Shaping Up The Shack (Off The Map style)
I don’t read Christian novels. I buy books on a regular basis and have books gifted to me from friends all the time, but I can count on one hand how many inspirational novels I’ve read in the last twenty years.
So last fall, when a woman I know handed me a book called, The Shack, by William Young, and urged me to read it, I accepted it, but inwardly I groaned. Months later, I finally picked it up – out of sheer politeness.
It’s not the best book I’ve read, though I was startled, and delighted, by the theology of the book and how the author portrayed the triune Godhead. (I gave it three stars which you can read in my blog’s review)
After reading my review several friends told me that Young, who’s known as Paul by friends and family, lives here in the Portland area and that maybe I ought to contact him for an interview. I’m a writer. I’ve been working hard to build a writing career the last couple of years.
As The Shack gained momentum, I began paying attention to the internet buzz surrounding this humble novel and decided there was a story worth chasing down.
I decided to get in touch with Paul. Bill Dahl, a long time friend of Off The Map, and someone I met at last year’s conference, offered to connect me. So did Fran, the woman who gave me a copy of The Shack.
It worked. Paul, who is inundated with dozens upon dozens of emails everyday due to the enormous success of his novel (more than 700,000 copies at the time of our meeting) answered my email and soon we had an interview date set up.
I met up with Paul at a popular coffee joint. Cliché, I know, but most Pacific Northwesterners do our best talking amped up on caffeine.
He was great. Paul was easy to draw out and I loved hearing the fairy-tale like story of his book’s birth and success. He had only quit his day job in manufacturing a few weeks prior. He never had any ambitions to be a published writer (unlike me). “I wrote this book for my kids,” says Paul.
I found myself thinking of Jim Henderson as Paul talked. They are both renegades from institutional church, both of them having gone off the grid in search of meaningful Christian spirituality. And they are both willing to listen graciously to their critics.
I asked Paul, what did he think when a popular pastor from a large Seattle church ranted about the theology of his book in a YouTube video. He smiled and said, “Everyone brings to the table what they have.” Pausing, Paul added, “He who knows him best loves him the most.”
After the interview I needed to hit the road to get up to Seattle. Off The Map had an opportunity to participate in a citywide event. Several of us OTM’ers headed in to help out.
As I caught up with Nancy Murphy at the welcome dinner she introduced me to Chuck Conniry and Larry Shelton, theology professors from George Fox Seminary. We somehow began talking about The Shack. They were intrigued with the interview I’d had that afternoon with Paul, and I was very interested in their response to the theological takeaway of the book. They gave me their contact info and by the next week I had interviewed both of them for my story. My article was beginning to shape up.
I began emailing editors around the nation. Newspapers, magazines, Christian and otherwise, I was looking for a buyer for what I considered a hot story. I sent out at least a dozen query letters.
Not a single bite.
Feeling discouraged I decided to contact Christine Wicker. Christine used to work as a religion journalist with the Dallas Morning News and she’s also written several books. A couple of years ago she spoke at an OTM conference and has become a friend to many of us since then.
She was great to talk to, albeit realistic. “Pam, you’re doing everything right, but freelancing is hard work.” She encouraged me to be patient and remain persistent. “Be the go-to-girl for this story,” she said as I told her how many sources and interviews I had been collecting.
I’ve been closely following the progress of The Shack. It’s sold well over a million copies to date and it hasn’t even begun to crest the wave. International distribution has begun. A big New York publisher has partnered with the book. A Hollywood movie is in the pipeline.
I have continued to knock on the doors of those elusive editors. I’ve been most persistent with my hometown paper, The Oregonian. Five emails, three editors, and finally a sale, the first of what I hope to be a flurry of others.
The OTM community helped shape this story. This is no surprise. OTM has shaped me as a writer. I like to think that I’m shaping them, too.
Sheryl Fullerton said
am July 14 2008 @ 9:30 am
Great work, Pam. I saw your article in the Oregonian–so cool you sold it to them. I thought the piece was very well done, informative and captured the book and the author. You go, girl!
Hope you’re well.
All best,
Sheryl
Helen said
am July 14 2008 @ 9:31 am
Pam I’m so glad you’ve made your first sale! And that Off The Map friends helped you get there. Isn’t it awesome to be part of a supportive community? (Even if it’s long-distance much of the time)
Elizabeth Gilbert said
am July 14 2008 @ 9:33 am
Pam - keep at the work of getting the word out about “The Shack”. It is an engaging and touching book that has the potential to increase believers’ understandings about the triune God (and thus their ability to talk more easily about God) and it may even provide a meaningful introduction to God to those who are unbelieving or unsure about who God is. Thank you for encouraging this great book.
Pam Hogeweide said
am July 14 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Thanks everyone! The story surrounding The Shack is what intrigues me, even more than the novel itself. Paul wrote it for his kids as a means to show them his relationship with God. He gifted it to them for Christmas a couple of years ago, and BAM! before ya know it, it’s number one on the NY Times Bestseller list.
What a great story! And Paul is an awesome guy. He really does remind me of Jim.
And yes, my OTM community definitely helped me shape this story, which is very cool, since OTM has been the best place for me to cut my teeth as a writer. It’s been nearly four years since I wrote that first, fateful article for the Idealab. What a ride it’s been…
Lois Hudson said
am July 14 2008 @ 12:32 pm
I think the greatest attraction of The Shack is its artful illustration of our perceptions of God. Never does the author claim that this is God’s true, or only, manifestation of Himself. The Papa character even explains that God is revealing Himself in a way that Mack could understand and relate to.
Perhaps there is a danger that people might see this as an attempt to replace traditional thinking about God (hence the ardent criticisms), but readers are thinking! As long as we keep in mind that we don’t create a “new” form of Christianity but simply open our perceptions to how God relates to each of us, it’s an exercise in creativity.
I’ve asked several people who’ve said “It’s changed my life,” what they mean by that. Most were able to articulate it’s how they perceive God in a more personal way.
I don’t now see Father God as a female African-American woman named Papa, nor do I see the Holy Spirit as an Asian “sprite,” but I smile when those images come to mind, and it reminds me that God is personal to me and wants me to understand Him (on that limited human level).
Reading that makes us think, is good reading.
lisa wellington said
am July 14 2008 @ 1:28 pm
Way to go, Pam!
Congrats’ on getting a good interview published!
Pops said
am July 15 2008 @ 7:54 am
Wow, The Shack is a fantastic book and I hope it gets all the success it deserves.
I tell everyone how great it is but as it is still to be released here (South Africa)I am not sure if they think I am smoking mother nature!
Thank you for what you have said, it is nice to read the motivation behind the book and that that motivation is not a big bank balance!
Rose said
am July 16 2008 @ 12:37 am
Pam,
Good job, congratulations on your article!
Loy W. Reed said
am July 22 2008 @ 10:46 am
“The SHACK” is the best read I’ve had in at least 10 years! The imagery is so very powerful and has such a “healing” effect to anyone angry or living separated from God! I ordered a case and give them away to anyone I think might “need” it! I loved it personally and especially the creative images of God!
Those who read it can’t escape being moved closer to God in all His facets! The critics as admired as some of them are in their own right, must not read with imagination or the possibility that God can reveal Himself as He chooses! The Scriptures certainly are full of images of God possessing both femine and male characteristics! He is complete in Himself!
I especially loved the “worship” or devotional times as expressed in the book.
Count me as one who hopes the book will be read by thousands like yourself who have no desire to read “religious” books!
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Shaun Garman said
am August 1 2008 @ 1:08 am
Hi Pam,
Before I planted Red Sea Church in Portland I use to do business with real estate developers and Paul Young and I use to do business together. I’m not positive…but I swear I saw him years later on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”…. no kidding! If I recall correctly he won a substantial amount of money.
Shaun
North Portland
Elaine said
am August 2 2008 @ 11:04 am
I’ve finally read The Shack. It reminded me a lot of another book(s) I have read - there is a series written by “Fynn”. The first in the series is titled, “Mister God, This is Anna”.
The Anna books are presented as based on a true story of a young child’s relationship with God. I don’t know if they are true or not, but they are very powerful - much as The Shack is.
For me, both books take the religion out of God and leave me with a more compassionate, loving God.
thanks
pamhogeweide said
am August 6 2008 @ 8:12 pm
hey guys,
shaun, nope, couldn’t have been him. he must have a double! young has publicly revealed that he lost his home when he had to file for bankruptcy in 2003.
what do you think of the book (if you happen to fly through here again???)
pamhogeweide said
am August 6 2008 @ 8:14 pm
i’ve been blogging about it again, folks. stop by and poke around my blog for updates on what i’m writing about this phenomenal best-seller, and also here’s a link to a radio broadcast i recently joined Young on.