Gary James Paulsen (born May 17, 1939) is a distinguished writer of many acclaimed books for young people, best known for coming of age stories about the wilderness. A bookworm since childhood, Paulsen is the author of more than 200 books and has written more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution to young adult literature. He and his wife Ruth, an artist who has illustrated several of his books, divide their time between their home in Alaska, their ranch in New Mexico, and their sailboat on the Pacific Ocean.