12 Interesting Facts About The Shack Author William P. Young.
The big screen adaptation of The Shack is opening in theaters this Friday, March 3, 2017. The Shack is based on the New York Times Best-Selling Novel and has sold over 15 million copies to date. I was lucky enough to get a chance to see the film adaptation of The Shack back early in February. This isn’t the typical religious film but rather a visually stunning tale of forgiveness.
After my screening, I had a chance to sit down with author William P. Young to discuss his personal journey in life, the inspiration for writing the Shack, and how he felt about his beloved novel being turned into a feature-length film. I had an absolute blast talking with Young and loved learning about his upbringing and his personal views and thoughts on religion. Below, you will find twelve of what I would deem the most interesting facts about The Shack as well as author William P. Young that I learned during my quick fifteen minute conversation with this fascinating man.
12. The Shack was written for his six children and was never meant to become a published novel.
11. Young has spent a lot of his life fighting against people being stuck in religious boxes. He believes that a great majority of people are stuck in their ways.
10. The book is all about how William P Young thinks and views religion. He wrote it because his wife wanted him to as a way to share his relationship with God with his six children.
9. Young absolutely adored the film and loved seeing his work being brought to life on the big screen.
8. There were only fifteen copies of the original novel before several of Young’s friends and family members urged him to publish the book into the public spectrum.
7. Young wants relationship to replace religion.
6. Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings are two former pastors who helped Young publish the Shack. Filmmaker Bobby Downes also helped to ensure that the book was published.
5. The character played by Octavia Spencer in the film is based on Young’s friend Rene. Young pointed out that she is the inspiration for the character because she shared similar incidents of sexual abuse as children.
4. After seeing the film for himself, Young believes that the big screen adaptation of The Shack is one of the most faithful book to screen adaptations that he has seen.
3. Throughout his childhood, Young was a victim of night terrors. He also mentioned that he was abused by his father growing up.
2. Young wants President Donald Trump to see the film. He said that he was working on making sure that the President will be shown a screening of the film. He believes that the film is important for Trump to watch because of it’s handling of forgiveness and the treatment towards those of various races and upbringings.
1. William P. Young states that he didn’t know he was white until he was six years old. He discovered the color of his skin for the first time when he went to school.
