Check Out Matthew Paul Turner’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Paul Turner.

Hi Matthew, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Having grown up in a wild sect of Baptist fundamentalism (for instance, I had Barbie dolls burned in front of me during Sunday school as an illustration of hell), I wanted my kids to engage in a very different spiritual experience.

A part of my quest for them to have a happy and healthy relationship with God started when I decided to try and write life-affirming and hopeful picture books about faith and God.

My first idea was turned down by 11 publishers mostly because I was considered “controversial” and “too much of a lightning rod” to write children’s books in the Christian space. So (with the help of my then-wife–now ex-wife/best friend–Jessica Turner, I self-published that book.

We sold 4800 of the 5000 books we printed. One of the publishers came back to me and said “let’s do this.” My first children’s book was released in 2017. And I’ve somehow sold a million life-affirming and God-positive books since then.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My wife and I announced our divorce in 2020. And at the same time, I came out as a gay man. Jessica and I have done a few interviews since then–you can watch our interviews on today’s show and Tamron Hall’s show to get the basics of our story.

But no, there was nothing necessarily easy about the journey toward coming out. But, compared to other people’s experiences, our journey could have been much worse. I give the majority of the credit to Jessica. She is a beautiful human whose ability to love knows no boundaries.

Her grace has allowed us to remain the best of friends and most importantly, co-parent our 3 children with so much love and hope.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write children’s books. I’m proud of all my books for one reason or another but my latest book–I Am God’s Dream–is my favorite so far. The words in that book give a child the opportunity to speak power and love over themselves.

Writing that book was a beautiful and difficult journey. I’d just come out and so, I was still processing my own acceptance of myself and how I believed God viewed me.

This book offers readers where I landed–“I am God’s dream. I’m a human sunbeam. Watch me light up this room with my confident gleam. I’m playful and brave. I’m a one kid parade. I’m going to be who I am ’cause I’m wonderfully made.”.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My ex-wife, Jessica, is the reason I write children’s books.

Her support and encouragement have been a life source throughout my career. My publisher–Convergent and Penguin Random House–have also believed in my work from the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: MatthewPaulTurner.com
• Instagram: @MatthewPaulTurner
• Facebook: @MatthewPaulTurner
• Twitter: @HeyMPT

Image Credits:
Melissa Morgan Photography