William Paul Young is a highly renowned novelist from Canada, best known for his popular books in the suspense, Christian fiction, and Christian fantasy genres. He was born in Canada and spent his childhood in the highlands of New Guinea, where his missionary parents were stationed. Young was raised among a stone-age tribe and attended a boarding school when he was six. His upbringing in such a unique environment had a profound impact on his perspectives on inner healing and God, which would later become the central themes of his writing.
After completing his undergraduate degree in religion at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, Young began writing as a way to express his personal perspectives. His initial writings were intended to be gifts for his friends, but his wife encouraged him to take his writing more seriously. She urged him to write about his experiences and perspectives on inner healing and God, which led to the creation of the manuscript for his first novel, "The Shack." The manuscript was initially intended for his six children and close friends, but it later became a bestseller after being published by Windblown Media, the publishing company created by Young and his friends.
"The Shack" was rejected by 26 publishers before being self-published in 2007. Despite the initial rejections, the book went on to become one of the top-selling fiction books of 2008 and will be a major motion picture in Spring 2017. Young's success with "The Shack" led to the publication of his future books through other publishers. He is also the author of "Crossroads," "Eve," and the non-fiction book, "Lies We Believe About God." Young currently lives in Happy Valley, Oregon with his wife and has six children and several grandchildren.
In conclusion, William Paul Young is a successful and highly regarded Canadian novelist, best known for his books in the suspense, Christian fiction, and Christian fantasy genres. His unique upbringing and personal experiences have greatly influenced his writing, and his debut novel, "The Shack," has become a bestseller and major motion picture. Young continues to write and inspire readers with his powerful and thought-provoking stories.