Graphic novelist follows up with adventure/sci-fi work
BEMIDJI - Erik Evensen is following up his award-winning graphic novel, "Gods of Asgard," based on Norse mythology with his second graphic novel, "The Beast of Wolfe's Bay."
A former adjunct professor of art and design at Bemidji State University, Evensen is the owner and principal designer of Evensen Creative, a local graphic design studio.
The 2007 novel, "God's of Asgard," won a grant from the Xeric Foundation for its educational, artistic and literary merit. Evensen followed up that publication with Maupin House printing in 2010 of "Super-powered Word Study," an educational comic-based workbook as its co-author and illustrator.
"This book takes place in a quiet, lakeside college town in the woods," Evensen said. "It borrows elements from Native American folklore, modern urban legends and Beowulf to tell a new, unique story.
"The characters include anthropologist Brian Wegman and folklorist Winifred Roth who leave their classrooms behind and get pulled along on a hunt for a dangerous monster. They team with the police to solve a long-standing mystery."
Evensen admits that it goes a bit far afield from his usual work because it is "an adventure/sci-fi story with a splash of comedy, folklore and a bit of romance."
He is using a unique method for underwriting this self-publishing effort as he has posted his needs with Kickstarter, a website used to raise money for creative projects.
Evensen's goal is $5,000 and he needs to raise the full amount from donations or he doesn't collect anything. The plan is to have the story available as a paperback book through amazon.com, comic shops and as an e-book for Kindle, Nook and iPad. Fans of Evensen's work can donate money and pre-order copies of "The Beast of Wolfe's Bay" at www.wolfesbay.com.
The site gives a good example of Evensen's expertise in graphic design and scripts.
Just to liven up interest in the project, Evensen will be sketching and signing copies of "Gods of Asgard" from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, May 12 at Roy's Comics and Games, 211 3rd St. NW in downtown Bemidji.
Online:
evensencreative.com
