>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON WANTWHAT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES WHAT TO SEE AND AN ARIZONA AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT HER NEW THRILLER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

GOVERNOR HOBBS ALONG WITH KRIS MAYES AND TOM HORN WERE SWORN IN AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

AMONG THOSE, DOUG DUCEY, JAN BREWER AND KYRSTEN SINEMA AND EMPHASIZED HER DOOR WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN AND NOT SEEKING TO FURTHER TO UNDERMINE OR DEMOCRACY.

>>> FORMER ARIZONA PRESIDENT, RUSSELL PIERCE IS DEAD.

HIS FAMILY SAID HE DIED AFTER FALLING ILL EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

PIERCE WAS BEST KNOWN AS THE ARCHITECT OF SB1017 THAT PUT ARIZONA IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR NATIONAL ISSUES AND BECAME THE FIRST LEGISLATOR FOR A RECALL VOTE.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY ADDRESSED BORDER CONCERNS BY ADDRESSING BORDER RESTRICTIONS BY PEOPLE MIGRATING THROUGH ASYLUM.

>> WE ARE STIFFENING ENFORCEMENT FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO COME WITHOUT A LEGAL RIGHT TO STAY AND TO PUT IN PLACE A FASTER PROCESS TO DECIDE THE CLAIM OF ASIMOFASYLUM.

LOOK, WE SHOULD ALL RECOGNIZE THAT AS LONG AMERICA IS THE LONG OF FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY, PEOPLE WILL TRY TO COME HERE AND THAT'S WHAT MANY OF OUR ANCESTORS ABOUT AND NO SURPRISE IT'S HAPPENING TODAY.

WE CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM MAKING THE JOURNEY, BUT WE CAN REQUIRE THEM TO COME HERE, THAT THEY COME HERE IN AN ORDERLY WAY UNDER U.S. LAW.

LET ME SAY IT AGAIN, THE ACTIONS WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER, WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER AND NOT FIX THE BORDER PROBLEM COMPLETELY.

>> Ted: HE ANNOUNCED A PAROLE AUTHORITY WITH PEOPLE TO COME TO THE COUNTRY EACH MONTH PROVIDING THERE'S A PROPER SPONSOR IN THE U.S. ALL THIS AS THE HOMELAND SECURITY SAYING THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO WORK ON LIFTING TITLE 42, WHICH, FOR NOW, IS IN EFFECT AND CONTINUES TO LIMIT ASSYLUM SEEKERS DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS PREPARES FOR THE LIFTING OF TITLE 42, PUBLIC HEALTH BORDER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF MULTIPLE COURT ORDERS REQUIRING CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION.

ONCE THE TITLE 42 PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER IS NO LONGER IN PLACE, DHS WILL USE TITLE 8 TO PROCESS ALL INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTERED AT THE BORDER.

>> Ted: ARIZONA LAWMAKERS EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT THE U.S. IS NOT READY READ READY TO HANDLE AN INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS.

>>> STILL NO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND KEVIN MCCARTHY, WHO WANTS THE JOB LOST ANOTHER FOUR ROUNDS OF VOTES, MAKING TEN ROUNDS AND COUNTING.

IT'S BLOCKED INCLUDING ANDY BIGGS, PAUL GOSAR.

>>> THIS IS A NATION'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HIGH WARD AND BOWERS WILL BE HONOR ADD THE WHITE HOUSE AND RECEIVING THIS FOR REFUSAL TO AGREE TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN ARIZONA.

>> EACH YEAR BEFORE THE START OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HEAR FROM ADVOCATES ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM LAWMAKERS AND WE'VE HEARD FROM BUSINESS AND TONIGHT WE FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA CLUB GRAND CANYON CHAPTER.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: WE TALKED ABOUT THE INAUGURATION AND GOVERNOR HOBBS SAID MORE MONEY TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES.

THAT'S A CHANGE.

>> A WELCOMED CHANGE.

FOR FAR WHO LONG, WE HAVE GOVERNORS WHO HAVE PUT PROTECTION OF OUR AIR, LAND, WATERS, WILDLIFE ON THE BACK BURNER AND, IN FACT, HAVE DONE MORE HARM THAN GOOD, SO IT'S NICE TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR MAKING THAT A PRIORITY.

>> Ted: THAT SAID, EVACUEE WE'VE TALKED MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND YOU AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS PLAYING DEFENSE.

TODO YOU SEE THAT AGAIN THIS GO-AROUND IN.

>> I THINK A FAIR AMOUNT OF DEFENSE CONSIDERING WHO IS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE SOME HARMFUL BILLS AND HOPEFULLY, FEWER WILL MOVE FORWARD AND IF THEY DO, THE GOVERNOR WILL LOOK AT USING A VETO ON THOSE MEASURES, ESPECIALLY BILLS THAT WEAKEN OUR GROUNDWATER LAWS FURTHER OR, YOU KNOW, CREATE MORE LOOPHOLES, BILLS THAT WOULD UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THIS GOVERNOR WOULD USE THE VETO PEN FOR THOSE.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MAJOR ISSUE IN ARIZONA AND GETTING MORE ATTENTION, WATER.

WHAT SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE DO TO APPROACH WATER ISSUES?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY NEED TO BETTER REGULATE WATER, INCLUDING GROUNDWATER PUMPING.

WE HAVE A FREE-FOR-ALL ON GROUNDWATER OUTSIDE OF MANAGEMENT AREAS AND OUTSIDE WHERE YOU HAVE MORE REGULATION, WE HAVE STILL PUMPING MORE GROUNDWATER THAN RECHARGED AND WE TALK ABOUT AN OVERALLOCATED COLORADO RIVER, BUT WE ARE USING UP THOSE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES WHICH ARE, THOSE ARE ANCIENT WATERS, THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD, PUMPING AND REALLY NOT THINKING ABOUT CONSERVING.

>> Ted: WE HEAR ABOUT COLORADO CUTBACKS FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND HOW DO YOU GET THOSE TWO TO MEET MEET?

>> SO MUCH MORE TO DO, AGRICULTURE USES A HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER, MORE THAN 70% IN THE STATE AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW VERY THIRSTY CROPS, ALFALFA AND COTTON AND WAY PASSED TIME TO REEVALUATE AND LOOK AT SWITCHING OUT THE CROPS AND LIMITING, YOU KNOW, PUMPING -- GROUNDWATER PUMPING FOR IRRIGATION AND, AGAIN, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF ACTIVE MINUTEMANAGEMENT AIRS AREAS.

WE'VE BEEN SUBSIDIZING AND THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PROVIDED FOR GROUNDWATER IN PINAL COUNTY.

>> Ted: WILL THAT MESSAGE GET THREW TO THIS LEGISLATURE IN.

>> I HOPE SO AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE WAS DISCONCERTED WHEN THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AUTHORITY DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR DESALINATION AND THAT THERE WERE ALL THESE NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE SIGNED, INCLUDING BY FORMER SPEAKER, RUSTY BOWERS.

THIS WAS ALL GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, WITH JUST A DAY OR TWO NOTICE, THEY DECIDE TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS VERY EXPENSIVE DESALINATION PROPOSAL DOWN IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA.

SO I THINK EVEN CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS WERE, LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.

>> Ted: THAT $3 BILLION LEGISLATION OVER THREE YEARS, OBVIOUSLY DEDECAL NATION DESALINATION WAS A BIGGIE.

IS THAT A GOOD START?

>> IT IS.

ALTHOUGH THE CONSERVATION MEASURES HAVE TO BE VOLUNTARY AND I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN'T GET THERE WITH VOLUNTARY MEASURES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A WATER PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT AND WE NEED TO BETTER RELATE REGULATE THE USE OF OUR WATER AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AVAILABLE FOR, YOU KNOW, HUMAN USE.

BUT NOT TO FRITTER AWAY.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED WATER AVAILABLE FOR HUMAN USE AND WHAT ABOUT WATER QUALITY ISSUES?

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A BACKLOG ON THAT.

WANT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO THIS.

>> THE NEW DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT QUALITY CAN MAKE IT A OPERATE PRIORITY TO ADDRESS THIS.

IN THE FALL OF 2021, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY GET A VERY POOR PARTICIPATION EVALUATION RELATE RELATED TO WATER QUALITY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ASKING FOR THE DOLLARS TO ENSURE POSSESSION OF OUR WATERS.

WATER IS PRECIOUS AND WE NEED TO APPRECIATE GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER.

THE ONES IMPAIRED, WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO MEET WATER QUALITY STANDARDS.

>> Ted: SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

STATE PARKS GOT A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS AND WE HAVE TO STOP HERE AND QUICKLY.

LAWMAKERS TO WATCH IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN.

>> ISSUES?

>> ENERGY DIDN'T WATER COMMITTEES AND GAIL GRIFFIN IN THE HOUSE AND TINA KERR, THEY'RE GATEKEEPERS AND KEEP GOOD BILLS ON CLIMATE AND ON WILDLIFE AND WATER AND FROM EVEN BEING HEARD.

WE DON'T GET TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AT THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO WATCH THEM, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE NEW CREW OF NEW LAWMAKERS TO WATCH, AS WELL, THAT THINK WILL BE PUSHING HARD ON THESE IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

>> Ted: SANDY BARR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, GIVING NEW FIREFIGHTERS A HOPE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST OCCUPATIONAL CANCER.

>> Ted: A NEW RESEARCH GRANT FROM REGIONS LOOKS TO LOWER THE CANCER RISK AMONG FIREFIGHTERS AND TO LEARN MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY ASU REGION FRED DUVALL AND CHIEF TOM SHANNON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

FRED, THIS IS A GRANT, $4 MILLION GRANT AND TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THIS CAME ABOUT.

>> HAPPY TO.

WE ARE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND BOARD OF REGIONS OVERSEES ASU AND ALL HAVE FANTASTIC RESEARCH CAPACITIES IN THEIR FACULTY AND BECAUSE WE'RE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, WE DON'T JUST TEACH STUDENTS AND CREATE A WORKFORCE, WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THE REGIONS THOUGHT, LET'S TAKE A PIECE OF THE RESEARCH MONEY AND BE INTENTIONAL TO IDENTIFY WHAT'S BEING IDENTIFIED BY STATE OF ARIZONA AND MAJOR CONSTITUENTS AND SEE IF WE HAVE THE RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL TO SOLVE IT.

SO, GOING AFTER WATER RECHARGE AND REPLENISHES AQUIFERS AND VALLEY FEVER AND TECHNOLOGY TO GO AFTER THE BARK B BEETLE.

WE PUT OUT THE NOTION TO ANOTHER OF EXTENTS AND THEONE.

OUR LIVES ARE AT RISK AND YOU HAVE THE TENT TO SOLVE US AND WE TALENT TO SOLVE US.

>> Ted: HOW SERIOUS AND PREVALENT?

>> IT'S EASY DOUBLE OR TRIPLE OF THE POPULATION.

IT COMES INTUITIVELY AND THINGS AREN'T INTENDED TO BURN SUSPECT AND WHEN IT BURNS, ALL OF THE BAD CHEMICALS COME OUT OF THAT AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE EXPOSED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, MANY CANCERS CAN BE PREVENTED IF DETECTED EARLY AND WHAT OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES IS SHOWING US IS THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY SPECIFIC CANCER MARKERS THROUGH THIS RESEARCH.

IF YOU CAN SEE IT AND FIND IT, HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN PREVENT IT.

>> Ted: BLOOD AND PLASMA DONATIONS AND FOREVER CHEMICALS AND WHEN YOU GET THIS, FROM THE FIREFIGHTERS, THAT ARE TESTED AND THE RESEARCH INVOLVES THE TESTS, YOU LOOK FOR THE BIOMARKERS.

>> I'M NOT THE DOCTOR, BUT REALITY IS THIS, IF YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY RECHARGE THE BLOOD BY REMOVING BLOOD THROUGH DONATION AND THEN THE BODY REPLENISHES THE BLOODSTREAM, YOU DROP CONCENTRATIONS OF THE CHEMICALS IN THE BLOODSTREAM AND THAT WITH DIET MODALITIES AND THAT CANCER AGENTS COULD CHANGE IT INTO ONE THAT MUTATES.

>> Ted: YOU TALKED ABOUT THE GRANTS IN GENERAL AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHETHER IT'S THE BARK BEETLE.

>> SOMETHING ARIZONA CITIZENS WILL UNDERSTAND AND GET THE MOST RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.

FIREFIGHTERS SAVE OUR LIVES AND SO WHEN WE OFF THIS, WE THOUGHT, THIS IS A CHANCE TO SAVE THEIR LIVES AND THIS IS EASY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT.

TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, FIREFIGHTERS ARE 9% MORE LIKELY TO GET MORE CANCER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND SECONDLY, IF WE CAN SOLVE THIS, IF THIS RESEARCH TURNS OUT TO WORK, IMAGINE, WE CAN GO NATIONAL AND GLOBAL.

THE DYNAMICS OF THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS EXIST IN EVERY FIREFIGHTING SITUATION AROUND THE EARTH.

>> Ted: I UNDERSTAND, CHIEF, THAT THERE'S AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THIS AND PROMISING?

>> THERE IS EARLY WORK THE DOCTOR HAS LOOKED AT THAT SUGGESTS HIS METHODS CAN BE REPRODUCED AND THAT WILL FIND YOU CAN CHANGE THE GENETIC AGE OF THE CELLS THROUGH THIS CLEANSING OF THE BLOOD, IF YOU WILL AND THAT COUPLED WITH OTHER TREATMENT IS EXCITING.

>> Ted: THAT IS EXCITING!

>> AT $4 MILLION, WE CAN GET TO A SCALE, 1500 FIREFIGHTERS IS A PART OF THE STUDY AND AT THAT LEVEL, THE SCALE STANDS OUT.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE IT GOES AND U OF A IS TAKING THE LEAD AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE THAT?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND EACH OF THE EXAMPLES I GAVE EARLIER HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AT DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES AND WE LIKE A TWO-PART CRITERIA AND WHICH OF THESE PROJECTS HAS MOST VALUE TO THE INVESTORS, THE PUBLIC OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN OUR UNIVERSITIES?

SECOND, WHICH ONES DO WE HAVE THE MOST TALENT TO APPLY AGAINST IT?

IF WE CAN DRAW THAT FROM TWO OR THREE UNIVERSITIES, EVEN BETTER.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS JUST THE CANCER RISKS THEMSELVES, THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS, WHAT'S DONE FOR FIREFIGHTERS?

THIS IS RESEARCH AND A TEST, BUT ON THE STREETS, WHAT'S DONE?

>> A LOT.

SO WE ARE FAR MORE AWARE OF THE BAD THINGS THAT CAN GET US OUT THERE AND WE TREAT EACH CALL AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL'S INCIDENT.

SO WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING.

WE USE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES TO FIGHT FIRES AND DO A LOT OF CLEANING OF OURSELVES AND EQUIPMENT TO KEEP THOSE BAD CHEMICALS FROM BEING WITH US VERY LANGUAGE.

>> Ted: I THINK I SAW YOU QUOTE THIS, THIS IS A BEACON OF HOPE HENWHEN IT COMES TO FIREFIGHTERS.

>> PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE STATE HAVE DONE GREAT WORK AND I AM OPTIMISTIC AND THIS COMES DOWN TO EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM NOW AND THERE'S SEISMIC CONSEQUENCES TO NOT ADDRESSING IT SO EVERYBODY IS IN.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE MONEY, WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

>> SO IN THE YEAR 2000, ARIZONA TAXPAYER'S PASSED A PROP 300 CALLED A RESEARCH FUND AND A SLICE OF THAT COMES TO THE UNIVERSITIES AND DOES A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN OTHER AREAS AND IT HAS TRADITIONALLY GONE INTO THE UNIVERSITIES.

WHAT THE REGIONS HAVE DONE IS TAKING A PIECE AND HOLDING THAT OUT TO THE STATE AND OTHER MAJOR PARTS OF OUR STATE AND SAID, WE CAN HELP YOU SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC AND COME TO US AND CREATE A COMPETITIVE DYNAMIC.

WE TRY TO CREATE THE MOST POTENTIAL BENEFIT FOR THE MOST OF ARIZONA.

>> Ted: FRED AND CHIEF TOM SHANNON, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

PUT♪♪ >> Ted: IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THOSE WHO STUDY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO WRITE NOVELS THAT INCORPORATE WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED ABOUT CRIME AND PUM.

PUNISHMENT.

"LITLIGHT THEM UP "BY SAMMY GARCIA.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

THIS IS A FIRST IN A SERIES.

>> YES.

>> Ted: HOW TO YOU DECIDE WHEN SOMETHING IS A SERIES?

>> THE WHOLE CONCEPT BEGAN FOR A TV SHOW AND WITH AS CHALLENGING AS IT IS TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY, I JUST FIGURED, WHY NOT TURN THE FIRST SEASON, ROUGHLY, INTO THE FIRST BOOK.

SO HOPEFULLY CONTINUE ON.

I CAN SEE ABOUT AN EIGHT-SEASON SERIES, AT LEAST.

>> Ted: THIS INVOLVES A LOCAL SERIAL BOMBER?

>> BASED ON THE ARIZONA BOMB SQUAD AND IT'S A SERIAL BOMBER OUT FOR REVENGE.

>> Ted: THERE'S YOUR STORYLINE AND INVOLVES RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE BOMB SQUAD OFFICERS.

>> YES, YES.

THE TWO HEROINS, THE TWO FEMALE LEAD HEROINS ARE THE FOCUS AND A SECRET ROMANCE AND WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

>> Ted: CHALLENGES WORKING FROM AN LGBTQ PERSPECTIVE?

>> THE SAME AS BEING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO SEE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON IT.

BUT USUALLY, WE GET A LOT OF SUPPORT.

MY WIFE AND I, SHE WAS ONE OF THE MAIN SUPPORTERS IN ALL OF THIS.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU WROTE IT, WAS IT ORIGINALLY AND PRIMARILY A WHODUNIT?

>> IT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO A LOT MORE OF THE CRIME SOLVING AND THE MYSTERY AND YOU GET THE HEART FELT AND LOVE AND READING WITH THE CHARACTERS AND YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW THE PERSONALITY.

>> Ted: SOMETIMES THEY SURPRISE YOU, DON'T THEY?

>> OH, YES.

>> Ted: WORKING IN CORRECTIONS, IMPACT ON YOUR FICTION WRITING?

>> IT GAVE ME A LOT OF INSIGHT, HONESTLY.

I LEARNED A LOT OF ARIZONA STATE LAW WHEN I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, BUT THIS GIVES ME A LOT MORE INSIGHT INTO POLICY PROCEDURE WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I'M LUCKY I WORK WITH A LOT OF MILITARY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND I'VE.

I'VE BEEN PICKING THEIR BRAIN.

>> Ted: THEN AGAIN, YOU PROBABLY WATCH SOME OF THESE WHODUNITS AND SAY, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENS.

>> YOU SEE A LOT OF THE PRISON SHOWS AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE -- >> Ted: YOU MENTIONED THIS STARTED THIS AS A PROJECT FOR SCREENPLAYS AND SUCH.

THE DIFFERENCE, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU WRITING SCREENPLAYS AS OPPOSED TO NOVELS?

>> OH, YES.

MOST OF THE TIME WITH THE COMPETITIONS I'VE ENTERED INTO WITH THE SCREENPLAY, IT'S A DIFFERENT FORMAT AND BEST IF YOU HAVE SOME PROFESSIONAL SCREEN WRITING SOFTWARE TO HELP YOU.

>> Ted: SURE.

>> BUT MAINLY, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR DIALOGUE AND INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS.

NOT NECESSARILY A BACK-STORY PER SAY, BUT THEY DO WANT TO SEE THE MAIN DIALOGUE THAT IS THE CENTERPIECE AND EVERYONE ELSE DOES THEIR PART AND THE CAMERA DOES THEIR PART AND SO EACH PERSON ADDS TO THE SCRIPT AND MINE IS JUST A BASTE BASIC SCRIPT.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE TO EXPAND A LOT THE NOVEL FROM THE SCREENPLAY.

AND HOW FAR INTO THIS ARE YOU?

>> THE FIRST BOOK IS OUT THIS YEAR AND THE SECOND BOOK IS COMPLETED FOR THE MOST PART.

IT'S GETTING READY TO GET SENT TO THE EDITOR.

AND I'M GUESSING PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT LOOKS FOR THIS ONE.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU WERE WORKING IN CORRECTIONS, WERE YOU THINKING, I COULD USE THIS OR THINKING I COULD BE A WRITER?

A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU WRITE ABOUT WORK AND HONESTLY, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO LEAVE THERE.

IN MY POSITION, I'M ON CALL A LOT AND IT'S HARD TO LEAVE IT STRICTLY AT THE PRISON AND YOU CAN'T MAKE UP WHAT HAPPENS IN PRISON.

BUT IT DEFINITELY HELPED ME TO VIEW THINGS FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT AS OPPOSED TO AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN AND READING, OK, THEY'RE CHASING A BAD GUY.

WHAT PROTOCOL, WHAT SAFETY MEASURES YOU CAN TAKE AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WORKING IN THE PRISON GAVE ME A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO THAT.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEL AND CONTINUED SUCCESS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Ted: AND A REMINDER THAT THE JOURNALIST'S ROUND TABLE IS SET FOR TOMORROW AND WE'LL HAVE A CHECK OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING TODAY'S INAUGURATION AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪