Marty Essen

Marty Essen is an American naturalist, author, photographer, and professional speaker. He has written five 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! and Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds.

Essen was born in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. He attended Duluth East High School and University of Minnesota Duluth.

Essen worked as a radio announcer at WEBC-AM and KQDS-FM. In 1982, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he ran two music talent management agencies, National Talent Associates and Twin City Talent. 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.

His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet, became an Amazon #1 Best-Seller in Animals and a Minneapolis Star-Tribune Top-10 Green Book. He performs a live college show, Around the World in 90 Minutes, based on Cool Creatures, Hot Planet. One notable adventure, documented in both his first book and his live show, is surviving a hippo attack in Zimbabwe.

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. Magazines publishing his photos include Reptiles Magazine and Handwoven Magazine.

Essen's third book, Time Is Irreverent, is a science-fiction political-comedy. According to the author's bio, "The switch in genres doesn't mean a switch in ideals. Like all of Marty's books, it reflects his values of protecting human rights and the environment—and does so with a wry sense of humor."

Essen resides in Victor, Montana and is married to weaving designer and author Deb Essen.

• 2006 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Winner (Bronze)
• 2007 Benjamin Franklin Award for Travel/Essay
• 2007 National Indie Excellence Award for Travel/Essay
• 2007 USA Best Books Award for Travel/Essay
• 2007 Ippy Award for Travel/Essay (Bronze)
• 2009 Green Book Festival Award for Animals
• 2016 National Indie Excellence Award for Nature
• 2016 Readers' Favorite Book Award for Environment
• 2016 Nautilus Award for Animals & Nature (Silver)
• 2016 Nautilus Award for Middle Grades Non-Fiction (Silver)

• 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

Essen has been touring the United States, performing Around the World in 90 Minutes, at hundreds of colleges since 2007.