Author of over 200 books, Gary states he prefers writing for children and young adults and has chosen them as his focus when he writes. "Children are still open to new concepts or new ideas, new meanings, things that are relatively untried," he explains “Adults - well, those mortgage payments and job woes tend to short-circuit our imaginations”.

 

Paulsen writes coming-of-age stories, that are based on his own life expreinces. For this reason, his stories are not only realistic, but exciting, as well. Gary has lived an unusual life, traveling and living in many different places and though he says he doesn't write his books to teach a lesson or inspire, they do, because they are all based on his life and let's face it, Gary is an interesting and insirational figure. Gary is a success story; a young boy with uninvolved parents and poor grades who grows up to be a famous author. His stories can captivate audiences, offer relatable characters, and provide an escape.