BEST AUTHOR BEST : JEFF KINNEY

'' A conveyor belt allows me to sign 1,500 books an hour '' says the author of '' Diary of a Wimpy Kid,'' who has been thrilled to find fans in China.

'' Party-pooper,'' the 20th volume in the series, is out this month.

.-  What's the last great book you read?

'' Black Genius,'' by Tre Johnson. Books like this one - especially ones by authors who don't share the same lived experience as me - help me feel like I'm leveling up as a person.

.-  What books might people be surprised to find on your shelves?

A tattered copy of '' The Run of His Life : The People vs. O.J. Simpson,'' by Jeffrey Toobin. For a long stretch, if I opened this book to any page, I couldn't stop reading.

.-  What's your favorite fictional hero or heroine?

Peter Hatcher, from '' Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,'' by Judy Blume. I felt like I was looking in a mirror, warts and all.

.-  Describe your ideal reading experience?

Reading a nonfiction book in my car under the only shady tree in the McDonald's parking lot in Plainville, Mass, a 10-piece box of Chicken McNuggets on the center console, while listening to MSNBC.

.-  How do you sign books for your fans?

These days, on a conveyor belt. I've experimented with a million methods for signing books efficiently, and a conveyor belt allows me to sign 1,500 books an hour. We take it with us on tour.

.-  What was it like touring and reading in China for the first time?

Otherworldly, really. Humor doesn't always translate across international lines, but for some reason, my books seem to resonate with kids in China.

.-  In one interview you mentioned getting inspiration at the cemetery. How?

I started during the pandemic. My kids were doing virtual schooling at home, so I'd head to the cemetery, park my car and try to write hilarious kids stories.

The Publishing continues to Part [2]. The World Students Society thanks The New York Times.