Author Allan Evans. Photo: Allan Evans
Woodbury author’s publishing imprint opens doors for bold writers across the Twin Cities.
This past February, Allan Evans delivered his latest installment in the Cade Dawkins thriller series. His third novel, Killer Instinct, follows detective Cade Dawkins and the Minnesota Major Crimes Task Force as they race against time to catch a rogue assassin and solve a crucial kidnapping.
To celebrate the new release, Evans will host a book launch from 4–7 p.m. on March 7 at 3rd Act Craft Brewery, 4120 Radio Drive. We connected with Woodbury’s Allan Evans to learn more about his latest story and his new publishing imprint, Stillwater Story House, which looks to honor distinctive fiction and support authors’ creative voices.
How do you sustain the story and maintain tension over the course of this series?
With each installment, I try to introduce a fresh narrative spark. For Killer Instinct, the inspiration started with musing about movie assassins. They’re always portrayed as flawless—elite, surgical, untouchable. I started wondering about the opposite. What about the assassin who’s … average? Maybe he’s worried about his next performance review. Maybe he makes mistakes. That idea led to dropping one of these off-brand assassins into Minneapolis and having him manipulated by a beautiful woman who may—or may not—be a North Korean spy. Once he’s cut off from his handler—and from his better instincts—he becomes dangerously unpredictable. The perfect storm for Cade and his task force.
What is a theme that you want readers to take away from this book and from the series as a whole?
A major theme is the psychological chess match between hunters and the hunted. I’m fascinated by motive—what breaks a person, what reshapes them, what justifies the unjustifiable in their own mind. The killers in this series aren’t monsters in a vacuum; they’re products of choices, environments and obsessions that spiral out of control. That tension—between understanding evil and stopping it—is where a lot of the drama lives.
What inspired you to launch your own publishing imprint?
I launched Stillwater Story House out of both necessity and conviction. When my previous publisher announced it was closing its doors, I had a choice: shop the series again or take control of its future. I chose the latter. I’ve always been entrepreneurial by nature, and I saw an opportunity not just to continue the Cade Dawkins thrillers on my own terms, but to build something that reflected Minnesota’s independent spirit and my passion for character-driven fiction.
What’s the story behind the name Stillwater Story House?
The name Stillwater Story House is personal for me. My wife, Jen [Daly], and I were married in Stillwater, so it’s always held a special place in my heart. I also love the symbolism—Stillwater is often called the birthplace of Minnesota, and launching a new publishing imprint felt like a similar kind of beginning. It felt like the perfect name for a publishing house rooted in storytelling and Minnesota creativity.
How do you envision Stillwater Story House shaping the publishing landscape here in the cities?
I envision Stillwater Story House as a creative home for bold, original fiction that might not always fit neatly into traditional publishing boxes. The Twin Cities have an incredibly rich literary culture, but there’s still room—especially on the fiction side—for voices that are a little more off-beat, cinematic or genre-blending. That’s where I want Stillwater Story House to live.
Do you and your imprint have any exciting plans coming up?
We’ve built an ambitious release schedule, with new titles planned each quarter. It’s important to me that the imprint feels active and forward-moving—not just a home for my thrillers, but a growing creative roster.
One project I’m especially excited about is our upcoming release from new author Eliza Snow. Her debut romcom, Creative Differences, is sharp, funny and full of heart—a perfect example of the kind of character-driven fiction we’re looking to champion.
Allan Evans
Instagram: @evanswriter
Stillwater Story House
Instagram: @stillwaterstoryhouse
