UFO researcher and author Ann Druffel dates her interest in the UFO question from 1945 when, as a schoolgirl, she viewed a bright yellowish object, very high in clear blue skies over Long Beach, California. She and her mother, Aileen Walsh McElroy, watched the object as it slowly traveled westerly. After about an hour and one-half, having traveled about 30 degrees from the NNE to the NNW, it then released 15-20 smaller shiny objects, which took varying paths out and away from the main object. Years later, it was determined that this sighting occurred at about the same time the first experimental atom bomb was exploded in New Mexico. Interested in earth mysteries of all kinds, Druffel has researched various aspects of the UFO question and investigated reports of all kinds since 1957. She was one of the first investigators for NICAP, remaining with that organization from April 1957 to 1973. During the NICAP years she became acquainted with the renowned atmospheric physicist, Dr. James E. McDonald, and participated with him in several UFO cases during his six years of UFO research. After NICAP was destroyed by subversive agents from the FBI and CIA who had secretly penetrated into the higher realms of NICAP, Druffel joined the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) with which she is still actively associated as investigator, frequent contributor to their journals and other official capacities. She also joined the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) and contributes articles on California sightings and other UFO subjects to IUR (International UFO Reporter). She was a U. S. consultant and regular contributor for the British research journal FLYING SAUCER REVIEW (FSR) through 2004. She has authored six books and numerous articles for newsstand magazines on UFOs and other earth mysteries and has contributed 190+ articles and columns for top UFO journals in the field. One of her recent books, FIRESTORM!: DR. JAMES E. McDONALD's FIGHT FOR UFO SCIENCE, published in July 2003 by "Wild Flower Press/Granite Publications", re-introduced the phenomenal UFO research and amazing results of prestigious atmospheric physicist, James E. McDonald, to the world. The astounding gains McDonald made, during his public work in the UFO field between 1966 and 1971, today give us undeniable evidence that the scientifically-oriented approach is necessary to solve the UFO problem. It details how McDonald made great strides in convincing the Scientific Community at large that UFOs were a real phenomenon which was being neglected by Science and also how he apparently was at the verge of breaking through the government coverup. Tragically, McDonald's breakthroughs were unexpectedly cut short in 1971 when he died an apparent suicide, but FIRESTORM! relives his work and methods which, if put into effect today in the UFO field, could perhaps bring about a solution. Her book, HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF AGAINST ALIEN ABDUCTIONS, published in August 1998 by Random House/Three Rivers Press is also available nationwide on Amazon.com, on other websites and on a POD basis from the publisher and in bookstores. It presents many true accounts, drawn from her present database of 120 "resisters", which demonstrate how nine simple mental and physical techniques can drive away these harassing creatures. If these creatures do, in fact, exist at any level of reality, perhaps they are "posing" as occupants from physical UFOs. Druffel has continued research into this field, as more techniques surface and as more is learned about personality traits of resisters as opposed to non-resisters. The book was also written for all members of the American public who are interested in various aspects of the UFO question but who are tired of hearing that the human race is at the mercy of aliens. In general, as regards UFOs, Druffel hypothesizes that the so-called "UFO phenomenon" is actually two separate phenomena. Like James McDonald, she favors the extraterrestrial hypothesis to explain UFOs seen from a distance, in which no contact or only minimal contact occurs between the witnesses and craft/occupants. From the weight of evidence, she is convinced that reports by credible witnesses of seemingly metallic, physical aeroforms which are detected on radar, chased by jet pilots, and photographed by verifiably honest witnesses constitute a serious scientific question which has been neglected by the Scientific Establishment and that secrecy imposed on the subject by the US Government is unjust and illogical. - www.anndruffel.com