Although Gary Paulsen has written over 170 different novels, he is most remembered for three: Hatchet, Winter Room, and Dogsong. Influential as a writer of youth, he got his love of literature early on as a child. He loved adventure and this made him a lousy student. One year he averaged a D- for a grade. To become such a prolific writer would seem unthinkable, but his experiences and love of literature made it so.
1. A Race Above Any Other
Paulsen loved doing things that he’d never done before. The call of the Iditarod sled dog race would be a call that was too loud to ignore. He loved competing in the race so much that he did it not once, but twice. Many of his stories are based on his adventures just like this.
2. A Runaway
For a children’s author, Paulsen never really had what could be called a stable childhood. He lived with his grandmother until the age of 7. Then he moved with his mother to the Philippines where his father was living for another 7 years. Eventually he ran away from home at the age of 14 and spent time working on beet farms and carnivals.
3. Married to the Art
Being a children’s author is one part crafting a good story, but one part knowing a great artist who can illustrate the books. His wife Ruth is a very accomplished artist and is responsible for the artwork in several of Paulsen’s books. This duo has even led to being a Newbery Honor Award winner.
4. Incredibly Prolific
It’s not just the hundreds of books that Paulsen has written. He’s also written hundreds of articles as well. One could say that he is one of the most prolific writers of his generation. He often writes for up to 20 hours each day at his ranch in Alaska. He can’t race dogs any more, but he enjoys raising and training them still.
Paulsen says that if he could only recommend a handful of his books, at the top of his list would be Soldier’s Heart. His encouraging words about self-discovery and adventure have inspired millions of children over the years. His passion come through with every word and that’s what makes Gary Paulsen such a fantastic writer.
