Books

Marty Essen’s third book, Time Is Irreverent, was published on February 8, 2018.

Soon it became an Amazon USA #1 Best Seller in Parodies and LGBT Science Fiction and an Amazon Canada #1 Best Seller in Comedy, Humour, Political Humour, LGBT Science Fiction, Alternative History, and Time Travel.

An irreverent, twisty, time travel comedy!

What if you could make a change to history that would eliminate the Spanish Inquisition, American slavery, World War II, global warming, and an egomaniacal US president who thought he was smart enough to drop nuclear bombs here and there without negative consequences? What if that change also made the United States and 5 billion people poof from existence? Would you do it?

When alien time travel specialists, the Krichards, learn of President Handley’s game of dodge the mushroom cloud, they race to Earth to investigate. For them, the question of whether it’s worth it to change history is easy to answer, but they will only proceed if the human they deem best qualified to represent Earth agrees to make the change. Erasing Handley’s nuclear annihilation would require a quick jump to AD 31 to make a simple correction to the past. If the Krichards had selected a brilliant scientist or an elite athlete for the task, Earth might be in good hands. Instead they selected Marty Mann, a mildly successful travel writer, whose only superpower is not taking life too seriously. What could possibly go wrong?

Spanning from the Cretaceous period to 2056, Time is Irreverent is a hilarious, thought-provoking satire, with unpredictable twists, colorful aliens, huge dinosaurs, a smokin’ hot lesbian from the future, and a cameo from Jesus Christ himself!!

Marty Essen’s second book, Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, was published on January 8, 2016.

Winner: Readers’ Favorite Book Award for Environment
Winner: National Indie Excellence Book Award for Nature
Silver: Nautilus Award for Animals & Nature
Silver: Nautilus Award for Middle Grades Non-Fiction

Endangered Edens is the long-awaited follow-up to Marty Essen’s six-time award-winning book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents. Whether traveling with Marty and his wife, Deb, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico, or going solo with Marty in the Everglades, readers will experience nature’s Endangered Edens in a way few others have—all while laughing and learning along the way.

In addition to Marty’s entertaining stories, Endangered Edens also features more than 170 stunning color pictures—merging the genres of wildlife photography, adventure travelogues, and environmental education into one unforgettable book.

“Impressively informative and a lot of fun.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Endangered Edens’ primary strength is its many glossy, high-quality photos of wildlife. From alligators to caribou, the visuals in the book are both stunning and informative, bolstered by the author’s deep knowledge of butterfly and bird species. In giving factual details about each animal, the book allows the captured image to take on extra life. The book’s four long essays, each focusing on a different journey, make the book easy to set aside and pick up again, and the writing style enhances the book’s readability.”
—Foreword Reviews

“A magical, fun journey through some of the world’s hidden and not so hidden Edens, as seen through the eyes of a true wildlife aficionado and author whose writing makes the pages come alive and vibrate with the sound and pulse of nature. A book that once started is impossible to put down.”
—Dr. M. Sanjayan, Senior Scientist at Conservation International and host of the PBS Television series EARTH: A New Wild

“I highly recommend that everyone join author Marty Essen and his wife, Deb, as they explore our planets’ Endangered Edens. After reading about these last great wild places, you will surely be tempted to visit them and more importantly protect them for future generations to enjoy.”
—Cindy Shogan, Executive Director, Alaska Wilderness League

 Watch the Endangered Edens Official Book Trailer! Be sure turn up the volume on your speakers to hear Callie MaRae’s beautiful vocals:

Marty Essen’s first, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, was published on January 1, 2017.

Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents follows Marty and Deb Essen on a three-and-a-half-year-long adventure to some of the wildest places on all seven continents.

The American couple began crisscrossing the globe with the simple intention of searching for rare and interesting wildlife. When their travels coincided with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the added element made them unwitting ambassadors for peace. Their experiences–from amusing to life threatening–changed their lives forever.

This is not your average travelogue. Marty Essen has written a book that entertains, informs, and poignantly reminds us that we all share a small planet.

Locations visited include: Belize, Peru (the Amazon Rainforest), Argentina, Australia (Queensland), Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Northwest Territories), Antarctica, Europe (Spain, France, Switzerland, and Andorra), Malaysia (Borneo), and Africa (Zimbabwe).

Winner: Green Book Festival Award for Animals
Winner: Benjamin Franklin Award for Travel/Essay
Winner: National Indie Excellence Book Award for Travel/Essay
Winner: Best Books Book Award for Travel/Essay
Bronze: ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award for Travel/Essay
Bronze: IPPY Award for Travel/Essay
Finalist: Nautilus Award for Animals/Nature
Top-10 Green Book: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Amazon #1 Best Seller: Wildlife

“This is a wonderful book–a labor of love–that describes in soul-stirring language what it is like to live with the people, the animals, the birds, the snakes, the insects, the jungles, the treacherous rivers, the gorgeous scenery of seven continents. It is the best travel and exploratory work I have yet encountered. Marty Essen and his wife, Deb, are two highly intelligent, imaginative, and brave people.”
—Senator George McGovern, 1972 Democratic nominee for president

“An exciting and adventurous read. Cool Creatures, Hot Planet by Marty Essen is a roller coaster ride through the natural world that will both entertain and enlighten readers.”
—Jeff Corwin, The Jeff Corwin Experience