Richard Paul Evans facts for kids

Richard Paul Evans (born October 11, 1962) is a famous American author. He is best known for his heartwarming book The Christmas Box. He also wrote the exciting Michael Vey series.

About Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans grew up in Utah, a state in the western United States. He went to Cottonwood High School. Later, he studied at the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in 1984.

How He Started Writing

Before becoming a full-time author, Richard Paul Evans worked in advertising. One Christmas, he wrote a special story for his own children. He loved the story so much that he wanted to share it with more people.

He tried to find a company to publish his story, but no one was interested at first. So, in 1993, he decided to publish it himself. He printed his story as a small paperback book called The Christmas Box. He then sold it in local bookstores.

The Christmas Box Becomes a Hit

The Christmas Box quickly became very popular in his community. People loved the story so much that it became a local bestseller. This success led him to publish the book more widely.

The next year, something amazing happened. The Christmas Box became a number-two bestseller on The New York Times list! This made big publishing companies very interested. Richard Paul Evans signed a deal with Simon & Schuster, a major publisher.

In 1995, The Christmas Box was released in a hardcover version. It became the first book ever to be number one on The New York Times bestseller list for both paperback and hardcover books at the same time. That same year, the book was even made into a television movie. It starred actors Richard Thomas and Maureen O'Hara.

Other Books and Movies

Since then, Richard Paul Evans has written many more books. He has written over 36 national bestsellers. Some of his books are for children, and many of them focus on important family values.

Several of his books have also been turned into television movies. For example, his 1996 book Timepiece became a movie starring Naomi Watts. Other movies include The Locket (1998), A Perfect Day (2006), The Mistletoe Promise (2016), and The Mistletoe Inn (2017).

Helping Children in Need

In 1997, Richard Paul Evans started a special organization called Christmas Box House International. This group helps children who have been abused or neglected. They build safe shelters and provide services for these kids.

By 2017, more than 35,000 children had received help from Christmas Box House facilities. This shows how much Richard Paul Evans cares about helping young people.

His Family Life

Richard Paul Evans is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri. They have five children and one grandson.