[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, NOVEMBER'S MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOTS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW WEARING A MASK CAN PROTECT FROM COVID AND PREVENT ANOTHER LUNG CONDITION, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE INCREASE IN WOMEN OF COLOR RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

THAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER ADRIAN FONTES TODAY ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS.

FONTES SAID HE IS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE TO QUOTE, STAND UP TO VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS AND BASELESS CHALLENGES TO ELECTION RESULTS, ADDING THAT DEMOCRACY IS QUOTE, UNDER A FULL-FLEDGED ATTACK.

HE JOINED STATE REPRESENTATIVE REGINALD BOLDING IN THE DEMOCRATIC RACE TO SUCCEED KATIE HOBBS WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>>> TUCSON OFFICIALS PLAN TO IGNORE THE NEW SANCTUARY LAW.

THE SANCTUARY LAW WAS SIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY GOVERNOR DUCEY IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WOULDEN ACT STRICTER REGULATIONS ON FIRE WARMS.

A RESOLUTION PASSED STATES THAT FEDERAL LAWS WILL, QUOTE, REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT IN CITY ELEMENTS.

>>> AFTER THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE CONDO COLLAPSE IN SOUTH FLORIDA IS NOW AT 36.

WITH FOUR BODIES PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE TODAY.

MORE THAN A HUNDRED RESIDENTS REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR.

RESCUE EFFORTS ARE BEING INCREASEDLY HAMPERS BY TROPICAL STORM ELSA.

>> WE RETURNED TO FULL POWER SHORTLY.

THE WIND IS HAMPERING THE LARGE CRANES MOVING VERY HEAVY DEBRIS.

THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO WORK AROUND RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT TROPICAL STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE AT OR NEARBY HURRICANE LEVEL WHEN IT HITS THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA TOMORROW.

>>> A NEW POLL SHOWS THAT NEARLY HALF OF THE COUNTRY THINK AMERICA IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THEY SAID THEY WERE HAPPY WITH WHERE AMERICA IS HEADED.

THAT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN 12 YEARS FOR THAT SURVEY.

BUT 87% OF REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.

AND TWO-THIRDS OF ALL AMERICANS BELIEVE DEMOCRACY IN THE US U.S. IS UNDER ATTACK.

>>> AND THE TSA REPORTS THAT MORE THAN 10 MILLION PASSENGERS WERE SCREENED OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

ONE AVIATION TRACKING WBTS REPORTED THAT ABOUT 10,000 FLIGHTS WERE DELAYED OR CANCELED ON THURSDAY ALONE NVM THINGS IMPROVED AS THE WEEKEND WORE ON, BUT THERE WERE STILL MORE THAN 4500 DELAYED FLIGHTS REPORTED YESTERDAY.

>>> THE STATE SENATE'S UNOFFICIAL RECOUNT OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS IS STILL GOING ON.

THE BALLOTS AND ELECTION MACHINES HAVE BEEN MOVED OUT OF VETERANS' MEMORIAL COLISEUM, AND TO A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS.

FOR THE LATEST ON THE RECOUNT AND WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT, WE SPOKE TO JEN FIFIELD WHO'S BEEN COVERING THE STORY FOR "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

JEN FIFIELD, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE PROGRAM.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THE LATEST NOW WITH THIS RECOUNT.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS?

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME BACK.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG SUMMER OF THIS AUDIT.

SO WE ARE STILL GOING.

THEY DID FINISH RECOUNTING ALL OF THE BALLOTS AND INSPECTING EACH ONE, AND AT THIS POINT, THEY ARE DOING THEIR FINAL CHECK TO TRY TO SEE HOW MANY BALLOTS WERE IN EACH BOX, THEY ARE DOING OTHER WORK, BUT THEY HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE COLISEUM, SO THEY ARE NOW IN THE BUILDING ON THE FAIRGROUNDS.

IT'S A LARGE BUILDING USED FORTRADE SHOWS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, SO IT IS BEING COOLED BY SWAMP COOLERS.

THE SENATE LIAISON SAYS IT IS FINE IN THERE.

SO THEY ARE DOING OKAY OUT THERE, BUT THE WORK IS GOING TO RESUME, HE SAYS, PERHAPS, ON THURSDAY, AND THEY HAVE THAT BUILDING FOR ANOTHER TWO OR THREE WEEKS OR HOWEVER LONG THEY NEED IT, IT SEEMS LIKE.

>> OKAY.

SO AGAIN, THEY ARE ON THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THEY ARE STILL COUNTING.

I'M GLAD KEN BENNETT IS COMFORTABLE IN THERE, BUT WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO STOP DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PHASE, SO WE CAN KNOW WHATEVER RESULTS THAT COME OUT OF THIS, WE CAN FIND.

>> WELL, I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT WHEN RESULTS WERE EXPECTED.

LAST WEEK HE WAS SAYING LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST.

AND KEN BENNETT IS NOW TELLING OTHERS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE SOMETIME IN AUGUST, AND WE ISSUED AT REPORT AT THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" TODAY, TALKING ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THESE RESULTS.

FOR THE ONES TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT WHY THIS NUMBERS MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT FROM THE ACTUAL CERTIFIED ELECTION RESULTS IN THE COUNTY.

THE ELECTION CONSULTANT TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN UNCONVENTIONAL.

THEY DON'T TRUST THE PROCESS.

THEY TALKED ABOUT THE TYPE OF ERRORS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE ALONG THE WAY, BUT THEY ARE ASSUMING THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT, AND PEOPLE SHOULD EXPECT THAT.

>> LET'S SAY THEY DO LOOK DIFFERENT, THEN WHAT?

WHAT HAPPENS?

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL AUDIT, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT HAPPENS?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

SO THIS WAS AN AUDIT THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE ARIZONA SENATE -- THE REPUBLICANS OF THE ARIZONA SENATE, SO IT IS NOT BEING DONE BY THE COUNTY.

THEY ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED.

AND THESE RESULTS WILL NOT CHANGE THE RESULTS.

SO WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA SENATE HAS SAID IS SHE WANTS TO USE THE RESULTS TO SEE IF THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE ELECTION THAT THEY CAN MAKE TO IMPROVE THEM.

MEANWHILE THE ELECTION PEOPLE THAT I'M TALKING TO, SAID THEY BETTER NOT USE THESE RESULTS TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR ELECTION, BECAUSE THESE RESULTS WILL NOT BE ACCURATE.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT OVER WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR STATE AS FAR AS WHETHER ANY ELECTION LAWS ARE CHANGED.

>> YEAH, IT'S ALMOSTS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO NEED AN -- AUDIT OF THE AUDIT, AND DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE YOU GO.

ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED AND FONDLED, THEY CAN'T USE THIS STUFF ANYMORE.

>> THE SECRETARY OF STATE WROTE A BETTER SAYING WE DON'T TRUST THESE VOTING MACHINES ANYMORE NOW THAT THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY HAS BEEN BROKEN.

THE RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR HOW TO KEEP ARE VOTING MACHINES UNTAMPERED WITH AND SAFE, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE, AND IF ANYONE GOT ACCESS TO THEM THAT WAS A BAD ACTOR, THEY COULD INSTALL MALWARE OR CHANGE THE WAY THE DEVICE FUNCTIONS.

SO THE SECRETARY OF STATE RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNTY NOT YIEZ THE MACHINES AGAIN, AND THE COUNTY SAID, WE ARE NOT GOING TO USE THESE MACHINES AGAIN.

THIS IS $6 MILLION OF MACHINES THEY ARE RENTING FROM DOMINION.

AND SO NOW WE'RE FACED WITH TRYING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO TRY TO DO, IF THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET NEW VOTING MACHINES, WHO PAYS FOR THOSE.

THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT THAT SAID IF ANYTHING HAPPENED DURING THE AUDIT, THE SENATE WOULD HAVE TO PAY.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS.

>> AND THE REPUBLIC SUING FORINFORMATION, INCLUDING THE CYBER NINJA FOLKS, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ARIZONA SENATE AND CYBER NINJAS, ATTEMPTING TO GET RECORDS.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE ARIZONA SENATE ISN'T THE CUSTODIAN FOR THESE RECORDS AND DOESN'T HAVE THEM.

AND AT THE REPUBLIC, WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN ANYTHING THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC REALM ABOUT THIS AUDIT, SHOWING WHO PAYS FOR THE AUDIT, WHO IS BEHIND IT, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> YEAH, LAST QUESTION, JEN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THE NATIONAL PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ARIZONA, WHAT IS IT?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WELL, THERE'S A TON OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST.

THERE HAVE BEEN JOURNALISTS FROM OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY COMING TO WATCH THE AUDIT, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY TELLING ME INTERNATIONALLY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THEIR LAWMAKERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE CONSIDERING DOING OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY.

SO I THINK IT'S SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR WHAT WE EXPECT FOR ELECTION AUDITS.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THAT THIS COULD SET A PRECEDENT THAT THIS IS HOW WE DEAL WITH ELECTIONS AND AUDITS FROM NOW ON, WHEN MANY BELIEVE OUR ELECTION AUDITING LAWS ARE SOUND ALREADY.

>> JEN FIFIELD, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND KEEP WATCHING THESE GUYS, WILL YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>>> AND UP NEXT, VALLEY METRO'S LATEST MASS TRANSIT EFFORT IS ABOUT TO HIT THE STREETS IN TEMPE.

>>> A NEW STREETCAR LINE IS CLOSE TO BEING UP AND OPERATIONAL IN TEMPE.

TESTING IS CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM VALLEY METRO'S MADELINE PHIPPS.

MADELINE PHIPPS, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, TALKING ABOUT THE TEMPE STREETCAR.

ANYONE WHO LIVES ANYWHERE NEAR TEMPE HAS SEEN THE CONSTRUCTION.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO START SEEING STREETCARS?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

TEMPE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS MAY HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME OF THE STREETCAR VEHICLES.

THEY WERE JUST OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK, CONDUCTING SOME SYSTEMS TESTING, SO THAT WILL BE THE CASE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

BEFORE WE CAN OPEN OPERATIONS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF TESTS THAT WE NEED TO COMPLETE.

SO WE HAVE THE VEHICLES OUT SPORADICALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> OKAY.

WHERE IS THE TRACK?

GIVE US THE EXACT TRACK THAT THE STREETCAR AS OPPOSED TO THE LIGHT RAIL, AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS, WHERE DOES THE STREETCAR GO.

>> IT TRAVELS ON A THREE-MILE ROUTE.

AND THE TRACKS ARE IN THE ROADWAY WITH DRIVERS IN TEMPE.

THE ROUTE TRAVELS ALONG APACHE BOULEVARD, AND COMES AROUND THE DAMAGE CURVE, AND HEADS BACK WEST AND THEN SOUTH AGAIN.

>> TWO, THREE MILES?

>> THREE-MILE ROUTE WITH 14 STOPS OUT THERE.

THERE ARE TWO CONNECTIONS WITH LIGHT RAIL, ONE AT 3RD STREET AND MILL, AND ONE AT THE APACHE STOP.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION?

>> IT WILL PROBABLY BE SIMILAR TO LIGHT RAIL.

>> AND ADA ACCESSIBLE?

>> YES, THE SYSTEM IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE.

IT HAS LEVEL BOARDING AT ALL OF THE STOPS, AND BIKES ARE WELCOME AT ALL STOPS.

>> WILL YOU NEED A TICKET TO RIDE ON THESE STREETCARS?

>> YES.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT INTRODUCING STREETCARS.

THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A PERIOD WHERE IT IS FREE, AND THEN AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, WE WILL INTRODUCE A FAIR SYSTEM.

THE TOTAL COST IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY BE ABOUT HALF THE PRICE OF A LIGHT RAIL.

>> AND GETTING ACCLIMATED FOR DRIVERS AS WELL.

GOT TO BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE SHARING A LANE, AREN'T YOU?

>> YES, THAT IS NORMAL.

STREETCARS SHARE THE LANE WITH CARS ALONG MOST OF THE ROUTE.

BUT SIGNAGE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR IF SIT A STREETCAR-SECTION ONLY.

SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE OBEYING TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

STREETCAR OPERATORS ARE OBEYING THE SAME TRAFFIC LIGHTS YOU ARE.

>> ARE THERE IN PULLOUTS OR ARE THEY ALL ON THE ROAD?

WHERE THE STREETCAR LEAVES AND ALLOWS THE LANE TO STAY OPEN, LIKE A BUS PULLOUT?

>> RIGHT.

THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE IT TURNS IN ITS OWN LANE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART STOPS ARE IN THE ROADWAY TOO.

>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STREETCAR HERE, WHO -- WHO IS THE PASSENGER TARGETED FOR THE STREETCAR?

>> WE REALLY ANTICIPATE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF RIDERS.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS IN TEMPE AT ASU.

IT IS ALSO DESIGNED FOR SOME OF THOSE SHORTER TRIPS WITHIN THE CITY.

SO SAY YOU ARE TRAVELING BY LIGHT RAIL FROM MESA, YOU TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL TO TEMPE, HOP OFF, GET ON THE STREETCAR, AND TAKE IT DOWN TO SEE A SHOW.

WE HAVE A MAJOR EMPLOYMENT SENATOR AT RAYMOND HEIGHTS, AND THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO COMMUTE TO WORK.

AND JUST ANTICIPATING THE NEEDED MODES OF TRAFFIC FOR THE INCREASED POPULATION WE'RE SEEING IN TEMPE.

>> AND FEDERAL GRANTS, IT WAS PROP 400, I BELIEVE, OF FUNDING?

>> YEAH, IT WAS AN INVESTMENT GRANT, AND SOME REGIONAL FUNDING, SOME FROM THE CITY OF TEMPE, AND ALSO A PUBLIC PRIVATE PROPERTY RELATIONSHIP.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU HERE, WHEN DO THE STREETCARS MAKE THEIR BIG DEBUT?

>> SO WE EXPECT THE SYSTEM TO BE OPERATIONAL, BY THE END OF 2021.

SOME OF THE AMBIGUITY IS BECAUSE THE TESTING SCHEDULE DETERMINES WHEN OUR OPENING DATE IS, SO THAT WILL GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN WE CAN ACTUALLY OPEN.

>> AND REAL QUICKLY, DOES THE STREETCAR HAVE A BELL, OR HOW IS IT GOING TO ANNOUNCE ITS PRESENCE.

>> IT HAS BELLS AND HORNS, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SOUND FROM THE LIGHT RAIL.

>>ENING MADELINE PHIPPS THANK YOU, GOOD STUFF.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

AND YOU CAN CHECK US OUT ONLINE TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND SAFETY TIPS, ESPECIALLY.

>>> VALLEY NATIVE T.J. NEWMAN IS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT TURNED AUTHOR WHO'S DEBUT NOVEL TITLED "FALLING" IS TURNING OUT TO BE A LITERARY SENSATION.

IT IS QUITE A STORY AND QUITE A NOVEL.

WE RECENTLY SPOKE TO T.J. NEWMAN ABOUT HER NEW BOOK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

>> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GET THE BOOK IN YOUR HANDS.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> SURREAL.

I SAT DOWN ON MY COUCH AND OPENED UP THE PACKAGE, AND DON'T HAVE MANY WORDS.

>> YEAH.

JUST KIND OF STUNNED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT -- IS THAT YOU?

DO YOU SEE YOUR WRITING?

YOU WROTE THE OUTLINE FOR THIS ENTIRE NOVEL ON A NAPKIN?

>> WELL, I WROTE A LOT OF THIS BOOK ON NAPKINS.

SO I FLEW FOR TEN YEARS, AND I WROTE A LOT OF THIS BOOK OWN THE PLANE.

SO I WOULD WRITE ON THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER MANIFEST OR INDICATORING BILL, OR NAPKINS.

>> BECAUSE YOU WORKED AS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

>> YES.

>> AND THIS DEALS WITH A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE FOR ARAIRLINE PILOT.

HOW IS A ATTENDANTING WRITING ON THE BACK OF A NAPKIN COMING UP WITH THIS?

>> THIS IS KIND OF -- WHEN I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THIS BOOK, IT KIND OF JUST FELT LIKE A -- MORE INTENSE VERSION OF WHAT I WOULD NORMALLY BE THINKING ABOUT, WHICH IS IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, HOW AM I GOING TO REACT?

>> YEAH.

GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK.

I'M NOT FINISHED WITH IT YET, BUT IT IS ONE SUSPENSEFUL MOMENT AFTER ANOTHER.

>> WELL, THE CONCEPT OF FALLING IS -- THE STORY OF FLIGHT 106 FROM LOS ANGELES TO NEW YORK AND WHAT THE PASSENGER DON'T KNOW IS JUST BEFORE THEY TOOK OFF, THE FAMILY OF THE PILOT WAS KIDNAPPED.

AND THE PILOT HAS BEEN TOLD IF HE WASN'T CRASH THE PLANE, THEY WILL BE KILLED.

SO THE WHOLE BOOK FOLLOWS THE VALIANT EFFORTS OF THE VIEW AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE AREA, THE FAMILY AND THE FBI ON THE GROUND.

>> HOW DID SOMETHING LIKE -- I KNOW YOU HEAR WORST-CASE SCENARIO, BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS -- AND WHEN YOU DID THINK OF IT, DID THE LIGHT BULB GO OFF AND SAY THIS IS A GOOD ONE?

>> WELL, I WAS ON A FLIGHT THERE NEW YORK TO LOS ANGELES, AND I WAS STANDING IN THE CABIN LOOKING AT THE PASSENGERS, AND IT WAS A RED EYE, AND IT WAS QUIET, AND THEY WERE ALL ASLEEP.

AND I HAD THE THOUGHT THAT MY LIFE AND ALL OF THEIR LIVES WERE IN THE HANDS OF THE PILOTS.

AND WITH THAT MUCH POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY, HOW VULNERABLE DOES THAT MAKE A COMMERCIAL PILOT?

AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I WAS WORKING A DIFFERENT TRIP, AND I JUST SAID ONE DAY TO THE CAPTAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR FAMILY WAS KIDNAPPED, AND YOU WERE TOLD IF YOU DIDN'T CRASH THE PLANE, THEY WOULD BE KILLED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE -- >> YEAH.

>> THAT WAS THAT LIGHTNING STRIKE, BECAUSE I COULD SEE HOW TERRIFIED HE WAS, AND I KNEW HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU WERE WRITING THE BOOK, FIRST OF ALL, AS A FIRST TIME WRITER, DID YOU OUTLINE IT, GO DAY BY DAY, HOW DID THE WRITING PROCESS WORK FOR YOU?

>> I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING AT FIRST.

I NEVER READ A BOOK THAT WAS QUITE SO PLOT CENTERED.

THERE IS A SCENE WHERE THE PILOT FIRST LEARNS THE PREDICAMENT OF HIS FAMILY, AND THAT'S WHERE I STARTED WRITING.

>> DID THE BOOK WRITE ITSELF?

>> WITH A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT, YES.

I SHOWED UP TO WORK WITH ANY EYES AND EARS OPEN, AND ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I WOULD BE ON THE PLANE, AND THINK HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS.

AND A PILOT WOULD SAY SOMETHING IN PASSING, AND I WOULD SAY, WAIT, WHAT DID YOU SAY?

AND I HAD MY ANSWER.

>> WE LEARNED MORE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE LEARNED ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE ON THE PLANE, AND WHAT PILOTS AND CO-PILOTS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS DO, AND THAT HELPS CEMENT THE SERIOUSNESS