Zoomed image of mysterious orange light seen Jan. 9 near Van Buren, Ark. (photo: Col. Brian Fields, USAF, ret.)

With reports of recent interesting events making news, such as the alleged disc hovering over Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and now a report out of Arkansas from a retired Air Force colonel who saw unusual lights overhead, people are taking notice of our skies.

The Chicago Tribune's transportation columnist, Jon Hilkevitch, reported on the O'Hare UFO incident. WorldNetDaily.com's Joe Kovacs broke the story on the Jan. 9 Arkansas sighting by the former Air Force pilot who flew F-16s.

Both the Chicago Tribune's Web site and WorldNetDaily.com received record numbers of page views on these articles.

In addition, other elements of the so-called "mainstream media" are carrying responsible and intelligent reports and analysis about these kinds of unusual subjects.

The upcoming ten-year anniversary of the 1997 "Phoenix Lights" incident is also in the news.

Of course, UFOs are not the only anomalous or unusual topic that is important for people to learn more about, but they do create a certain amount of interest and speculation.

As a writer who has covered all kinds of subjects as a news journalist, feature writer and novelist, some of these developments seem positive to me.

Just as I sometimes write about current events, science, media and other fields that affect all of us, the subjects related to unusual phenomena are equally interesting and equally worthy of responsible research and reporting, in my view.

Providing worthwhile information and perspectives on unusual topics is probably helpful for our societies and for the human race. In this spirit, what follows is an account of an interrogation, a "friendly" interrogation. At least I think it is.

I'm not saying this is a word-for-word account of such an interview. I'm not saying this scenario happened. I'm not saying an interview like this ever occurred. I'm not confirming or denying anything.

But, if readers find it interesting, and it provides useful or valuable insight and understanding, then, again, that is probably a good thing.

INTERROGATION SUMMARY AND TRANSCRIPT

First interrogation session
Location: [REDACTED]
Date: [REDACTED]
Time: 1400 hours

Interrogation officers:
COL [REDACTED], U.S. Air Force; CDR [REDACTED], U.S. Navy; Special Agent [REDACTED]

Interrogation subject:
Mr. Steve HAMMONS, author, writer, researcher

Reason for interrogation:
HAMMONS is regarded as an indigenous asset who has written two novels about a unique U.S. joint-service research unit he calls the "Joint Reconnaissance Study Group." The novels by HAMMONS are being examined to determine any significance to sensitive ongoing operations and if any security issues are evident. In the novels, this "JRSG" group investigates special topics of an anomalous nature that are of interest with regard to national security and emerging special phenomena. HAMMONS also writes articles on similar unconventional as well as conventional topics.

Interrogation summary:
COL [REDACTED] conducted the interrogation. CDR [REDCATED] and Special Agent [REDACTED] observed. HAMMONS appeared cooperative, though guarded, during the interview. He provided answers to all questions asked and indicated a willingness to cooperate as requested. HAMMONS agreed to further interviews as requested.

Interrogation transcript:
Interrogator (I): Thank you for coming in to talk with us today, Mr. Hammons. We appreciate it. I am Air Force Colonel [REDACTED] and this is Navy Commander [REDACTED]. This is Special Agent [REDACTED].

(Subject nods)

The reason we asked you to come in is because of the content of your novels and some of your articles. And we'll try to keep it brief at this time.

As I'm sure you understand, some of these things might be of interest to our military and our intelligence community. And important for our nation and our people.

We'd like to ask you a few questions about where you got some of your information and what or who your sources might be.

We've put some documents there on the table for you that go over some of the main points we'd like to cover. Maybe you can take a look at them while we talk.

(Subject picks up the document packet)

Subject (S): First of all, I'd like to get a sense of what this interview is about. I am wondering if I need to have an attorney present or anything like that.

I: No, no, Mr. Hammons, nothing like that. We regard you as an indigenous asset. I believe you know what that means from your brief training in college as a civilian associated with Army Special Forces?

S: Yeah, I know what it is. I'll be glad to cooperate. I really don't have anything to hide.

I: Good, good. Again, we sincerely appreciate your cooperation.

First off, we understand that your books, which you call fiction novels, are really somewhat fact-based fiction, aren't they Mr. Hammons?