Gary Paulsen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 17, 1939. He is married to Ruth Wright Paulsen, and has 3 kids. There names are Lynn Paulsen, Lance Paulsen, and James Wright. He won the John Newbery Medal in 1986, 1988, and 1990. He also won the Margaret Edwards Award in 1997, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher children's book Award in 1989, and lots more.