Marty Essen
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Marty Essen is an American naturalist, author, photographer, and professional speaker. He has written eight books, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, Time Is Irreverent, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds, Hits, Heathens, and Hippos: Stories from an Agent, Activist, and Adventurer, Doctor Refurb, and The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles. [1][2][3][4]
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Essen was born in Duluth, Minnesota, United States.[5] He attended Duluth East High School and University of Minnesota Duluth.
Career
Essen worked as a radio announcer at WEBC-AM[6] and KQDS-FM.[7] In 1982, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he ran two music talent management agencies, National Talent Associates[6] and Twin City Talent.[8] In 1996, Essen moved to Victor, Montana to found Essen Communications Corporation, a local telephone company, and later became an author and a college speaker.[9]
His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet, became a Minneapolis Star-Tribune Top-10 Green Book.[10] He performs a live college show, Around the World in 90 Minutes, based on Cool Creatures, Hot Planet.[11] One adventure, documented in both his first book and his live show, is surviving a hippo attack in Zimbabwe.[12][13]
Essen's nature photography is featured prominently in his books and live show. His outdoor photographs are also in Deb Essen's book, Easy Weaving with Supplemental Warps: Overshot, Velvet, Shibori, and More.[14] Magazines publishing his photos include Reptiles Magazine[15] and Handwoven Magazine.[16]
Essen's three nonfiction books advocate for protecting endangered species and the environment, and his five fiction books are comedies that advocate for the protection of human rights and the environment.[17]
Personal life
Essen resides in Victor, Montana and is married to weaving designer and author Deb Essen.[18]
Book awards
- 2006 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Winner (Bronze)[19]
- 2007 Benjamin Franklin Award for Travel/Essay[5]
- 2007 IPPY Bronze Medal for Travel/Essay[20]
- 2009 Green Book Festival Award for Animals[5]
- 2016 Nautilus Award for Animals & Nature (Silver)[21]
- 2016 Nautilus Award for Middle Grades Non-Fiction (Silver)[21]
- 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal for Non-Fiction Environment[22]
- 2024 Indies Today Award for Best Humor Book[23]
- 2025 IPPY Gold Medal for Humor[24]
- 2025 National Indie Excellence Award for Best Romantic Comedy[25]
- 2025 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Fiction - Humor/Comedy[26]
Books
- Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents[27]
- Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico[27]
- Time Is Irreverent[28]
- Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again![29]
- Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds[30]
- Hits, Heathens, and Hippos: Stories from an Agent, Activist, and Adventurer[31]
- Doctor Refurb[3]
- The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles [32]
