PAMELA: I'VE HEARD HIM DESCRIBED AS A SMART ALEC SADSACK.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE HIM?

JEFF: HE IS JUST AN IMPERFECT KID.

I THINK, IN A WAY, GREG IS THE COMEDIAN ON STAGE, WHO IS TELLING YOU ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AND HIS FOIBLES, RIGHT?

HIS IMPERFECTIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY ESSENTIAL TO THE CHARACTER.

SO, WHAT YOU GET AS AN AUDIENCE MEMBER IS A LAUGH, BECAUSE YOU CAN RECOGNIZE YOURSELF.

>> READING IT AND READING IT, THIS IS INTERESTING.

I FIND A COUPLE OF FUNNY PARTS AND I AM LAUGHING.

PAMELA: SIXTH-GRADER ANTHONY GILL SAYS HE CAN RELATE TO THE CHARACTER OF GREG.

ANTHONY: WELL, I DO A LOT OF CRAZY THINGS.

TO ANNOY SOME OF MY FRIENDS, MY BROTHER, MY PARENTS.

PAMELA: AND KIDS ARE AMUSED BY THE AGONIZINGLY AWKWARD STORIES OF BEING A MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE.

ANTHONY: FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OK, THEN I NOTICED SOMETHING DRIPPING AWAY FROM ME AND I NOTICED IT WAS MY BATHING SUIT.

>> GREG IS WEIRD.

PAMELA: MUCH OF THE WEIRD AND AMUSING MATERIAL COMES FROM KIN NEY'S FAMILY.

HIS IS A STORYTELLER FOR ME.

HIS DAD ENCOURAGED HUMOR.

JEFF: MY FATHER STARTED EACH MORNING BY READING THE COMICS AND LEAVING THE NEWSPAPER OCEAN -- OPEN TO THE COMICS PAGE.

IT WAS THE WASHINGTON POST AND THOSE COMMENTS OF THE TOP OF THE PAGE, BILL WATERSON'S COVENANT HOBBS, PEANUTS, GLYNN COUNTY, THOSE WERE THE COMICS THAT I WANTED TO EMULATE.

PAMELA: AND HE DID.

HE SAYS AS A CHILD HE WAS A KEEN OBSERVER OF PEOPLE AND LOVED DOODLING.

THERE IS A REAL REASON FOR HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH ART.

JEFF: I'VE GOT ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER, SO I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING IN CLASS.

SO WHENEVER THE TEACHER WAS TALKING, I WAS DRAWING.

AND THEY WOULD SOMETIMES READ THAT AS ME NOT PAYING ATTENTION, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY HOW I PAID ATTENTION.

IF I WAS IN A MEETING RIGHT NOW, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE JOHN.

PAMELA: IS IT HARD TO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO SIT DOWN AND WRITE AND DRAW WHEN YOU DO HAVE ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER?

JEFF: YEAH, FOR SOME PEOPLE I THINK ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER AND OTHER CHALLENGES LIKE DYSLEXIA END UP BEING A BLESSING, A TOOL, A GIFT.

AND THAT IS HOW IT HAS BEEN FOR ME.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO HARNESS THOSE CHALLENGES, BUT I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY, BECAUSE HAVING ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER REALLY KEEPS ME NIMBLE.

IT MAKES IT SO I CAN BOUNCE FROM ONE TOPIC TO THE NEXT.

PAMELA: THE TOPIC HE CONCENTRATED ON IN COLLEGE WAS COMICS.

JEFF: I HAD THIS CARTOON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND IT WAS CALLED IGDOOF.

THE READERSHIP WAS 30,000 DAILY FOR THE PRINT PAPER.

THAT WAS A GREAT AUDIENCE FOR ME.

IN FACT, I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN COLLEGE WORKING ON MY COMIC AND NOT ON MY STUDIES, UNFORTUNATELY.

PAMELA: FORTUNATELY THOUGH, IGDOOF MORPHED INTO GREG.

BUT THIS SUCCESS STORY DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

JEFF: I REALLY NEEDED 8, 9, 10 YEARS TO BECOME AN EXPERT AT THIS ONE SMALL THING, WHICH WAS DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.

I NEEDED ALL THE TIME THAT I SPENT DEVELOPING THIS.

BECAUSE WHEN I FINALLY HAD MY OPPORTUNITY AND MET AN EDITOR WHO WAS LOOKING FOR THIS KIND OF WORK, I WAS ACTUALLY READY FOR IT.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY DIFFERENT THAN SORT OF WHERE THINGS ARE TODAY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO PUT UP YOUR FIRST THOUGHT, SHARE IT, GET FEEDBACK, ITERATE ON IT.

THAT IS THE MODERN WAY.

BUT IT TAKES A LOT MORE TIME TO GET GOOD AT SOMETHING.

♪ PAMELA: KINNEY IS ALSO GOOD AT VIDEO GAMES.

HE WORKED FOR A SOFTWARE COMPANY WHILE WRITING HIS FIRST BOOK AT NIGHT.

HE LAUNCHED POPTROPICA THE SAME YEAR HE PUBLISHED THE FIRST DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT KIDS SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ONLINE AND YET YOU HAVE CREATED AN NLINE GAME AND WORLD.

IS THAT NOT CONTRADICTORY?

JEFF: YEAH, I THINK THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, I AM LURING KIDS TO THE SCREENS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM LURING THEM TO THE BOOKSHELVES.

IT DOES SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A BIG DICHOTOMY THERE, BUT WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON IS THAT THEY ARE BOTH WAYS OF TELLING STORIES.

PAMELA: KINNEY BELIEVES HIS STORYTELLING METHOD, LONGFORM COMICS IS KEY TO WHAT MAKES THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID A HIT.

JEFF: IT'S THE LANGUAGE OF COMMON STRIPS.

USUALLY AN ILLUSTRATED -- USUALLY A CHILDREN'S BOOK WILL BE AN ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK, TEXT AND A PICTURE, TEXT IN A PICTURE.

THE PICTURE USUALLY DESCRIBES WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE TEXT.

IN MY BOOKS COMEDY CARTOONS ACTUALLY FINISH THE THOUGHT OF THE TEXT.

-- THE CARTOONS FINISH THE THOUGHT OF THE TEXT.

PAMELA: HE SAYS HE IS NOT FINISHED.

HE WANTS TO BRING A MODERN-DAY TOWNSQUARE TO PLAINVILLE.

JEFF: ULTIMATELY, WE ARE HOPING TO MAJORLY REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN.

PAMELA: RYAN KELLY, CHAIR OF PLAINVILLE'S SELECT BOARD SAYS HIS INVESTMENT HAS ALREADY MADE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE SMALL TOWN.

RYAN: YEAH, I MEAN OUR DOWNTOWN FOR YEARS HAS BEEN ALMOST LIKE A TIME CAPSULE.

FOR INSTANCE, BEFORE UNLIKELY STORY WAS BUILT, IF YOU THOUGHT OF PLAINVILLE OR SAW A PICTURE, YOU SAW THE PLAINVILLE PHARMACY SIGN.

IT WAS AKIN TO THE WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS SIGN IN PLAINVILLE.

PAMELA: KELLY SAYS DOWNTOWN PLAINVILLE LOOK SICK IT WAS FROZEN IN THE 1950'S.

HOLLYWOOD RECENTLY SET ASIDE A MOVIE AT THIS DINER.

HE ADDS THE RESTORATION WORK PRESERVES THE TOWNS CHARM.

>> AND OUR TOWN, THE SPOT THAT MEAN SO MUCH TO THE TOWN, THIS WAS THE HEART OF THE COMMITTEE FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

AND THEN IT WAS GONE.

SO TO HAVE SOME THING THIS BEAUTIFUL BE PUT IN ITS PLACE, IT LOOK SICK IT WAS PICKED UP FROM NEWPORT AND DROPPED HERE IN CENTER PLAINVILLE.

PAMELA: KINNEY SAYS PLAINVILLE, WHERE HE HAS LIVED WITH HIS WIFE FOR A QUARTER-CENTURY AND RAISED TWO SONS, IS FRIENDLY, UNPRETENTIOUS AND HE PLANS TO STAY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE.

JEFF: THERE IS REALLY A SENSE OF TOWN.

I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THAT IDEA.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE TO A SMALL TOWN LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF A SMALL COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT MY WIFE AND I, WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE GOING TO LIVE OUT OUR DAYS HERE.

THE BOOKSTORE IS REALLY GOING TO TIES TO THIS AREA, BECAUSE WHY WOULD WE EVER MOVE AWAY?

PAMELA: OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO ANTHONY GILL, EVAN MILLER AND CAMERON SIMMER, ALL SIX GRADERS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PLAINVILLE.

FINALLY, A STORY THAT JUST MAY GIVE YOU THE SHIVERS.

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, MANY SHUNNED THE COLD TEMPERATURES OF THE OUTDOORS, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO SIT IN FRONT OF OUR TELEVISIONS TO WATCH THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES.

TONIGHT, WE MEET A SMALL BUT HARDY GROUP OF RHODE ISLANDERS EMBRACING THE COLD, IMMERSING THEMSELVES IN FRIGID OCEAN WATERS FOR SPORT, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY.

SENIOR PRODUCER JUSTIN KENNEY HAS BEEN OUT ON THE BEACHES OF RHODE ISLAND TO MEET THESE WINTER SWIMMERS AND DIPPERS AND HE BRINGS US THIS STORY.

>> I AM MIKE AND I AM A WINTER SWIMMER FROM KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND.

IT FEELS LIKE YOUR BODY GOES ON FIRE.

AND YOU GO IN THE WATER.

BECAUSE YOUR SKIN RESPONSE TO THE COLD WATER IN A BIG WAY.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER, WE HAVE BEEN SWIMMING FOR ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT MINUTES.

I THINK IT TAKES ABOUT ONE MONTH TO GET KIND OF USED TO DOING IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I HAD HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF FRIENDS OF MINE THAT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY BENEFICIAL.

AND THAT IT REALLY STIMULATES YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM.

AND I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY THREE YEARS AGO.

I CANNOT SPEAK VERY WELL, BUT I FEEL GOOD.

WE JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO FEEL LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS TWO OR THREE HOURS AFTER WE DO IT, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY TIME.

WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF ANTICIPATION FOR EACH TIME WE DO ONE OF THESE PUNCHES.

-- ONE OF THESE PLUNGES.

RACHEL: I AM RACHEL FROM MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND AND I AM A COLD I -- COLD WEATHER SWIMMER.

I THINK I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT, SOMETHING TO BREAK THE TEDIUM OF COVID.

AND I KNEW THERE WERE HEALTH BENEFITS.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE A REALLY GREAT IDEA.

I JUST FEEL ENERGIZED AND I FEEL I HAVE NOT GOTTEN SICK.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVE HAD FEWER COLDS FOR SURE.

MY THRESHOLD FOR COLD HAS CERTAINLY RISEN.

MY APPROACH IS TO GO VERY SLOWLY AND MINDFULLY.

AND TO BREATHE DEEPLY.

AND A VERY MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE WATER ALLOWS ME TO REALLY ADJUST AND NOT FEEL OVERLY ANXIOUS.

AND THE DEEPER I GO INTO MY BREATH, THE MORE ACCUSTOMED TO THE WATER I FEEL, THE MORE PEACEFUL I FEEL.

SO ABOUT AFTER TWO MINUTES, I AM FEELING PRETTY GREAT.

THEN THE QUESTION REALLY BECOMES MAKING SURE YOU GET OUT BEFORE YOU STAYED IN TOO LONG.

>> MY NAME IS JENNA O'HEARN FROM SOUTH KINGSTON RHODE ISLAND.

EUROPE AND NARRAGANSETT AND I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE RHODE ISLAND COLD DIP CREW.

THE RHODE ISLAND COLD DIP CREW, I LIKE TO SAY IT IS A GROUP OF US, BUT SOMETIMES IT ADJUST MYSELF TO IT I TEND TO GO INTO THE WATER MOSTLY AT SUNRISE, STARTING IN NOVEMBER AND THROUGH REALLY THE WHOLE WINTER.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIPPING AND SWIMMING IS THAT WE TEND NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY OVER OUR HEADS.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO GO INTO A QUICK DIP UNDER FOLEY.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I GO UP TO MY SHOULDERS.

THIS IS JUST GRADUALLY WALKING IN, USING YOUR BREATH TO CONTROL YOUR FEAR AND GETTING YOUR BODY UNDER CONTROL IN THE EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES.

BENEFITS THAT I HAVE FOUND AND THAT THERE IS SOME SCIENCE BEHIND IT, IS IT IS GREAT FOR YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM, IT HELPS NATURAL IMMUNITY, IT HELPS WITH YOUR MOOD, IT LETS YOU HAVE BETTER SLEEP.

YOU CAN LOSE SOME WEIGHT.

AND IT ALLOWS YOU TO BE BRAVE.

THE COLDEST DAY I HAVE HAD WAS MINUS FIVE AS I LEFT TOWN.

WHEN I GOT TO THE BEACH IT WAS ABOUT FOUR DEGREES AND STEAM WAS COMING OFF THE WATER AND IT IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL.

I WOULD SAY TODAY, A DAY JUST LIKE THAT, IT IS SIX DEGREES BU% THE SUN IS RISING.

THE WATER IS LAPPING BEAUTIFULLY AS IT CRASHES TO THE SAND.

IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL MORNING TO GO IN.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL?

>> GOOD.

SO GOOD.

WOOOO!

>> MY NAME IS CHRISTINA LAWRENSON I AM FROM RHODE ISLAND AND I'M AM A WINTER SWIMMER.

WE ARE A GROUP OF A COUPLE DIFFERENT SWIMMERS THAT SWIM AROUND RHODE ISLAND.

WE ARE THE ONES THAT STICK IT OUT THROUGH THE WINTER.

SO A LOT OF US SWIM OFF OF JAMESTOWN ISLAND AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE TRYING TO TOUR OTHER BEACHES.

>> I WORRY ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA.

I HAVE CERTAIN RULES TO KEEP ME SAFE.

I PROMISED MY HUSBAND I WOULD NOT SWIM ABOVE MY HEAD.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF I EVER FEEL LIKE I AM GETTING IN TROUBLE, I CAN STAND UP AND GET OUT OF THE WATER MORE EASILY.

I ALSO JUST TRY TO NOT STAY IN TOO LONG.

JUSTIN: AND WHAT TYPE OF PERSON DOES THIS?

CHRISTINA: A TOUGH PERSON, I THINK.

YOU KNOW, IT DOES DEFINITELY TAKE SOME MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO DO IT.

SOME PEOPLE DEFINITELY THINK I AM CRAZY.

PAMELA: ALTHOUGH SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE SUGGESTED A WIDE VARIETY OF HEALTH BENEFITS FROM COLD WATER SWIMMING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE ACTIVITY.

AND THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

BEFORE WE GO, A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.

RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY IS NOW ALSO A PODCAST.

PLEASE BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR EPISODES, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]