Hotseat: Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid and author Jeff Kinney

Top American author Jeff Kinney has written a new book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days tells the tail of a little kid in a big school.

And we've been lucky enough to get the famous author to answer YOUR questions.

Here's a selection of the questions.

If you weren't an author then what would you be? Natalie, 10, Nottingham

"I actually have a regular 'day job' as a virtual world designer. I helped create a giant online game where kids can go on adventures. So I think I'd be doing that!"

What inspired you to write the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series? Rory, 11, Belfast

"I had always wanted to be a cartoonist, but I couldn't break into the business. My drawings just weren't good enough. So I decided to write and draw cartoons as an 11-year-old boy. That's how Greg Heffley was born!"

Is the character in your book based on anybody you knew at school? Sean, 8, Gateshead

"No, not really. Greg has some of my uglier traits as a person, but that's where the similarity ends. I created Rowley to show what a crummy person Greg can be. Rowley is one of my favourite characters because he's a pure kid."

I like to write stories too, do you have any tips? Olivia, 12, Merseyside

"Yes... write a lot, and then toss out the weak stuff and keep the good stuff. A good writer is good at self-editing!"

How did you get the idea for this book? Bethan, 10, Newport

"The ideas from my books come from a mix of childhood experiences, experiences in my adult life and stuff I make up."

How are the cartoons going to be made into a film, will it be animated? Jessica, 11, St Albans

"The film will be live-action, with real actors. It will have little animated moments here and there."

Do you ever have days when you find it difficult to write and if you do, how do you get round it? Hayley, Newsround presenter

"I always have writer's block... the ideas never flow easily! I spend about four hours on each joke I write."