William Paul Young is author of the break away hit, self-published book, The Shack. At #1 on the NY Times Bestsellers List for 49 consecutive weeks, and with over 8.5 million copies in print, this book is stirring up conversations about the Trinity, pointing people to the Bible, and ultimately to the love of God for us all.  The Shack was a story written for his six children, with no thought or intention to publish.
 

Paul was the eldest of four, born May 11th, 1955, in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, but the majority of his first decade was lived with his missionary parents in the highlands of Netherlands New Guinea (West Papua), among the Dani, a technologically stone age tribal people.     

 

In the middle of a school year, Paul's family unexpectedly returned to the West.  His father worked as a Pastor for a number of small churches in Western Canada and by the time Paul graduated, he had already attended thirteen different schools.  He paid his way through Bible College working as a radio disc jockey, lifeguard and even a stint in the oil fields of northern Alberta.  He spent one summer in the Philippines and another touring with a drama troupe before working in Washington D.C. at Fellowship House, an international guest house.  Completing his undergraduate degree in Religion, Paul graduated summa cum laude from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon.  The following year, he met and married Kim Warren and for a time worked on staff at a large suburban church while attending seminary. 

 

Paul has owned businesses and worked for others in diverse industries, from insurance to construction, venture capital companies to telecom, contract work to food processing.  Paul has one wife, six kids, two daughter-in-laws and three grandkids.  He worked as a general manager, janitor and inside sales guy for a friend who owns a small manufacturers rep company in Milwaukie, Oregon, and he lives in a small rented house in Happy Valley, Oregon, that Kim has made into a marvelous home.