Bookpleasures.com welcomesas our guest  Otho Eskin, a distinguished novelist, playwright,and former diplomat whose diverse career has spanned over two decadesin the United States Foreign Service—with postings ranging fromDamascus and Belgrade to Reykjavik and East Berlin—along with keyroles in international negotiations on the law of the sea and spaceexploration.

Since retiring fromgovernment service, Otho has turned his talents to fiction, launchingthe acclaimed Marko Zorn series, which blends razor-sharpsuspense with timely political intrigue.

Today, we’ll bediscussing his latest thriller, Black Sun Rising, thefourth installment in the series, in which Washington, D.C., homicidedetective Marko Zorn confronts a resurgent Neo-Nazi movement and asinister conspiracy that threatens to plunge the nation into chaos.

Norm: Good day, Otho,and thank you for joining us.

Your protagonist,Detective Marko Zorn, is a former Army Ranger homicide detective whochooses not to carry a gun. What inspired this unique trait, and howdoes it reflect his psychological complexity?

Otho: I wanted Marko Zornto be a different kind of detective. Not atraditional gun-carrying cop but a complicated man with acomplicated background. The specific reasons for him not carrying areexplained in Black Sun Rising: He is afraid of hisreaction in a moment of danger, and he is deeply opposed to killing.

Norm: You’ve hadcareers in diplomacy and creative writing. How do your diplomaticskills, especially discretion and nuance, influence your thrillerwriting that features clear action and moral stakes? 

Also, do yourexperiences as a playwright shape how you structure your novels orvisualize scenes cinematically?

Otho: I don’t thinkdiscretion and nuance comes into the writing of thrillers at all. Infact, it has been quite liberating being able to write and saywhatever I want.

My experience as aplaywright has helped me tremendously since I am able to writedialogue and all exposition is in what people say. I do visualizeeach scene very carefully and in great detail. 

Norm: Black SunRising hints at a traumatic past event involving Zorn’ssister. Did you develop this backstory before writing, and canreaders expect to learn more in future books?

Otho: I developed theoutlines of this backstory when writing the first thriller novel inthe Marko Zorn series, The Reflecting Pool. I don’tthink there is much more to say about Marko’s traumatic experienceinvolving the murder of his sister. 

Norm: You served overtwenty years in the Foreign Service, including time in East Berlinduring the Cold War. How did your exposure to authoritarian regimesand intelligence work influence your depiction of the Neo-Nazi groupin Black Sun Rising? 

How do real-world encounters with violence shapeyour approach to thriller fiction?

Otho: In my experience asa Foreign Service Officer, I served in several countries withauthoritarian regimes: Syria, the German Democratic Republic, andformer Yugoslavia. Each was governed by a one-man ruler. 

I observedthe effects of violent regimes on their citizens. And although I wasnot a victim of violence myself (as a diplomat, I was able to escapepolitical violence), I did observe firsthand a public execution,which has stayed with me ever since. 

The executed man may have beenguilty of espionage, but he did not deserve his fate. I need toclarify that I was not involved in any kind of intelligence work,although the East German Secret Police (Stasi) included me in apublication claiming that I was part of the CIA. I was not. 

I was able to write abouthow the neo-Nazi movement in Black Sun Rising wasalmost able to overthrow the US government since I experiencedfirsthand an attempted coup in Syria. Working as a Diplomat andForeign Service Officer for over twenty-five years, I came tounderstand the inner workings of governments and this has served mewell. The beauty of writing thriller novels is that one can let one’simagination run wild—whereas in real life I abhor any kind ofviolence. 

Norm: The climax takesplace in Washington DC’s underground tunnels, sewers, and hiddenwaterways. What research did you undertake to map these locations?

 Did you explore them yourself, and are there other secret places inDC you plan to feature in future novels?

Otho: I never explored theWashington underworld myself, but I did find maps of tunnels andancient rivers. The rest of it was imagination. My next novel takesplace in a cathedral in Washington and although the building itselfis not a secret, much of what goes on inside is. 

Additionally, I amplotting another Marko Zorn thriller in the series, but thistime Marko travels overseas to prevent a crime.

Norm: The twist ofBlack Sun being twin brothers competing as rivals is striking.Why did you choose two antagonists instead of one, and how does theirbackstory as former conjoined twins deepen their relationship?

 Didyou research twin psychology to develop this dynamic?

Otho: I must confess thatI did no research whatsoever on the psychology of twins, although Idid some research on identical twins. I wanted to explore how evilcan make two different appearances in two different people. 

It wasalso exciting to know that while everyone was looking for one enemy,there were in fact two! This kept Marko and the audience ontheir toes. When you ask about the former conjoined twins and theirbackstory forming their relationship—it seems that the only thingthat deepened was their hatred for one another. 

Norm: The novel vividlyportrays how young men get radicalized online. What research did youdo on modern Neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements? 

How do youbalance showing their humanity while condemning their ideology? 

Otho:  I read severalbooks about the resurgence of neo-Nazis and fascism in today’spolitical scheme and, of course, I have been following it in thepress. Beyond that it is all my political imagination. 

All of thecharacters, despite their ideology, are human beings with complicatedbackgrounds that have to be taken into account. 

Norm: The story’sNazi-era nerve gas recovered by extremists, adds chilling historicaldepth. Is this based on real history or fictional? How much expertconsultation shaped the technical details, such as the nerve gasdelivery system?

Otho: The original nervegas Zyklon B was used by the Nazis in the camps to murder Jews, theirenemies, gypsies, and anyone they saw as a menace or threat tosociety. Zyklon C does not exist as far as I am aware—I invented itand the delivery system. 

Norm: Mrs. Davenport isa morally ambiguous and controversial character with a complexrelationship with Zorn. Is her reality intentionally ambiguous? 

Wereyou concerned readers might struggle with Zorn’s intimacy withsomeone who kills his partner?

Otho: I believe that Mrs.Davenport is morally evil and has no redeeming features. Zornstruggles with his attraction to Mrs. Davenport. It is part of hiscomplicated personality. I believe that readers are smart enough tounderstand the complexity in this relationship. 

Norm: ProfessorFairfield’s warnings about fascism and oligarchic power feelpolitically charged. How comfortable are you blending overt politicalcommentary with fiction? 

Do you see the scenario of wealthy elitesbuying the country as metaphor or a realistic threat?

Otho: I am totallycomfortable combining a work of fiction with contemporary politicaldevelopments in this country. Fairfield expresses my concernsprecisely. In this book, he is me! I see the risk of thesuper-wealthy buying the country as a very real threat and not ametaphor at all. 

Norm: The novelfeatures multiple agencies—DC Police, FBI, Secret Service, Germanintelligence, Homeland Security—all with competing agendas. How didyou manage these complex interactions, and what does this suggestabout contemporary counter terrorism? 

Also, how consciously did youcreate strong female authority figures like Carla Lowry and KellyFlynn in this male-dominated genre?

Otho: My treatment ofthese competing agencies is based on years of observation andexperience with federal agencies who are often in competition withone another to achieve different objectives. I tried to make thisrealistic. In my experience, there are no secrets in Washington. Thiscompetitive atmosphere weakens the government’s anti-terroristactivities. 

I pride myself in creatingstrong female authority figures. Even as a playwright, several of myplays featured strong female protagonists. I admire strong women.Women are not necessarily admirable—don’t forget Mrs. Davenport!

Norm: Where can readerslearn more about you and Black Sun Rising?

Otho: Please have your readers check out my website OthoEskin.com forinformation on Black Sun Rising and where you can buy it. 

Norm:As we conclude, Black SunRising leaves key threadsunresolved—Bobby Grant’s fate, Mrs. Davenport’s survival, andZorn’s fugitive status. What can you share about future Marko Zornnovels? 

How has the character evolved, and will we learn more abouthis reluctance to carry a gun?

Otho: Bobby Grant willmore than likely be murdered by his co-conspirators, Mrs. Davenport’sfuture is indeed a mystery, and thankfully Marko Zorn is no longer afugitive since Carla clears his record. I am currently working on twofuture Marko Zorn novels where we learn more about Marko.

Norm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your endeavors 

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