Tell us a little about yourself and your work.

I’ve worked in various aspects of the arts industry for many years. My lifelong interest in paranormal subject matter and UFOs resulted in my blog, The UFO Trail. It’s dedicated to posting credible info on incredible topics. Writing the blog led to my nonfiction book, The Greys Have Been Framed: Exploitation in the UFO Community. The book contains documentation of how the intelligence community, charlatans and suspect researchers have manipulated public perception of the UFO phenomenon for a variety of reasons.

You’ve got 20 words to sell your work. Tempt us.

Exploitation. Hypnosis. People getting hurt. Scientific and ethical misconduct. Spy games. Mass deception operations.

And I still had a few words left to go!

Where do you like to write?

Wherever I’m inspired. I feel fortunate that I’m able to work at a coffee shop, a motel when applicable, it doesn’t really matter. Writing nonfiction, the primary factor for me is my interest in the topic, and that it’s percolating to get shared with others.

Is there anything you must have in order to write?

Coffee! It’s rarely out of arm’s length.

What books have influenced you most, both as a person and as an author?

I think anyone who writes about the UFO community has been influenced by Keel and Vallee. They arguably built the genre.

I am impressed by the work of Annie Jacobsen and her abilities to address fringe subject matter from historical perspectives. I particularly appreciated her Operation Paperclip, which I feel moved itself to the head of the class as a resource on the topic.

I respect the work of investigative journalist Sharon Weinberger. She covered fringe topics with professionalism and objectivity, and her Imaginary Weapons is an extremely worthy read for those of us intrigued by games played in the intel community.

I appreciate work that demonstrates how controversial topics may be researched and reported ethically, accurately and responsibly.

What is the one thing that has helped you develop most as an author?

While I think reading is very important in helping an author develop, if I had to pick one thing that I’d say has helped the most, it would be cultivating empathy. I feel that’s particularly the case when writing about subject matter in which a diverse range of demographics often hold opposing yet passionate opinions, as is common within the UFO community.

What do you want to achieve most from your writing?

I’d like to contribute to informing members of the UFO community how their understandings of reported circumstances, such as UFO sightings and alleged alien abductions, have been manipulated and distorted in certain cases. I try to make details of select chains of events more widely known in which individuals were exploited and hurt.

Is there something specific you do to improve your writing?

I write, let it sit a while, then come back at it later with fresh eyes. I find it increases my ability to express and articulate what I intended.

What is the ideal relationship between editor and author?

Functional, with direct communication and willingness to compromise.

If you had a direct line to someone who loves your writing, what would you say?

Thanks! What do you like about it, and why?

If you had a direct line to someone who hates your writing, what would you say?

Sorry to hear you were disappointed! What did you dislike, and why?

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Write!

What does your writing future hold for you?

I love connecting with readers and interesting people through my blog, so I’ve been continuing that since I published my book. Will there be a second book? I’m not sure yet, and that’s okay, ’cause it’s never too late and it’s never too soon.

How have you set about the task of creating enticing cover art?

I arrived at the cover of my book through trying different combinations of images and features. At a point I felt one clicked, and I was like, “Yeah, that’s it!”

How often do you read? What genre?

I read every day: books, articles on the ‘net, etc. I have a preference for nonfiction aspects of the intelligence community, unexplained phenomena and related subject matter.

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Best of luck in the future.

For more from Jack Brewer please visit:

The Greys Have Been Framed: Exploitation in the UFO Community Blog Twitter

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