Gary Paulsen Visit Gary's website

Gary Paulsen was born on May 17, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gary Paulsen became introduced to books at a fairly late age in life. When he was a teenager, he walked into the library to escape from the cold weather of Minnesota. There, a librarian gave him a book and a library card and he began to read. He began to read more often because this allowed him to escape from the difficult family life that he had. He still uses reading as a way to cope with his life and daily situations.
At the age of fifteen, Paulsen had to work many different jobs that enabled him to support himself. Some jobs that he had were a soldier, field engineer, truck driver, and magazine editor. With the experience that Paulsen gained from being a magazine editor, he was able to learn the craft of writing. In 1966, his first book, The Special War, was published. He now has written well over 40 books in the categories of juvenile fiction, juvenile nonfiction, adult fiction, and adult fiction. He also wrote about 200 magazine articles and short stories, as well as several plays, aimed towards young adults.
Gary Paulsen writes about what he knows best. He uses different life experiences when writing his stories. However, he basically focuses his stories on the life of an outdoorsman. The narrative that is used throughout the story helps the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. He uses very descriptive details in his stories and a powerful use of language. By using the outdoor setting in most of his books, Paulsen shows his readers the importance of water and woods to the harmony of nature. Paulsen examines human potential and uses a strong sense of humor in his stories.
Gary Paulsen has received many awards for the books that he has written. Some of the awards include the Newberry Honor Award for Dogsong and Hatchet. He has also received the ALA Best Book Award for DancingCarl, The Monument, The Cookcamp and The Voyage of the Frog. This is just two of the many awards that he has received for his books. Gary Paulsen now lives in La Luz, New Mexico with his wife, illustrator Ruth Wright Paulsen.