♪♪ COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE IMPACT OF LAST WEEK'S COURT DECISION TO RESTORE A PRE-STATEHOOD LAW BANNING ABORTION.

LATER ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF ARIZONA TEACHERS AS THEY INSTRUCT THEIR STUDENTS ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

TWO NEW POLITICAL POLLS OF NOTE WERE RELEASED TODAY.

ONE SHOWS DEMOCRATIC SENATE INCUMBENT MARK KELLY OVER BLAKE MASTERS WITH 7% UNDECIDED.

THAT SURVEY INCLUDES KELLY WITH A 15 POINT LEAD WITH INDEPENDENTS AND A LEAD AMONG REPUBLICANS.

THE POLL HAS A MARGIN OF ERROR OF 4.4%.

ANOTHER SURVEY BY THE SAME POLLING FIRM SHOWS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BETWEEN KATIE HOBBS AND LAKE WITH HOBBS LEADING AND LAKE HOLDS A 16% LEAD AMONG LIKELY MALE VOTERS WITH HOBBS HOLDING A 16 POINT LEAD AMONG WOMEN.

THE POLLS WERE CONDUCTED CONDUCTED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 21st AND 25th WITH REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND STATE STATISTICS.

>>> LAST WEEK'S COURT DECISION LIFTING AN INJUNCTION AGAINST AN ABORTION BAN MEANS ALL ABORTIONS ARE AGAINST THE LAW IN CASES WHERE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER IS AT RISK AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION REGARDING THE RULING AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ABORTION LAWS THAT WERE PASSED AFTER THAT TERRITORIAL BAN.

HERE TO HELP US SORT THINGS OUT IS JENNIFER PIATT FROM SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW.

WHAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY?

>> ON FRIDAY, A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE FROM PIMA COUNTY SAID SHE WOULD LIFT AN INJUNCTION HOW AN 1864 PRE-STATEHOOD LAW IN ARIZONA THAT BANS ALL ABORTIONS, EXCEPT IN MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

THIS LAW WAS ENJOINED AFTER ROE V. WADE IN 1973.

ROE IS GONE AND THAT INJUNCTION IS LIFTED.

>> THE REASON, THE JUDGE SAYS NO ROE, NO INJUNCTION, RIGHT?

>> ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THAT INITIAL LATE INJUNCTION DEALT WITH THE QUESTION THAT WAS SOLVED BY ROE, THE COURT FELT THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE I'M ADDRESSING HERE AND THAT CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY DOBBS.

>> SO A FOCUSED CASE WITH A FOCUSED RULING IN.

>> THEORETICALLY AND WE NOW HAVE AN 1864 LAW GOVERNING PRACTITIONERS IN ARIZONA AND IN DAY, A 15-WEEK BACK BECAUSE THE LAW.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT 15-WEEK BAN THAT BECAME LAW AND DID IT BECOME LAW SATURDAY?

>> YES, ON SATURDAY.

>> HOW IS THAT EFFECTIVE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TED, THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF LITIGATION THAT REQUIRES WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW CAN THESE TWO LAWS THAT CLEARLY CONFLICTEN CONFLICT BEEN BE ENFORCED?

>> THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT THE FINAL ARBITOR.

IF IT CONFLICTS WITH THAT BAN, THAT STAT STATUTORY LANGUAGE IS NOT BINDING.

>> THE BAN IS JUST ONE OF MANY LAWS THAT HAD BEEN PASSED AFTER 1864 AND CERTAINLY IN RECENT TENDDECADE OR TWO, THOSE ARE STATUTES.

>> THAT'S THE SERIOUS QUESTION PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS RAISING TO BLOCK THIS JUDGE'S RULING YESTERDAY AND ESSENTIALLY SAID, LOOK, WE HAVE THIS 15-WEEK BAN AND ALL OF THESE OTHER LAWS IN ARIZONA THAT GOVERN ABORTION AND ALLOW ABORTION AND HOW CAN WE CONSISTENTLY APPLY THOSE LAWS WITH AN 1864 FULL ABORTION BAN?

IT'S CONFUSING.

>> SOMEONE FROM THE LAW COLLEGE HERE, I'M ASKING YOU.

DOES THE RULING MAKE SENSE CONSIDERING EVERYTHING ON THE PERIPHERY HERE?

>> NO, NO, IT DOESN'T BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ACTUALLY APPLY AND ENFORCE ALL OF THESE LAWS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO IN ESSENCE, YOU'RE NULLIFYING LAWS, AS THE COURT NULLIFYING LAWS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF LITIGATION TO SPELL OUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> THE JUDGE SAYS NO ROE, NO INJUNCTION.

AND YET, BASICALLY WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID WAS WE'RE LEAVING IT UP TO THE STATES.

WELL, THE STATES HAS LAWS ON THE BOOKS.

>> UH-HUH, IT'S A CONFUSING SITUATION AND ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE MOST CONFUSING STATES POST-DOBBS TO SORT OF COME BACK INTO EFFECT.

>> THE JUDGE'S RULING DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY, THE JUDGE DECIDED, I'M NOT THE PERSON TO DECIDE THIS ISSUE.

I'M DECIDING THE VERY NARROW ISSUE OF WHETHER ROE IS STILL GOOD LAW AND IT'S NOT.

THERE'S A LOT OF LEGAL QUESTIONING THAT ARE ARISING WITH RESPECT TO THESE STATUTES, BUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD OR OTHER CHALLENGERS CAN BRING THIS IN A DIFFERENT CASE.

>> PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAYING WE ARE (ING (ASKING ASKING TO DO THAT WHILE WE PREPARE THIS.

>> THEY ARE ASKING THE COURT TO PUT IN A STAY WHILE AN APPEAL OF THAT DECISION IS CONSIDERED WITH RESPECT TO WHETHER THE COURT COULD HAVE CONSIDERED ADDITIONAL FACTORS BEYOND JUST ROE.

>> OK, SO IF -- RIGHT NOW, AS WE STAND, ABORTION -- NO ONE A PROVIDING ABORTION SERVICES IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> IF THE STAY IS GRANTED, DO ABORTION SERVICES KICKBACK UP?

>> THEY MAY AND WE SAW PLANNED PARENTHOOD BACK OFF.

PROVIDING ABORTION SERVICES RIGHT AFTER THE DOBB'S DECISION CAME DOWN AND WHILE THIS LITIGATION IS PENDING AND THING INJUNCTION IS IN PLACE ON THAT OLD LAW AND WE SAW THE COURT SORT OF DEALING WITH IT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD STARTED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AGAIN.

AND NOW, WE'RE SEEING THE RESURRECTION AND THEY'RE BACKING OFF ONCE MORE.

>> AGAIN, IF SOMEONE DOES PROVIDE ABORTION SERVICES AND LET'S SAY THERE'S A STAY AND SOMEONE DOES PROVIDE ABORTION SERVICES AND THE STAY IS LIFTED AND THE TOTAL BAN IS THE LAW OF THE LAND, DO THOSE PROVIDED SERVICES DURING THE STAY, COULD THEY BE PROSECUTED?

>> NOT IF THEY WERE PROVIDING SERVICES DURING THE SAY.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH WHO BROUGHT THE SUIT SAYS THE RULING PROVIDES CLARITY.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> I THINK OUR CONVERSATION HERE, TED, INDICATES IT DOES NOT PROVIDE CLARITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGAL QUESTIONS WHICH SPECIFIC LAW, WHICH SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS, CAN YOU GET ABORTIONS AT ALL IN ARIZONA, THE 15-WEEK BAN BECAME A LAW ON SATURDAY AND THERE'S A SINCERE LACK OF CLARITY IN ARIZONA ABORTION LAW.

>> WHAT IS NEXT?

WE TALKED ABOUT PLAN THE PARENTHOOD AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AS FAR AS A STAY AND CAN CRAFT AN APPEAL.

IS THAT WHAT'S NEXT OR DOES SOME OTHER GROUP COME FLYING IN AND DECIDE TO APPEAL IN SOME OTHER WAY, SHAPE OR FORM?

>> IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, WE SEE ACTION AND SEE WHAT THE COURT DOES AND WHAT A COURT OF APPEALS DOES DO AND OTHER LIT LIGITATION DOES RISE IF THIS IS ENFORCED.

>> ENFORCEMENT AND THERE IS PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND SUCH.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS?

>> YES.

THERE IS PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION AND WE'VE SEEN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY START TO SAY THINGS LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND I BELIEVE THE MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY CAME OUT SAYING SHE WOULD NOT ENFORCE OR PROSECUTE WOMEN.

BUT THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS ALREADY DON'T PROSECUTE WOMEN.

THEY AIM AT PROVIDERS RATHER THAN THE WOMEN OBTAINING THE ABORTION.

>> SHE DID COME OUT TODAY AND SAY, YOU KNOW, NO WOMEN WILL BE PROSECUTED.

NO MENTION OF THAT.

SO EVEN THAT IS CONFUSING.

>> EVERYTHING IS CONFUSING.

>> WELL, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND HELPING TO CLARIFY WHAT SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT TO CLARIFY.

AND NO DOUBT WE'LL BE ASKING FOR YOUR HIP AGAIN AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU GET.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEARING RETIREMENT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SELLING THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> TONIGHT AS A PART OF OUR MONTHLY AARP SPONSORED SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTING OLDER ADULTS, WE LOOK AT CONCERNS FACING OLDER BUSINESS OWNERS SELLING THEIR BUSINESS AS THEY APPROACH RETIREMENT.

WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND FOOD GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

HOW MAN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

THOSE BABY BOOMERS ARE GETTING UP THERE.

>> AS DAVID TELLS US, IN ARIZONA, BETWEEN 50 TO 51,000 SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE AMONG FOLKS WHO ARE 55 AND OLDER AND THIS IS A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE STATES AND THE DATA SAYS THOSE BUSINESSES GENERATE $22 BILLION A YEAR IN PAYROLL, EMPLOYING 65,000 PEOPLE AND IT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN ARIZONA.

>> IN GENERAL, HOW MANY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE SALE OF THEIR BUSINESS GOES?

>> NOT VERY MANY.

DATA TELLS US 30% WILL BE SOLD AND A LOT JUST CLOSE UP SHOP AND LIQUIDATES AND THE VALUE IS BASICALLY LIQUIDATION OF THE BUSINESSES.

SO MANY OF THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS END UP CLOSED OUT THROUGH LICKLIQUIDATION RATHER THAN SALE.

>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR THESE FOLKS?

>> ONE MISTAKE, THEY DON'T THINK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BUYER OR COMPETITOR AND THEY THINK AS ESTATE PLANNING PROCESS AS THE END FOR THE BUSINESS SUCCESSION AND ASSIGN AN LLC AND THEY THINK THEY'RE DONE AND THAT HANDLES THE TRANSITION OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DOES NOT TO CREATE THE VALUE THAT'S BEEN CREATED AND TRANSITION THAT VALUE TO A THIRD PARTY WHO WILL PAY A GOOD AMOUNT FOR THE BUSINESS.

SO IT'S A PROCESS AND NOT AN END POINT.

>> INTERESTING.

WHEN SELLING A BUSINESS OUTRIGHT, WHAT DO BUSINESS OWNERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO KEEP IN MIND LITERALLY SHOPPING AROUND?

>> YEAH, THE IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS TO THINK ABOUT THIS BUSINESS VALUE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A COMPETITOR OR SOMEBODY WHO IS AN INVESTOR.

THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY DELIVER ON A DAILY BUSINESS AND HOW THEY CAN PERSONALLY BE INVOLVED.

THIS IS TOUGH FOR A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE THEY WORK SO HARD AT THEIR BUSINESS AND HAVE A HARD TIME SETTING ASIDE THEIR OWN VIEWPOINT AND THINKING ABOUT IT FROM AN OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW.

THEY NEED SUCCESSION PLANNING WHO CAN DO THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

WILL THEY NEED TWO OR THREE PEOPLE?

CAN THEY FIND EMPLOYEES WHO DO THOSE ROPES ROLES AND ARE THERE FAMILY MEMBERS TAKING OVER THE BUSINESS AND REQUIRES A LOT OF CONTINGENCY PLANNING.

>> AS FAR AS BUSINESSES TRANSITIONING TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP, HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN AND WHAT ARE THE HURDLES INVOLVED THERE?

>> A LOT OF HURDLES INVOLVED AND YOU START TO GET INTO MULTIDISCIPLINARY INVOLVING LAWYERS, AND IT CAN BECOME VERY COMPLICATED AND DAUNTING.

FOR MOST BUSINESS OWNERS, JUST START WITH THE BASIC INTERESTS WHATS AND HOW TOCREATE YOUR TAX RECORDS AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, YOUR BUSINESS STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND HOW WILL THEY BE READ AND CLEAN UP FINANCIAL RECORDS AND UNDERSTAND A BUY/SELL AGREEMENT.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AHEAD OF TIME.

DO PREPLANNING AND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WHEN YOU'RE READY TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE RESOLVING PROBLEMS WITH COMPETITORS, WITH CUSTOMERS, WITH SUPPLIERS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

AGAIN, TAKE THE POSITION OF THE PERSON FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GET SADDLED WITH ALL THIS STUFF.

>> THREE RIGHT, TED.

YOUWHAT CONTRACTS ARE YOU IN AND HOW ARE THEY PERFORMING?

ARE THERE ISSUES THAT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEMS DURING A DUE DILIGENCE WHERE A BUYER IS LOOKING AT YOUR RECORDS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE HANDLED IN ADVANCE AND YOU CAB BECANBE PROACTIVE.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT THIS KIND OF THING?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AS SOON AS YOU OPEN A BUSINESS, THINK ABOUT THE EXIT PLANNING AND THINK ABOUT A CONTINGENCY PLAN.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID PASS AWAY IN AN UNTIMELY MANNER.

IT'S TRANSFERRING WEALTH FROM YOUR BUSINESS TO THE LOVED ONES AND YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE, AS WELL, THAT THAT SUPPORT IS NEEDED BECAUSE IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS AND SELL AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORRY.

>> IT IS.

IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED AND COME UP WITH A CLEAR BUYER FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND BUSINESS TRANSITION DO YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AND WITH A CLEAR GOAL, YOU CAN WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS TO CLEAN UP YOUR BOOKS, UNDERSTAND YOUR CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS TO EXECUTE AND MOVE TOWARD THAT GOAL AND A CLEAR VISION.

>> IF YOU HAVE, LET'S SAY, A CERTAIN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE EMPLOYEES?

BOTH LIGHT AND JUST MORALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> CREAT, II IT'S IMPORTANT >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE EMPLOYEES.

EXERCISE 50% FOR MEN AND WOMEN AND YOU WANT PLANS IN PLACE AND YOU WANT TO BE READY FOR A SALE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WE'RE GOING THROUGH A MARKET NOW THAN WE HAD A YEAR AGO AND YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR BUSINESS VALUE IS AND YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS AT THE RIGHT TIME.

SOME BUSINESSES WILL SELL AND OTHERS WILL BE BETTER OFF AND YOU WANT THE PLANNING DONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS AND BE IN CONTROL OF THEIR PROCESS.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

LAST QUESTION, THE GOAL POSTS, THEY TEND TO MOVE OVER TIME AND YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

EVERYTHING CHANGES CONSTANTLY AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE SURE OF AND MAKE SURE TO TAKE CONTROL OF WHAT AND YOUR BUSINESS STATEMENTS AND YOUR CONTRACTUAL TERMS AND TAKE CONTROL OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL COME AROUND THE CORNER.

>> LAST QUESTION AND WE'LL LET YOU GO.

GIVE ME A PERCENTAGE POINT OF HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PREPARED FOR THIS?

>> IT'S LESS THAN 40% AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE.

>> I'M GLAD WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

ISABELLA MALDONADO HAS MADE A CAREER OF WRITING CRIME NOVELS INSPIRED BY HER PREVIOUS CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IT INCLUDES "THE CIPHER" AND WE WELCOME ISABELLA MALDONADO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> HOW DOES A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BECOME A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR?

>> WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT AFTER A LIFE OF CRIME, YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT THE CRIME, RIGHT?

>> SURE.

>> YEAH,, AS A MATTER OF AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS A COMMANDER IN FORENSICS AND WITH THAT KIND OF BACKGROUND, I KNEW THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD WANT TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING ELSE AND SO I WENT FOR FICTION.

>> DID YOU RETIRE TO BECOME A WRITER OR START WRITING AFTER RETIREMENT?

>> I DIDN'T THINK -- I TOOK AN EARLY RETIREMENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I COULD RAISE KIDS ON THE JOB.

I WAS ON CALL 365 DAYS A YEAR EXIT WAS CRAZY.

AND IT WAS CRAZY.

IT WASN'T UNTIL I RETIRED THAT I DECIDED TO WRITE AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TO.

>> WAS THERE WAS AH-HA MOMENT THAT THIS IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO?

>> AS A YOUNG PERSON, I LOVED READING AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO TRY WRITING AND I REALLY DO AND AS I START WRITING AND STORIES WERE COMING AND COMING FROM ME AND I'M, LIKE, OK, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO?

>> DID YOU MISS LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTER YOU RETIRE SHED.

>> ED?

>> I WENT FROM BEING IN COMMAND OF AN ENTIRE PRECINCT TO HAVING A TYRANT IN DIAPERS.

WHERE IS MY LIEUTENANT AND SERGEANTS AND STUFF?

[ Laughter ] >> FROM WHAT I READ, YOU SPENT FIVE YEARS HONING YOUR CRAFT AT WORK HOPPSSHOPS AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> I JOINED WRITER'S GROUPS AND WHEN YOU'RE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU'RE NOT DOING CREATIVE WRITING AND JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM.

SO IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF SKILL AS OPPOSED TO GETTING EVERYTHING OUT OF THE POLICE REPORTS.

>> DID YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT?

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT.

IT WAS CHALLENGING AND IT IS A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LEARNING HOW TO LAY THE FACTS OUT AND TELL THEM AND I WAS BLESSED IN THAT PEOPLE JUST REALLY, REALLY LOVED THE BOOKS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SOLD ALL OVER THE WORLD AND TRANSLATED INTO 20 LANGUAGE.

>> THAT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOLY SMOKES!

THE LEAD CHARACTERS, AN FBI AND A DETECTIVE AND THESE LEAD CHARACTERS, ARE THEY YOU?

>> NO.

I KNOW WHO THEY ARE, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY.

THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THEM, I KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

SO I HAVE TWO SERIES AND I'M STARTING A THIRD AND ONE OF THE SERIES IS P ABOUT THE PHOENIX POLICE AND ANOTHER SET BACK EAST WHERE I GREW UP AND THAT IS ABOUT AN FBI AGENT OUT OF THE WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE.

>> INTERESTING!

SO THE CHARACTERS AREN'T YOU, BUT YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE OR DO THEY SURPRISE YOU?

>> EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, THEY DO, BUT YEAH, I KNOW WHO THEY ARE THAT I DON'T ATTEMPT THAT IT'S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS.

BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME FROM A DISTANCE WHEN YOU WRITE A CRIME NOVEL, IT'S NOT ALL TOUCHY, FEELY, EMOTIONAL, YOU HAVE TO GET FROM POINT A, TO POINT B AND DO YOU USE OUTLINES KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING WHEN YOU START?

>> I DO AND I HAVE A POINT A AND I HAVE A POINT B. I KNOW I'M GOING TO GO FROM NEW YORK TO L.A. AND HOW I GET THERE CAN BE A BIT OF A MYSTERY.

>> ONE OF YOUR BOOKS, OPTION BY NETFLIX AND GIVES US AN UPDATE.

>> SO THAT ONE WAS "THE CIPHER," THE FBI AGENT SERIES AND SO NETFLIX PURCHASED IT AND JENNIFER LOPEZ, JLo IS GOING TO STAR AND PRODUCE AND SO, THE SCREEN WRITERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ADAPTING IT AND I GET TO BE THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CONNANT AND NO, I HAVE NOT MET J JLo YET BUT FINGERS CROSSED.

>> I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS, BUT ARE YOU CONCERNED THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU WROTE AND SAW AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, SCENES AND PEOPLES AND NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAW IN YOUR HEAD?

>> YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, TO PUT IT OUT THERE AND I HAD -- PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, DID I WANT TO ADAPT IT MYSELF?

BUT I AM NOT A SCREEN WRITER.

I'M A NOVELIST AND IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT KIND OF SKILL.

THE WAY YOU WRITE THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO IMAGINE THEM IN THEIR HEADS DIFFERENT FROM THE SCREEN AND I HAVE TO TRUST THAT PROCESS.

>> SO I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DOES A CRIME WRITER, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, WHAT DO YOU READ FOR ENJOYMENT?

>> WEIRDLY ENOUGH, I DO READ EVERYTHING.

I READ A WIDE VARIETY OF STUFF.

I READ CRIME FICTION AND EVERYTHING FROM COOKBOOKS TO SOMETIMES ROMANCE AND NOT TOO MUCH AND A LOT OF NON-FIGURE NONFICTION, THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND I CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE MY CRAFT.

>> YES.

>> AND I AM A WIDE VORACIOUS READER AND I READ CLASSIC AND MODERN, TOO.

>> LAST QUESTION, AND I HAVE TO ASK BECAUSE WE WATCH SOME OF THESE TRUE CRIME STORIES AND DO YOU EVER WATCH THE POLICE PROCEDURE AND MAN, YOU'RE TELLING THIS STORY THE WRONG WAY?

>> I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY, REALLY ARE ACCURATE, POLICE WORK IS LIKE 99% BOREDOM BY 1% AND YOU CAN'T WRITE IT LIKE THAT BECAUSE NOBODY WOULD LISTEN OR WATCH.

>> ISABELLA MALDONADO, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!

>> THANK YOU FOR VERY ME.

>> YOU BET.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, A YOUNG MAN BEATS ODDS FROM HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER.