William P. Young

William Paul Young (born May 11, 1955) is a Canadian author best known for the novel The Shack, originally self-published in 2007 and later a major international bestseller. Raised partly in the highlands of what is now Papua New Guinea by missionary parents, Young earned a BA in religion and wrote The Shack initially as a gift for his children. The book's wide readership brought Young mainstream publication and further novels and nonfiction dealing with faith, suffering, and spiritual themes.