>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ELECT JOINS US IN STUDIO AND LATER IN THE HOUR ON CRONKITE NEWS, STORIES FROM STUDENTS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S LOAN FORGIVENESS PLANS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

FALLOUT OVER LAST NIGHT'S VOTE DROP THAT EARNED KATIE HOBBS A VICTOR OVER KARI LAKE.

HOBBS SAID ARIZONA SHOWS SOLVING OUR PROBLEMS OVER CONSPIRACY THEORY, WE SHOWS UNITY OVER DIVISION.

LAKE'S CAMPAIGN TWITTER ACCOUNT CONGRATULATED HOBBS ALONG WITH GATES AND RICHER FOR, QUOTE, RUNNING A THIRD-WORLD ELECTION AND CREATING A WHOLE GENERATION OF ELECTION DENIERS AND HOPE YOU'RE PROUD.

ROBSON WHO LOST TO LAKE IN THE G.O.P PRIMARY URGED WARD TO RESIGN AND NOTING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE POST WATERGATE ELECTION OF 1974, ARIZONA REPUBLICANS LOST THE MAJORITY OF STATE-WIDE RACES IN AN ELECTION CYCLE AND SAYING WARD IS NOT A LEADER AND NOT A WINNER AND THAT THE STATE G.O.P CAN'T AFFORD TWO MORE YEARS OF WARD AS CHAIR.

ONE MORE POLITICAL NOTE, ARIZONA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, BIGGS LOST TO BE TO THE HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.

HE SAID HE WAS RUNNING TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM AND STATUS QUO AFTER WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A DISASTROUS MIDTERM ELECTION.

>>> IT'S A WEEK AFTER ELECTION DAY AND A FEW POLITICAL RACES IN ARIZONA REMAIN TO CLOSE TO CALL AND THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE RACE.

JOINING US NOW IS ARIZONA'S UNITEDSTATE AND WHY TO YOU THINK YOU WON?

>> WE GOT MORE VOTES.

>> Ted: WHAT ELSE?

>> PART OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR ELECT HOBBS SAID IS TRUE.

ARIZONA IS SICK AND TIRED OF THE LIES AND THEY WANT TO MOVE PASSED 2020 AND THEY BELIEVE THAT OUR ELECTION SYSTEMS ARE JUST FINE AND WE DO VERY, VERY WELL AND IT MAY NOT BE QUICK ENOUGH FOR THE MEDIA AND PUNDITS BUT WE KNOW WE CAN TRUST OR NEIGHBORS TO RUN ELECTIONS AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO IT.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOT POLITICAL AT ALL AND THAT FAITH IS WHAT BELIEVED US GET OVER THE TOP IN THE WAY WE DID.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE IN ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA, WHAT DO YOU SAY AND HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THEM WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS TRUE?

>> WE SAY THE TRUTH AND HOPING THE DOORS, I THINK, AND IT HAPPENED IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND CONTINUED TO HAPPEN.

OPEN UP THE DOORS AND EXPLAIN TO FOLKS HOW THE TWO ELECTION SYSTEMS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER EXIST IN ARIZONA, OUR EARLY VOTING SYSTEM AND WHY IT IS THAT ARIZONA IS STILL IN MANY WAYS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ADMINISTRATION AND WE DO A GOOD JOB AND HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALIFIED AND MOST EXPERIENCED FOLKS RUNNING OR ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA.

LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND DO BETTER AND BETTER FOR RESIDENTS.

>> Ted: FROM A CANDIDATE'S POINT OF VIEW AND YOU MENTIONED THE TWO-TIERED SYSTEM, ELECTION DAY VOTING, THE BALLOTS COME IN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, REPUBLICANS MAKE UP THE GROUND, FROM A CANDIDATE'S POINT OF VIEW, WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND SEEING THESE NUMBERS?

>> IT'S A DIFFERENT POSITION FOR ME THAN OTHER CANDIDATES.

I KNOW HOW THE SYSTEMS WORK INTIMATELY AND SO I KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN INSOFAR AS THE THEME AND DON'T FORGET, I'M AN EXPERIENCED TRIAL LAWYER AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS SIT AND WAIT.

ONCE 7:00 P.M. COMES AROUND ON ELECTION NIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT, IT'S UP TO SOMEBODY ELSE TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND I HAVE PRACTICE WITH THIS WAITING.

>> Ted: IS IT HEALTHY TO HAVE SO MANY VOTES AT ONE TIME BEING FOR ONE POLITICAL PARTY AND SO MANY VOTES LATER FOR THE OTHER PARTY?

BECAUSE ALL THAT DOES IS GET PEOPLE WHO ARE WINNING OR LOSING THINKING, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS?

>> I THINK WHAT IT DOES, IT SEPARATES THE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND OUR SYSTEMS FROM THE PEOPLE DON'T DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR SYSTEMS.

THE FOLKS WHO UNDERSTAND WILL KNOW THIS AND WE'VE SEEN THIS, CYCLE IN AND CYCLE OUT.

BACK IN THE DAYS, THE MARGINS WERE LARGER AND SENATOR McCAIN WOULD WIN BY 24 POINTS AND NOBODY CARED MUCH AFTER THAT AND THEY WOULD BE COINCIDENTING THE COUNTING AT THE SAME SPEED AND WE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROCESSES AND A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.

THEY WANT TO GIN UP A LOT OF STORY-TELLING AND DOUBTS WHERE NONE SHOULD EXIST.

>> Ted: ARE THERE WAYS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS?

>> THE QUESTION, THINK, SHOULD BE WHY SHOULD WE SPEED UP THE PROCESS?

I PERSONALLY PREFER ACCURACY AND SECURITY TO SPEED.

WE'RE GOING GET OUR RESULTS AND THEY'LL BE GOOD RESULTS BECAUSE ARIZONA KNOWS HOW TO RUN GOOD ELECTIONS.

SO I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT QUICKER RESULTS AND IS THERE A GOOD REASON WHY?

AND THEN, IF SO, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DO THAT.

>> Ted: CRITICS ARE SAYING THE ELECTION REFORM IS NEEDED AND TAKING TOO LONG TO COUNT BALLOTS AND THUS REFORM IS NECESSARY.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> LET'S FIND OUT WHY THEY THINK THAT IS.

WHY IS IT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE RESULTS THIS MINUTE?

WHAT'S THE IMPATIENCE ABOUT.

ONCE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN, THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN.

WE KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE HAVE TO GET THE NUMBERS OUT THERE.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE IMPATIENCE IS ABOUT AND IT'S NOT UNDERSTANDING WE DO HAVE GREAT SYSTEMS.

I'LL KEEP PUSHING BACK UNTIL SOMEBODY COMES TO ME WITH A GOOD REASON WHY WE NEED TO BE A LOT FASTER BECAUSE ARIZONA HAS GREAT ELECTION SYSTEMS.

>> Ted: I'LL PUSH BACK FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT.

THE LONGER IT IT TAKES, THE LONGER IT TAKES FOR SHENANIGANS.

>> IT'S A MOVING TART WITH THESE FOLKS AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FIGHT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BACK THAT UP WITH.

>> Ted: ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PRINTER PROBLEM AND WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> THAT SHOWS HOW GOOD THE SYSTEM IS.

IMAGINE THIS.

THERE WAS ONE SMALL SETTING ON THE PRINTER THAT WAS WRONG AND THE TABULATOR DIDN'T SOLVE IT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING SO EXACT AND ALL OF THE T'S CROSSED AND I'S DOTTED OR YOU WILL FIND ISSUES.

SO TO ME, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE QUALITY OF THE SYSTEM WE BUILT IF MARICOPA COUNTY.

BUT IT JUST IS ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO PROMOTE.

>> Ted: ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY SAID IT MADE ARIZONA THE LAUGHING STOCK OF AMERICA AND THEY'RE SAYING PEOPLE WERE MORE THAN INCONVENIENCED AND SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T VOTE BECAUSE OF THAT INCONVENIENCE AND DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THE FACT IS, THEY GOT THEIR BALLOT AND THEY HAD THE OPTION TO PUT IT IN THE BUCKET THREE, WHICH IS IN THAT LOCKED AND SEALED BOX, TRUSTED IN THE HANDS OF THE ELECTION OFFICIALS WHICH WERE BIPARTISAN TEAMS.

BECAUSE SOME REPUBLICANS, NOT ALL REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SPREADING LIES AND MISINFORMATION.

IF THEY HAD THOSE DOUBTS BECAUSE OF WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR SO MANY YEARS, THEN THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED, PROMOTED AND CONTINUED TO BE PUSHED BY REPUBLICANS AND THEY DON'T HAVE SPACE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

AT LEAST THE ONES THAT DID THAT.

MANY REPUBLICANS DID SAY, GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, LIKE THE BILL GATE'S AND STEVEN RICHARDS AND SO THIS ISN'T A PARTISAN THING.

THE FOLKS THAT BOUGHT SPOT INTO THE LIGHT, THEY CREATED THAT AND THEY'RE HAVING THEIR COMEUPANS NOW.

>> Ted: THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, WHAT WILL IT BE?

>> THE 15 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, TALK TO THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED.

AS GOOD AS THE ELECTION SYSTEMS ARE, THERE'S PLENTY OF NEEDS FROM IT AND NETWORKING, SECURITY TO STAFFING AND POTENTIALLY BUDGETS AND WHAT I WANT TO DO IS BRING THAT INFORMATION TO THE LEGISLATURE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ACT AS AN ADVOCATE TO GET INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE STATE, WHAT THEY NEED.

2024 IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND THOSE OF US WHO KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, WE HAVE TO START NOW.

>> Ted: YOU THINK THE REPUBLICAN-LEAD LEGISLATURE WILL LISTEN TO YOU?

>> THEY'LL HAVE TO.

A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS REALLY DO WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ARIZONA AS A WHOLE OUTSIDE OF THE.I THINK WE'LL GET EARS NOW THAT WE'LL HAVE A DEMOCRAT ON THE NINTH FLOOR TO SORT OF HELP MODERATENINGS.

MODERATE THINGS.

>> Ted: THE OLD SECRETARY OF STATE IS GOVERNOR AND SHE COULD TAKE FOLKS WITH HER AND, OBVIOUSLY, SHE TOOK FOLKS FROM YOU WHEN YOU LOST THE RECORDER.

TRANSITION, HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> THE KEY LEADERS AND WE'LL MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS NEXT WEEK, MONDAY OR TUESDAY AND THEN SLOWLY BUT TUESDAY ON BOARD UNTIL INAUGURATION AND BUILD THE TEAM MOVING FORWARD AND A NEW ADMINISTRATOR MEANS WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE OFFICE HAS BEEN RUN RELATIVELY WELL AND I HAVE FAITH GOVERNOR ELECT HOBBS WILL MAKE IT AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU, THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, CONCERNS OVER RECENT ARIZONA STUDENT TEST SCORES FOR MATH AND READING COMPREHENSION.

>> A RECENT REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF ARIZONA PROGRESS SHOWS THERE'S BEEN A DECLINE IN MATH AND READING TEST SCORES FOR ARIZONA STUDENTS AND THE COVID PANDEMIC IMPACTED THESE TEST RESULTS TO SOME EXTENT BUT OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY.

WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CHILDREN'S ACTION ALLIANCE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: NATE, AN ACT ACRONYM.

>> THIS IS A NATIONAL TEST GIVEN TO STUDENTS IN FOURTH, ANGLE EIGHTH AND 12th GRADE IN READING, MATH AND SCIENCE AND IT'S GIVEN NOT TO ALL STUDENTS BUT A SAMPLING OF STUDENTS IN EVERY STATE EVERY TWO YEARS.

>> Ted: PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER?

>> YES.

>> Ted: ARIZONA AND WE DID REPORTING ON THIS AND WE WANT MORE OUT OF YOU.

FOR READING AND MATH, THE NUMBERS DECLINED.

>> WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEARED AND THE LAST TEST WAS IN 2019 AND SO WHAT THE TEST SCORES SHOW IS THAT THE SCORES SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND HAD REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR KIDS TO LEARN AND THAT'S BEING REFLECTED IN THE TEST SCORES WHICH ARE SHOWING ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE NATION AND READING IN MATH, THE SCORES HAVE DROPPED BACK.

>> Ted: ARIZONA NUMBERS, WERE THEY WORSE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HOW DID THEY COMPARE?

>> ARIZONA HAS BEEN BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THINK, DURING THE COURSE OF SINCE THEY'VE BEEN TESTING UNDER NATE.

OUR SCORES DID NOT DROP AS MUCH OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AS THEY DID NATIONAL HI, NATIONALLY.

WE'RE STILL, FOR EXAMPLE, 29th IN THE COUNTRY IN FOURTH GRADE READING AND 31% OF ARIZONA'S FOURTH GRADERS ARE PROFICIENT, WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

>> Ted: WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?

>> I THINK PARTICULARLY IN FOURTH GRADE READING, I THINK THAT IS A BIG QUESTION, WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?

ARIZONA HAS DONE A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO FOCUS ON FOURTH GRADE READING AND WE PASSED MOVE-ON-WHEN READING.

SCHOOLS HAVE TO DEVELOP LITERACY AND NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE ON READING.

I THINK TO ME, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHEN STUDENTS ARE ALREADY BEHIND.

REALLYTHERE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND IF YOU ASK A FIRST GRADE TEACHER, IF A CHILD COMES INTO THEIR CLASSROOM AND THEY'VE HAD READING, THE OTHER STUDENTS WILL BE BEHIND.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE, I THINK, WE HAVE FALLEN BEHIND IN ARIZONA, THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>> Ted: IS THAT MESSAGE GETTING THROUGH?

>> NOT THROUGH TO THE POLICY MAKERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

BACK IN 2008, THEY ENACTED FALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION CAME IN AND THAT FUNDING WAS WIPED AWAY AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE IT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT BRINGING BACK.

>> Ted: STUDY OF KIDS IN POVERTY ARE STRUGGLING IN READING, IS THAT REFLECTIVE OF ARIZONA'S NUMBERS?

>> VERY MUCH SO.

STUDENTS HAVE LOW INCOME FAMILIES PERFORM SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE THAN OTHER STUDENTS.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE TOOK A POSITIVE STEP IN THIS LAST SESSION WAS CREATING WHAT'S CALLED AN OPPORTUNITY WEIGHT OR A POVERTY WEIGHT, WHICH MEANS SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HIGH POPULATIONS OF LOW INCOME GET EXTRA MONEY, MORE MONEY TO HELP, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE TUTORING AND EXTRA RESOURCES FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO GET UP TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

>> Ted: DO YOU THINK THAT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THE EARLY LITERACY?

>> WE'RE NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE VERY MUCH AND I THINK WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING IS THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, KINDERGARTEN AND BEFORE.

>> Ted: OVERALL TESTING, READING COMPREHENSION, THAT'S AN INDICATER OF FUTURE SUCCESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PLENTY OF RESOURCE THAT SAYS IF A STUDENT IS NOT READING PROFICIENTLYPY THELY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, THAT WILL IMPACT THEM FOR THEIR CAREER.

IF YOU CAN'T READ PROFICIENT BY THIRD GRADE, THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO READ THE TEXT IN MATH OR SCIENCE AND THAT IMPACTS OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE.

THIS IS REALLY AN ECONOMIC ISSUE, TOO.

IF WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON THESE ISSUES NOW, THEN ARIZONA WILL PAY THE PRICE LATER.

>> Ted: THE EDUCATION SPENDING LIMIT, WHAT IS THE TIME TABLE FOR THAT AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO GET THAT MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOMS?

>> IT'S CRITICAL.

THE DEADLINE IS MARCH 1st AND THE LEGISLATURE, EITHER THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE OR THE NEW INCOMING LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO OVERRIDE THAT SPENDING LIMIT BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN EACH CHAMBER.

IF THEY DON'T, SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE TO CUT THEIR BUDGETS BY OVER A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS COLLECTIVELY FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS GOING TO DIRECTLY IMPACT THIS ISSUE.

>> Ted: ARE DISTRICTS PREPARING FOR THAT?

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS NOT INDICATED THEIR INTERESTED IN LIFTING THAT SPENDING LIMIT AND CALLING ON GOVERNOR DUCEY TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION FOR THIS CURRENT LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY APPROPRIATED AN $800 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND THAT'S MEANINGLESS.

MEANINGLESS.

>> Ted: DAVID, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Ted: THE POISON PENN BOOKFOR IN SCOTTSDALE IS CELEBRATING THE 33rd IN MYSTERIES AND THRILLERS AND HOSTING AUTHOR APPEARANCES IN LITERARY EVENTS.

EARLIER, WE SPOKE WITH THE POISON PENN, BARBARA PETERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> Ted: 33 YEARS OF DOING BUSINESS AND DOES IT SEEM LIKE IT'S BEEN THAT LONG?

>> IN MANY WAYS NOT AND I GO BACK TO THE IDEA THAT WE STARTED THE STORE JUST SORT OF MY 50th BIRTHDAY, WHICH IS THE YEAR I MARRIED MY HUSBAND SO THAT I WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR AS I GOT OLDER.

>> Ted: THAT'S BEEN QUITE AWHILE THEN, HUH?

>> 33 YEARS.

>> Ted: DESCRIBE IT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN THERE.

>> WOW!

WELL, IT STARTED OUT TO BE A SPECIALTY BOOK STORE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO BE A GENERAL BOOK STORE GIVEN THE WIDER RANGE OF PUBLICATIONS AND MY MOTHER WHO LIVED IN PARADISE VALLEY, MY PARENTS DID, WAS A MYSTERYPHAN.

MYSTERY FAN.

EVEN THE FIXTURES WERE NO TALLER THAN WE COULD REACH.

IT'S HAD A LIFE OF ITS OWN FROM THE BEGINNING WHICH IS DICTATED BY THE FACT THAT SCOTTSDALE, WHEN WE STARTED, WAS AN ART HUB AND PEOPLE WHO CAME THERE WALKING DOWN, DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE, WERE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, FROM SANTA FE TO LAHOYA.

THEY DIDN'T LIVE HERE AND IT WAS DAY THREE WHEN I SAID, SIGN UP HERE AND I WILL WRITE TO YOU, WHICH I NEVER INTENDED.

THE NEXT WEEK, MY HUSBAND ARRIVED WITH A FAX MACHINE AND MAYBE HE'LL ORDER PIZZA AND HE WAS RIGHT, HE SAID YOU'LL HAVE THIS PROGRAMMED IN A MONTH WITH FOREIGN NUMBERS.

AND IT JUST WENT ON FROM THERE.

>> Ted: YOU MOVED 20 SOME YEARS AGO?

>> IT'S A STEP OFF MAIN STREET AND GOLDWATER IS IN A BARRIER AND IT WAS CREATED AS A BYPASS AND YES, IT WAS FUN WHEN WE MOVED.

WE HAD PEOPLE WHO CAME AND DID A PARADE WITH BOOKS FROM THE OLD STORE.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNEW RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND YOU'LL BE DOING A LOT OF WORK.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW THIS THING IS WORKING?

>> IT REALLY WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE A BUSINESS.

I OPENED IT FOR LOVE AND FUN AND I DON'T NEED TO WORK AND IT'S A NON-FOR-PROFIT BOOK STORE.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT'S NON-FOR-PROFIT, BUT WHEN YOU DID FEEL LIKE IT WAS HUM HUMMING AND WHEN DID YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS CATCHING ON?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

THE FIRST YEAR, I WANTED TO PAY THE RENT AND COULD WE MAKE $50,000 AND MY GOAL WAS COULD WE MAKE $100,000.

MY GOAL WAS, CAN WE MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS?

AND WE KEPT STEPPING UP AND IT'S GROWN IN PART, BECAUSE THE STAFF, EACH ONE THAT WE HIRED HAS AN INTEREST OF HIS OR HER OWN AND I'VE ALLOWED THEM TO DO THAT.

SO NOW WE HAVE OUR SCIENCE FICTION SPECIALIST AND EVERY TIME YOU GET A NEW STAFF MIDTERM MEMBER, IT GROWS IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND IF YOU LOSE ONE, IT CAN SHRINK BACK.

IT'S A GROWING INVENTORY AND STAFF INTEREST AND I JUST WATCH IT AND LOVE IT.

>> Ted: EVOLUTION AND GROWTH, THOSE ARE TWO THINGS YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH ANYMORE TALKING ABOUT BOOK STORES.

WHY HAVE YOU SUCCEEDED HERE WHEN SO MANY OTHERS HAVE FAILED?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

WE DON'T HAVE A MARKETING BUDGET AND WE DON'T DO PAID ADVERTISING.

I THINK TODAY, IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT HOW BOOKS ARE PROMOTED -- I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT COLLEEN HOOVER WHO HAS 15 BOOKS ON THE "NEW YORK TIMES" LIST, WE HAVE THESE LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS.

FOR EXAMPLE, MICHAEL CONNELLY, WE DID HIS FIRST OF BOOK EVENT AND HE ANNOUNCED WHEN HE WAS READY TO QUIT, WE DO DO HIS LAST.

HE HAS AN ENORMOUS READING BASE AND POPULATION.

SO HIS PROMOTION OF HIS EVENTS OR HIS BOOKS AT THE POISON PENN ARE ADVERTISING FOR US.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COOPTED INTO IT.

>> Ted: IT'S REALLY ORGANIC, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: WHAT MAKES A GOOD MYSTERY OR THRILLER?

>> SO MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO IT.

YOU WANT A GREAT PLOT.

YOU WANT TO HAVE REALLY, THINK, CHARACTERS ARE WHAT DRIVE PLOT.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL LANDSCAPE AND YOU WOULD LIKE THE BOOK TO BE WELL WRITTEN.

SOME OF THE MORE RECENT BEST SELLERS CAN BE KIND OF PLUNKY.

>> Ted: WHEN DO YOU KNOW -- IF ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT MYSTERIES AND THRILLERS, IT'S GOT TO BE YOU.

WHEN DO YOU KNOW THIS ONE HAS IT AND WHEN DO YOU GO, NOT SO SURE I'LL MAKE IT THROUGH?

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT VOICE.

IT'S LIKE MEETING SOMEBODY.

YOU CAN MEET SOMEBODY AND BE COMPLETELY BORED AND READ TEN PAGES BEFORE AND BE SO BORED AND NO POINT IN CONTINUING.

>> Ted: I'LL ASK BECAUSE YOU'RE AN EXPERT AND YOUR FAVORITE MYSTERY AND/OR THRILLER?

>> I WAS HOPING YOU WOULDN'T SAY THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SUICIDAL TO TAKE A POSITION.

I JUST READ A CHAPTER IN A BLOOMSBERRY ABOUT AGATHA AGATHACHRISTIE, THAT MODERN AUTHORS ARE REINVENTING THOSE THINGS.

I WOULD GO WITH CHRISTIE.

>> Ted: OK, THE GOING BOOK THAT SCARED YOU THE MOST?

>> I DON'T SCARE THAT EASILY.

>> Ted: I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE THAT GOT YOUR HEART THUMPIN'.

>> NOPE.

>> Ted: THAT'S WHAT MAKES AN EXPERT IN THIS BUSINESS MORE 33 YEARS.

CONGRAT LIANGSESCONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF YOUR SUCCESS.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN YOU.

>> Ted: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

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

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.