Evan Swensen

Evan Easten Swensen (born December 23, 1935) is an American author, publisher, editor, TV producer, radio host, and bush pilot. He is the founder of the Readers and Writers Book Club and an Author Masterminds charter member.

Early life

Swensen was born in Hinkley, Utah, grew up in Salt Lake City, graduated from Granite High School, and attended carpenter school. He has been an Alaska resident since 1957, when he moved to the Territory of Alaska. He was living in Alaska when Alaska became the 49th state in the United States. He voted for statehood.

Career

When he arrived in Alaska, Swensen worked for a short time as a carpenter, later as a warehouseman, then as a salesman for Montgomery Wards, and was appointed as store and district manager. For a short period of time, he was a partner in Suburban Marine, selling marine and snow machine equipment and sporting goods. His career changed when he began working as a salesman and became District Manager at Bowman Products for Alaska and Hawaii, where he served for more than ten years.

Switching careers, he started Alaska Outdoors, a company promoting and selling Alaska outdoor adventure trips. This included the host of Alaska Outdoors Television Show, the host of Alaska Outdoors Radio Magazine, the producer of Alaska Outdoors Television Show aired on The Outdoor Channel and The Discovery Channel, the creator of outdoor videos about Alaska, and the publisher and editor of Alaska Outdoors Magazine. Alaska Outdoors is committed to offering educational, informative, and entertaining content to readers, listeners, and viewers about the extensive outdoor enjoyable opportunities in Alaska.

He is the owner and publisher of Publication Consultants, and his services are widely recommended by authors. His work has been published in many national magazines.

Swensen is the author of five books, One Last Cast, Angler’s Guide to Alaska, Hiker’s Guide to Alaska, Becoming a Published Author, and Bringing Your Book to Market, and publisher of more than 1,000 books by other authors.

He is a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He has served in many callings, including teacher, Young Men’s President, Bishop’s Councilor, Bishop, High Councilor, District President Councilor, District High Councilor, and Temple Sealer.

Swensen is the founder of the Readers and Writers Book Club. This unique platform provides an opportunity for readers to communicate and have a personal relationship with their favorite authors. The club is sponsored by Publication Consultants’ Author Masterminds.

As a bush pilot, Swensen has logged more than 4,000 hours of flight time in Alaska in both wheel and float planes. He is a serious recreation hunter and fisherman, equally comfortable casting a flyrod or using bait or lures.

Swensen served on the Alaska Writers Guild Board of Directors for four years and was President for one year.

Personal life

Swensen is married to Lois Jane Schmitz Swensen, who publishes books by other authors with him worldwide. He has 9 children, 24 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. He was married to Margaret Robison Swensen, who is deceased.

Awards

While working for Bowman Products, Swensen received the District Man of the Year, The Diamond Award. He was the first recipient of the Double Diamond Award and the first recipient of the A.C. Graf Award—the highest award the company bestowed. He received the Founders Award in 2013 from Alaska Writers Guild.