Gary Paulsen

Young Adult Author

Birthday May 17, 1939

Birth Sign Taurus

Birthplace Minneapolis, MN

DEATH DATE Oct 13, 2021 (82)

#20745 Most Popular

About

Author of over 400 wilderness-themed short stories, books, plays, and magazine articles intended for teens and young adults. His best known works include Hatchet, Dogsong, Woodsong, The Voyage of the Frog, and Masters of Disaster.

Before Fame

He ran away from home and joined a carnival at age fourteen. His childhood was marked by trauma, some of which he details in his 1993 work, Eastern Sun, Winter Moon: An Autobiographical Odyssey.

Trivia

He was the recipient of multiple literary honors, including the 1997 Margaret Edwards Award.

Family Life

Paulsen's father was an Army officer on General Patton's staff during World War II, and he was raised primarily by his mother, grandmother, and aunts. He married Ruth Wright Paulsen and fathered three children: Lance, Lynn, and James.

Associated With

He was a keynote speaker at an annual writing conference named after the renowned author, Sinclair Lewis.