I first met author Don Ecker back in the late 1980s when he first began writing for UFO Magazine. In 1989 he had written a piece about a very controversial aspect of UFO research titled “Human Mutilations” that seemed to go hand in hand with reports flowing in from all over the UFO field dealing with cattle mutilations.

          Over the years I had lost contact with Don but still kept reading UFO Magazine. Last year when I saw that Don had written a novel, Past Sins, I was intrigued and bought a copy. I read it and was enthralled, because it’s a damn good story. His characters seem to come alive and I was surprised at my reaction when one of my favorite characters from the novel died. I got through to Don via UFO Magazine and chatted with him about his book. I had gone up to his website, and I suggested to him that he should be interviewed about the book. He told me that he hadn’t thought about that, but would consider it. I said, fine -- I’ll interview you and if you want, you can post it on your novel website. Well, he agreed and here it is. So, if you’ve not read Past Sins all I can say is, read it! If you have read Past Sins and have wondered about it, maybe this will answer some of your questions. So, on to the interview!

By Carlos Burke

( CB is me and DE is Don )

CB: Well, Don, it has been closing in on 17 or 18 years since we’ve connected. What have you been doing, besides the obvious? You’ve been involved with UFO Magazine and have written your novel, but what else?

 DE: Gee, Carlos, like where would you like me to start? The magazine takes up much of my time and over the years we have gone through a lot of changes, like gaining partners in the magazine, and of course all the ups and downs one experiences in life. Vicki and I married in 1993; we bought our home in 1994, and survived the California fires, floods, money woes and all other assorted bumps and merry-go-round rides that life provides. In other words, we continue to survive. I’ve become active in a military veterans organization, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, this last year, became an officer and have devoted a lot of time to the Order. Last year Vicki and I bought a sailboat, and we’ve really enjoyed that.

 CB: Yes, I saw the picture of you on the author’s page. So you really go out sailing, huh?

 DE: Yes, although we haven’t spent as much time with it as we would like. We have the boat down in Marina del Rey, near the main UFO Magazine offices, and that is a pretty good drive on the 405 freeway, especially with traffic. But it is really worth it.

 CB: Okay, so let’s talk about your book. Knowing a little bit about you and your background, a vampire story seems maybe a little bit odd, wouldn’t you say? I mean, I could see you writing a “straight” thriller or cop story, or maybe even a war story, but a vampire one?

 DE:  It is a thriller that encompasses a cop story, a military one, too, but has supernatural overtones. I’ve personally always loved a good -- emphasis on GOOD -- supernatural thriller. The genesis of this book began banging around in my head about 5 years ago. The “hook” to the plot came as a result of my almost cutting off the little finger on my left hand during a gardening accident a few years ago. I got my hand tied up in the electric hedge clippers, and as I was watching the blood flow from the wound it suddenly hit me! What if vampires were real … and the CIA got their hands on one!? Then the book took off.

 CB: You almost cut off your finger? Yeah, I can see how that might have inspired you. So, how long was the actual writing process?

 DE: Well, this was my very first novel and the actual time from start to finish was about 3 years. You understand, of course, that I did not write continuously. I would write for a week or so, then let it sit for a time. I would go back and re-read what I had written, then if I liked it I would continue on. As I became more comfortable with the process of writing a novel, sometimes I would dive into it for a couple weeks at a time. Vicki complained that it was as if I left her and went somewhere else. The truth is, during the writing of Past Sins, there were times when it seemed to overwhelm me. As strange as this sounds, the characters in several cases “took over” and I could say they almost wrote themselves!

 CB: As I told you earlier, Don, the manner in which you depicted your characters was extremely REAL. While reading Past Sins, it was like I was sitting there listening in while the characters talked to each other. Like your main character Mallory. And I am not kidding, I would like to meet him. Oh, yeah, before I forget --  Archuletta! She is somebody I would also like to meet.

 DE: Well, Carlos, not to give anything away, but you will meet Archuletta again. I am working on the sequel now and she figures into it mightily.

 CB: I’ve written, of course, but never fiction. That seems like a whole different beast than writing “real.” How did you come up with the people in your novel? Like Mallory, did he come from you? Was Mallory based in part on you and your background?

DE: I guess I could just say yes and move on. But you ask a good question and a short yes would do disservice to it. If you talk to any writing instructor beginning a class with “newbie” writers, they will tell you to write what you know. I suppose I tried to follow that advice. Mallory is an ex-cop, medically retired and I’m an ex-cop who’s medically retired. Mallory is a combat vet from Viet Nam and so am I. He was wounded over there; I was wounded over there. Mallory is divorced from his wife, in part because of his cop background, and so was I. Taking a moment and really looking at it, I guess you could say there is a big part of me that made up Mitch Mallory.

CB: Okay, if that is true, then who made up one of my favorite characters, Sergeant Marschack? I got a real kick out of that guy, not to mention he seems like someone I would want beside me if I ever got into a bar fight!

DE: (Laughing) Marschack? Now, that is one of the characters who wrote himself! I swear, while writing about Marschack, I simply put myself in neutral and he took over. Yes, he is quite a character. A total military professional, absolutely devoted to his job and his men. He has an absolutely “no bullshit” attitude and does not suffer fools gladly. A lot of people wanted to talk to me about him after they read the book.

CB: Did you know a Marschack somewhere while you were in the Army?

DE: Marschack was based on several people I knew over the years. And yes, if I ever got into a bar fight, I’d want him on my side too!

CB: Okay, what about the “bad guys?” I mean, the main vamp is Lilith. Where did she come from?

DE: Lilith is a mythological figure taken from Hebrew and Sumerian legends. She figures into the Hebrew Talmud and is credited with being the very first wife of Adam. You know -- of Adam and Eve. According to the Talmud, Lilith was made equal with Adam and she refused to take a subordinate sexual position to Adam. They argued and she fled, later becoming a demon. When God created Eve as Adam’s wife (all according to the Talmud) Lilith became jealous of Eve and began preying upon Eve’s children … humanity. Us. So, from a mythological aspect, Lilith was the very first vampire … hence, their creator.

CB: Okay, Don, I don’t want to give away the ending of Past Sins, but it is obvious to me that the story is not yet finished. What are your plans for the story?

DE: You’re right. This tale is not finished yet. I knew when I was close to finishing the first book that the story had a ways to go before it was done. I knew there had to be a sequel to finish the story, because the characters were not yet finished with me. At the end of Past Sins, some things appear to have been rectified and others were not. However, not everything is as it appears. We live in an age of terrorism now, and elements of that terror are in the sequel. With what is happening around the world, the United States is stretched a bit thin now, and that will be apparent in the next book. All I can say at present is to watch where this story goes!

 CB: I very much look forward to the next installment with anticipation. When will the sequel be out? Will it be in 2005?

 DE: A lot will depend on what my schedule allows. Vicki keeps telling me she really worries about when I will REALLY get into it, ‘cause I leave her here alone! I keep telling her it is only my mind that goes away, the body is still here. (laughing)

 CB: I want to thank you, Don, for taking time out of your schedule to do this interview. I really look forward to reading your next Past Sins, and it has been great hooking up with you again.

 DE: You are welcome, Carlos, it’s been great connecting with you again. Don’t be a stranger!