Tag: Past Sins
Dark Matters Radio RETURNS!!
by admin on Jan.07, 2010, under Uncategorized
It is pretty much official … Dark Matters Radio is coming back to the airwaves January 18th, 2010 on CyberstationUSA. My show will run 5 nights a week from 10:00 PM till 12:00 AM Pacific Time and 1:00 AM till 3:00 AM … Monday thru Friday.
So, what am I trying to do? Well, one thing I do know something about is radio broadcasting. My preferred beat concerns those things that are different … weird … even bizarre, and that traditional radio usually refuses to touch. Back in 1991 when I first began broadcasting there were no radio shows that routinely took on those topics; even later than King of Late Night Talk Radio, Art Bell, was still doing political talk on satellite radio. I started out taking a close look at the UFO topic, and of course other topics crept into the mix … because they were STRANGE. Conspiracy topics are a fact of life and most talk show hosts (most, not all) really don’t know how to look at the topic. Same with UFOs, animal mutilations, and the tons and tons of related and assorted topics that get swept into the weirdness mix. Why do I think I am capable of tackling this mix?
To answer the above I guess I can start by pointing to my already established track record. Having been a cop, I automatically find myself looking beneath the surface when confronted with these topics, realizing that there are tons and tons of CRAP that you must be willing to wade thru before getting to the real jewels that might be there. A case in point is my interest in “vampirism” and assorted myths and stories surrounding the topic. While writing my novel “Past Sins” I looked into a reportedly real case from England, UK that went back to 1969-70 called “The Highgate Vampire Case.” Now, the topic has always fascinated me, and why … I am not sure. But, suffice to say it does interest me so I decided to investigate whether there was really anything there that would suggest this case might be real. There were two factions involved out of the UK with this case and when one faction REALLY went after me, I REALLY DUG IN and went for it. It turned out to be total crap of course, but until I went and dug into it I was not willing to just dismiss it because it SOUNDED LIKE CRAP. Many radio hosts who featured these Brits with their fantastic tales of supernatural boogey-men simply took these tales at face value and didn’t question the premise of supernatural boogey-men because they were either intimidated by these guys OR they didn’t want to lose the interview. Well, Bunky, … that ain’t me. I have always maintained that a radio broadcaster, like a print journalist, has a responsibility to his audience. Back in 1996-97, that became crystal clear with the story of the Hale-Bopp Comet and radio broadcast star Art Bell. Remember the mass suicide of the “Heavens Gate” cult? For several months Art beat the gong about a spaceship (allegedly following the Comet) and all kinds of crazy stuff that cumulated in March of 1997 when that crazy group of cultists committed suicide en-masse in San Diego. Everybody went after Bell, and even though I agreed that Art had not been responsible with this info, he had no culpability in the suicide. So, what should Art have done in my opinion? Well, I believe he should have kicked some of his guests in the ass and demanded proof when they made outrageous claims. But, Art was a showman and in this case it came back and bit him in the backside, instead of Art biting the outrageous guests in the butt. That’s why Dark Matters Radio is different, I have no problem calling someone to account when they abuse my common sense. I think my audience demands it.
See you on the 18th.
A Good Book Review!!
by admin on Aug.31, 2009, under Uncategorized
Okay, allow me to “preen” just a little bit. It is always a happy time for me when I get a new and very positive book review. Of course this review is on my novel Past Sins, and that means the train ride ain’t quite over yet.
It took me over 3 years from start to finish with the book, not all writing all the time of course. I would go into writing fits where I got up before sunrise and wrote until sundown. Honest to God, my wife Vicki, on more than one occasion asked me “when are you coming home?” Then weeks and a couple of times months passed and I wanted nothing to do with that damned book. I knew it was getting to me when I started having weekly nightmares, evading vampires in my dreams. Did I mention the novel is about vampires? No, not those Anne Rice pussies, think more like those 30 Days of Night bastards … on steroids.
After it was published, and no … I didn’t publish it, a real honest to God publisher, it slowly started to sell. You see, my publisher was a small one which meant no real marketing to speak of. But slowly the reviews started coming in. And, every damn one was positive! (Well until recently, one Northern Calf. chick, obviously into those frilly shirted pussy vampires, didn’t like it. As a matter of fact in complete openness she said …..
“Absolutely the worst book I’ve ever read!
The writing was atrocious. The only reason I kept reading it was because I paid good money to buy the book. I won’t make that mistake again!
Past Sins
Review: Past Sins by Don Ecker
As most of you know, Don is a Vietnam veteran and an ex-cop. Here, he takes his experience, combines it with some very good research in vampire folklore to write a very original vampire story – Past Sins: A novel of supernatural terror.
The plot involves CIA sneaky doings that, as foreshadowed in the title, comes back to bite the ass of the entire country. During the Cold War the CIA tries to secure the ultimate weapon against the Soviets and succeed – they find a vampire and attempt to harness the power of the evil creature in the name of national security. As always when one deals with the Devil, a high price is to be paid and sins of the past are visited upon the future. Biding his time in captivity, the vampire has his own agenda, ready to slip through the fragile confines of his captors and wreck havoc on the world. Of course he does, and so begins an adventure full of high octane law enforcement and military fire-power.
Fast paced, action packed, the author draws on his military and law enforcement knowledge to build a solid story that draws the reader into the novel with its realism. Characters are three dimensional, interesting and believable. Mr. Ecker has done a fine job researching folklore. His vamps are not soft vamps. No caped Counts in coffins or chronically depressed, mopey vampires here. The vamps of Past Sins are feral, predatory, inhuman creatures that are thoroughly scary – the kind vampire that existed in folklore of times long past. As it’s rare to see an intelligent vampire story combined with action and adventure outside of a comic book, Past Sins gives the vampire genre a much needed breath of fresh air. For its freshness, action, authenticity and originality, I give it 5 stars. This book needs a sequel and I hope one is in the making. Also, this would make one entertaining action movie.
One side note for Highgate fans, we get a fictionalized version of the Highgate Vampire in Past Sins. Sean Manchester becomes Stephen Lancaster, Farrant is nowhere to be found, and the Highgate Vampire is finished with bullets and flames instead finished with of a few paragraphs borrowed from Stoker. This fictionalized version is much more satisfying than slimy ickor, giant spiders and a 30 year movable feud.
That said, bravo to Don Ecker for a wonderful debut novel. Keep them coming and we’ll keep reading!
Past Sins is available from Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle versions.
Well like I said at the beginning of this blog post, allow me to “preen” just a little bit. Yup! Today, even with all the wild fires currently burning up Southern California, I am smiling … a little bit!
Till next time ….
