Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I grew up in South Dakota on my family ranch. I am half native Lakota and Norwegian. My ranch was homesteaded 100 years ago. I learned to draw when i was real little. I would watch Saturday morning cartoons and try to draw what i saw. When i 18 my folks passed away and i moved up here after wandering around for two years. I created a native Lakota comic book in 1999 called Myth and Lore, but it didn’t sell. Later i wrote and Illustrated a graphic novel about Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea. In 2007 i enrolled in to Bismarck State college for graphic design, or commercial art. In 2012 i started researching for my last graphic novel on Abe Lincoln. In 2018 i self published Lincoln. In 2018 i also relaunched my line of comic books called Myth and Lore.
How do you make time to write?
I am big believer in staying busy but also in keeping my nerves calm. I had a rocky childhood so now i work much better when I’m totally at ease. I exercise, try to get my sleep, and watch inspirational shows and books along with comic books.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes this happens when I’m stressed and tired. I try to avoid working when i am both of those.
Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.
I love fantasy art, but after working on Lewis and Clark and Lincoln, I have found that I love working on history based books.
How are you publishing your recent book and why?
Independent or self published. I tried for a year looking for a publisher but because my book was history the comic book publishers would not get back to me and a big publisher said its not the right book for them. So I went to Xlibris out of Indiana.
Are you an Introvert or Extrovert? How does this affect your work?
I think I’m an introvert. It actually works well. I stay home and work. I do like to socialize some, but I’ve learned to stay away from alcohol and i do not date much. Not that i don’t want to date but with out bars its more difficult.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
Off the top of my head I like the phrase
“You can crap in hand and wish in the other, guess which one fills up?” ~Grandpa off of Grumpy old men.
Also, I thought of a couple of my favorite quotes from authors other than myself
“Life is the greatest fairy-tale!” ~Hans Christian Anderson.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
If you find an author you really love then read everything they have done. I do more research than leisurely reading.
Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?
Under Amazon and Lincoln by Orville Evjen. Also at my website www.bravecrowcomics.com I’m also on Barnes and noble.
Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?
I am assuming you mean from my book, So on page 161, I didn’t write this, but its my favorite quote from my book, Abe at the first Republican convention:
“In my opinion it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. A house divided against itself cannot stand, I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the union to dissolve. I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.’” ~Abe Lincoln
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