>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A CLOSER LOOK AT PRESIDENT TRUMP DEMANDING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PAY HIM $230 MILLION TO COMPENSATE FOR PAST INVESTIGATIONS.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY IS OFFERING TELEMEDICINE VET SERVICES.

AND AN AWARD WINNING AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN HER YOUNG ADULT SERIES OF FANTASY FICTION.

THOSE STORIES ARE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON, I'M TED SIMONS.

THE NEW YORK TIMES IS REPORTING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PAY HIM MORE THAN $230 MILLION TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DOJ'S PAST INVESTIGATIONS OF TRUMP'S ACTIONS IN AND OUT OF OFFICE.

IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE THAT RAISES ALL SORTS OF LEGAL AND ETHICAL QUESTIONS AND JOINING US NOW IS ATTORNEY STEPHEN MONTOYA, PARTNER OF MONTOYA, LUCERO AND PASTOR.

A GO-TO GUY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUPREME COURT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT BECAUSE I'M BAMBOOZLED BY THIS WHOLE IDEA.

HE BASICALLY SAYS, I'LL SETTLE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO PAY ME AND HE SAYS HE MIGHT TAKE IT TO CHARITY OR SOMETHING, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO PAY ME $230 MILLION?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED AND BIZARRE, IF IT WEREN'T SO TRAGIC, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT.

IT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 1946, WAY BACK WHEN HARRY TRUMAN WAS THE PRESIDENT.

BECAUSE BEFORE THAT TIME, AN OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES COULD VIOLATE YOUR RIGHTS GROTESQUELY AND YOU COULDN'T SUE THE UNITED STATES FOR THE VIOLATION BASED UPON THE DOCTRINE OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.

WE GOT IT FROM THE COMMON-LAW OF ENGLAND.

YOU COULDN'T SUE THE KING, KING GEORGE, OF COURSE, SO INITIALLY YOU COULDN'T SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT CHANGED IN 1946 WHEN THE UNITED STATES PASSED A LAW ALLOWING CITIZENS TO SUE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR THE SAME REASONS THEY COULD SUE AN ENTITY UNDER STATE LAW.

>> Ted: OKAY.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT.

CAN A PRESIDENT, CAN A SITTING PRESIDENT, WITH ASSOCIATES, WITH FRIENDS, FORMER UNDERLINGS IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, CAN HE SAY, LISTEN, WE CAN SETTLE ANY KIND OF SUIT THAT'S BROUGHT OR IS BROUGHT, YOU JUST PAY ME WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS.

I MEAN, GOODNESS, GRACIOUS, STEVE, WHERE ARE WE AT HERE?

>> CAN HE DO THAT?

YES.

THANKS TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT LAST YEAR WHEN IT RULED THAT TRUMP WAS IMMUNE FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND COULD NOT BE CHARGED FOR ANY CRIME COMMITTED IN THE COURSE OF OFFICE.

MOREOVER, THE SAME SUPREME COURT AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN THIS SHOW, HAS ADOPTED THE EXTREME VERSION OF THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE, AND JOHN ROBERTS, THE PRESIDENT IS THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL IN OUR GOVERNMENT WHO OCCUPIES AN ENTIRE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT HIMSELF, AND WHAT THAT LITERALLY MEANS, THE ARITHMETIC ON THAT, IS THAT TRUMP COULD ORDER HIS SUBORDINATES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO PAY HIM THAT MONEY BASED UPON HIS TWO BOGUS CLAIMS AND THE CLAIMS ARE REALLY BOGUS.

I'VE BEEN SUING THE GOVERNMENT FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW.

THAT'S WELL OVER 30 YEARS.

SUING THE GOVERNMENT IS THE HARDEST UNDERTAKING -- THING YOU CAN DO IN THE LAW.

TRUMP'S CLAIMS ARE BOGUS.

THEY'RE NOT WORTH A CENT FOR ANYONE TO EVEN SUGGEST THEY'RE WORTH ANY MONEY MUCH LESS $230 MILLION IS PREPOSTEROUS.

>> Ted: THE CLAIMS ARE THE RUSSIAN TAMPERING INVESTIGATION.

>> FOR WHICH HE'S NOT INDICTED.

IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW FOR THE FBI TO INVESTIGATE A CRIME.

THAT DOESN'T HURT YOU.

IT'S A CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATION.

>> Ted: HE SAYS IT VIOLATED HIS RIGHTS.

>> WELL, NOW, WE -- WE DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI.

HIS OTHER CLAIM ARISING FROM THE SEARCH WARRANT THAT WAS EXECUTED AT HIS ESTATE IN MAR-A-LAGO BECAUSE HE WAS ALLEGEDLY KEEPING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, THAT WAS BASED UPON A LAWFUL WARRANT ISSUED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE.

>> Ted: HE CALLED IT MALICIOUS PROSECUTION.

>> WELL, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING -- THERE ARE TWO THINGS THERE.

THERE'S THE FALSE SEARCH, HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE WHO CONDUCTED THAT WERE SHIELDED BY THE DOCTRINE OF ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY THAT FLOWS FROM THE WARRANT, THE SEARCH WARRANT THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL JUDGE.

SO, IT'S GOING -- IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THAT, YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT THE -- THAT THE AGENTS WHO SECURED THE SEARCH WARRANT FROM THE FEDERAL JUDGE LIED, FLAT-OUT LIED TO THE FEDERAL JUDGE.

YOU CAN'T SHOW THAT IN THIS CASE BECAUSE A GRAND JURY ULTIMATELY INDICTED TRUMP FOR HOLDING THOSE DOCUMENTS WHICH WERE SEIZED AT HIS HOME PURSUANT TO THE SEARCH WARRANT AND IN ORDER TO INDICT SOMEONE, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, FIRST YOU HAVE TO SECURE THE INDICTMENT THROUGH A GRAND JURY AND THE GRAND JURY IS A NEUTRAL BODY AND IT ALSO IMMUNIZES THE PROSECUTORS INVOLVED.

>> Ted: THE FACT THAT THE PROSECUTORS INVOLVED IN THIS, NOW, THE NEW SET OF PROSECUTORS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ARE ALL PREVIOUS ASSOCIATES OF THE PRESIDENT.

THE PRESIDENT HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE TOTAL SUPERVISION ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE RIGHTS AND WRONGS THERE.

WHERE DOES THIS ALL -- WHERE DOES THIS ALL LEAD?

>> TO DISASTER, TO RIDICULE OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THIS -- I TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

THIS IS THE WORST I'VE EVER SEEN IT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS I COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED THIS.

AND THE PROBLEM IS, THE COURTS HAVEN'T SAID NO.

AND THOSE LAWYERS ARE NOT PREVIOUS LAWYERS.

TODD BLANCH, THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THAT HE STILL HAS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO IT'S AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP.

AND IN FACT, IT'S A RELATIONSHIP PROHIBITED BY THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT THAT GOVERN ALL LAWYERS.

THAT IS A PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIP.

YOU CAN'T BE BOTH A LAWYER OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE LAWYER.

THAT IS INCONSISTENT, IT'S IMPERMISSIBLE.

>> Ted: SO WHAT WOULD THE COURTS LIKELY SAY OR DO IN THIS SITUATION?

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS, IT MIGHT NOT COME BEFORE A COURT BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S -- THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MIGHT AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENTS AND TRUMP MIGHT TAKE THE MONEY AND SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO FIND STANDING TO SUE AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS -- I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS STANDING TO SUE.

>> Ted: WOULD THE-- >> THE TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT HAVE STANDING.

>> Ted: WHY NOT?

>> IN ORDER TO HAVE STANDING UNDER THE SUPREME COURT'S DOCTRINE, YOU HAVE TO SUFFER INDIVIDUALIZED HARM THAT NOT EVERYONE IS ALSO SUFFERING.

WE ALL SUFFER ALIKE UNDER THIS REGIME.

>> Ted: SO LAST QUESTION HERE, HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO GIVE THE MONEY TO CHARITY.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

>> NO, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND HE SAID THAT BEFORE AND HASN'T COME THROUGH, BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL.

>> Ted: THE FACT THAT THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY, DOES THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

>> IT SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE REPUBLICANS WHO RUN FOR ELECTION AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> Ted: HERE IS MY LAST QUESTION.

AND -- IF THIS SOMEHOW COMES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE COURT TO DO ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THEY WOULD DO ALL THEY COULD.

I WOULD SUSPECT AND HOPE THAT THEY WOULD REVERSE IT AND SAY THAT THERE WAS A PROHIBITED CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE MERITS OF THE UNDERLYING CLAIMS ARE RIDICULOUS.

THIS IS NOT A STRONG CASE.

THIS IS A FRIVOLOUS CASE.

THIS IS A JOKE, A BAD JOKE OF A CASE.

>> Ted: STEPHEN MONTOYA, MONTOYA, LUCERO AND PASTOR, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> NEXT TIME ON ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW, DO THESE OBJECTS GIVE YOU THRILLS OR CHILLS?

>> I DON'T THINK I WOULD WANT TO MEET HIM IN A DARK ALLEY.

>> MY WIFE WILL BE SO RELIEVED.

>> STAY TUNED FOR THE ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW.

>> ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY IS MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY TO OFFER TELEMEDICINE SERVICES FOR PETS.

THE PROGRAM FOLLOWS A RECENT STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS FOR SUCH ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS AND TO LEARN MORE WE WELCOME DR.

MELISSA THOMPSON, THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY VICE-PRESIDENT OF ANIMAL MEDICAL WELFARE AND WE HAVE RAMBUNCTIOUS FOLKS HERE.

>> WE HAVE MILO AND MAPLE.

>> MILO IS CRAWLING ALL OVER ME?

>> YES, AND MAPLE IS HERE.

>> Ted: WE TALKED ABOUT TELEMEDICINE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND HOW THAT'S IN JEOPARDY.

BUT TELEMEDICINE FOR PETS, IT'S GOING ON?

>> YES, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT.

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE WORKED TO GET THE BILL PASSED 1053.

WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE VETERINARY PATIENT-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A VETERINARIAN IN THE STATUTE THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, VETERINARIANS WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY SEE THE ANIMAL.

WHAT THIS LAW DID WAS SAY, HEY, WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOME THINGS REMOTELY AND WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE OUR HANDS ON THE ANIMAL SO IT ALLOWS US TO ESTABLISH THAT WITH A NEW PATIENT ELECTRONICALLY.

SO, THESE ARE VIDEO CALLS.

SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

WE HAVE A VIDEO CALL AND WE TAKE CARE OF THE PETS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY.

OKAY.

SO SPECIFICALLY FOR COMPANION ANIMALS, CORRECT.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: EMERGENCY, OBVIOUSLY, NO-GO.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: IT HAS TO BE ROUTINE.

LET'S SAY THAT MILO IS MY PET AND RIGHT NOW MILO IS ACTING LIKE IT, SHE IS.

>> SHE'S VERY COMFORTABLE.

>> Ted: SAY SHE'S MY PET AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER.

WHAT DO I DO?

>> GO ONLINE TO HUMANE.ORG AND WE HAVE A 20 MINUTE APPOINTMENT WITH THE PETS AND PEOPLE, VIA COMPUTER SO WE HAVE VIDEOS.

SOME OF OUR COMMON ISSUES THAT WE CARE FOR WOULD BE IF YOUR KITTY HAD A COLD, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE A CAT THAT HAS A RAINY NOSE, SNEEZING, COUGHING, THAT'S PRETTY COMMON AND WE SEE A LOT OF DOGS WITH SKIN ISSUES, ALLERGIES ARE A BIG PROBLEM IN THE VALLEY.

BEING ABLE TO DO THAT FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME.

YOU HAVE CATS AT HOME.

>> Ted: YES.

>> AND HOW IS IT PUTTING THEM IN THE CARRIER.

>> Ted: IT'S A SCREAM.

>> TRYING TO CATCH THEM IN THE HOUSE AND PUT THEM IN THE CARRIER AND LISTENING TO THEM THE WHOLE TIME IN THE CAR.

THEY'RE STRESSED AND WE AS OWNERS ARE STRESSED AND ALLOWS US TO GET AN EYE ON THEM WHILE AT HOME AND MAKE ASSESSMENT AND COME UP WITH A DIAGNOSIS.

>> Ted: AND FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, OBVIOUSLY, LET'S SAY YOU THINK I'D LIKE TO GET SOME BLOOD WORK DONE ON MILO.

THEN YOU WOULD GO OBVIOUSLY INTO THE VET AND AT LEAST YOU HAVE THE FIRST STEP TAKEN.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THERE MAY BE TIMES, JUST LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE EMERGENCIES AND SOME SITUATIONS WHERE AN ONLINE CALL IS NOT GOING TO HANDLE THE SITUATION, RIGHT?

AND SO OUR VET WOULD SAY, HEY, THIS IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS VISIT AND RECOMMEND THE PET TO BE SEEN, WHETHER IT'S AN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL OR A REGULAR VETERINARIAN.

>> Ted: THE IMPACT ON ANIMAL WELFARE IN ARIZONA.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AS A CRISIS OF ANIMAL WELFARE IN CERTAIN WAYS, DOES THIS HELP THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST REASONS WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO SURRENDER THEIR PET IS EITHER COST OF THE PET OR ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE.

OFTENTIMES WE THINK THAT ACCESS CAN BE COST OR IT CAN BE THAT YOU'RE BOOKED OUT EIGHT TO 12 WEEKS.

OR ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXAMPLES, SOMEBODY HAS A ST.

BERNARD AND THEY HAVE A TWO-SEATER CAR, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO GET THEM OR THE KITTY CAT INTO THE VEHICLE OR AN ELDERLY PARENT WHO COULDN'T DRIVE.

WE STILL WANT TO PROVIDE CARE.

>> Ted: PROVIDING CARE IN THE EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE MEANS FEWER ANIMALS IN SHELTERS, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS THE SHELTERS ARE GOING?

>> WE HAVE -- THIS HAS BEEN AN ASTRONOMICAL YEAR FOR US.

>> Ted: REALLY?

>> YES, 24,000 ANIMALS HAVE COME INTO OUR DOORS THIS YEAR AT OUR SHELTER.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE PRICING, THE COST OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS, MORE, LESS, SAME?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IF YOU WENT INTO THE VETERINARY CLINIC.

SO YOU'RE GETTING THE ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION WITH THE DOCTOR AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS FROM THERE IF THERE ARE MEDICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE PRESCRIBED, THEY ACTUALLY WILL BE CALLED INTO A PHARMACY NEAR YOUR HOUSE OR THERE ARE SOME ONLINE PET PHARMACIES SO THAT IT WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU.

>> Ted: SO YOU'RE THE FIRST ANIMAL WELFARE AGENCY WITH THIS KIND OF SERVICE.

I WOULD IMAGINE SOME VET CLINICS HAVE HAD THIS BEFORE?

>> SO WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE.

IF PRIVATE PRACTICE IF YOU'VE SEEN A VETERINARIAN, HEY, MY PET IS UNDER THE WEATHER AND THE DOC IS LIKE, WHY DON'T WE TRY THIS, TRY THAT, BUT THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

WHAT MAKES THIS UNIQUE, I MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN YOU OR YOUR PET AS A CLIENT.

>> Ted: RIGHT.

>> BUT I CAN DO THAT NOW VIA PHONE, VIA THE ELECTRONIC MEANS WHERE MOST STATES YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

IT'S UNIQUE TO ARIZONA AND A COUPLE OF OTHER STATES.

>> Ted: AND WE SHOULD MENTION, THIS IS STATEWIDE, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> Ted: ALL RIGHT, WHERE DO YOU LEARN EVERYTHING FROM MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO WHETHER OR NOT YOUR LITTLE FURRY FRIEND WOULD QUALIFY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> DEFINITELY TO OUR WEBSITE.

>> Ted: AND MILO AND MAPLE, ARE THEY AVAILABLE?

>> YES.

>> Ted: THEY'RE SISTERS?

>> YES, THOSE WERE SMALLER AND NEEDED TO GO TO FOSTER CARE AND GAIN MORE WEIGHT.

THEY'RE SPAYED AND READY TO FIND THEIR FOREVER HOMES.

>> Ted: THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS LITTLE GIRLS.

THEY'RE GORGEOUS AND THAT CAT WITH NICE FUR NOW, HOLY SMOKES WATCH OUT LATER ON, I LEARNED THAT LESSON THE HARD WAY.

>> BETTER START BRUSHING NOW.

>> Ted: MELISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND HOPE IT'S A GOOD THING FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE FBI ARRESTS MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE IN CONNECTION TO A SPRAWLING NBA GAMBLING RING INVOLVING ORGANIZED CRIME.

THAT'S AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> A NEW BOOK IT OUT FROM AN AWARD WINNING AUTHOR WHO HELPS YOUNG READERS NAVIGATE PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL STORIES THROUGH IMAGINATION AND EMPATHY.

THE BOOK IS TITLED "THE HAT DIARIES: ESCAPE FROM THE ADVENTURE."

IT'S THE THIRD BOOK INTO THE HAT DIARY SERIES.

AND THE AUTHOR IS NADINE HARUNI.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

IT MUST BE SO NEAT TO HOLD A BOOK YOU'VE WRITTEN.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST FEELINGS, A DREAM COME TRUE.

>> Ted: THIS IS THE THIRD IN "THE HAT DIARIES" SERIES OR SERIES OF BOOKS.

WHAT ARE "THE HAT DIARIES"?

>> "THE HAT DIARIES," THERE ARE THREE BOOKS, EACH ONE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT IT FOLLOWS ALONG RYAN RIGBY, A YOUNG BOY LIVING WITH HIS MOM.

IN THE FIRST BOOK WE FIND HE'S ABLE TO PUT ON MAGICAL HATS AT NIGHT AND WAKES UP AND HAS ADVENTURES WHERE HE TRANSFORMS INTO THE ROLE OF THE HAT WEARER.

AND BOOK TWO, A MAGICAL PORTAL AND TIME TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT DATES IN HISTORY WITH THE HATS AND THE THIRD ONE ESCAPE FROM THE ADVENTURE, THE NEW RELEASE IS THE FINAL CONCLUSION AND A CLIFF HANGER.

>> Ted: YEAH, SO IT'S LIKE HISTORICAL FANTASY, FICTION IN A LOT OF WAYS?

>> EXACTLY, YEAH.

>> Ted: WHAT AGE GROUP?

>> EIGHT THROUGH ADULTS.

SAME GENRE AS THE HARRY POTTER SERIES.

ANYBODY WHO KIND OF LIKES BELIEVING IN THE UNBELIEVABLE OR WANTS SOME KIND AFTER BOOK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM AWAY TO ANOTHER PLACE, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

>> Ted: ESCAPISM IS THE KEY HERE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Ted: AND THIS LAST ONE NOW DEALS WITH WORLD WAR II AND IT'S IN GERMANY AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> THAT'S THE SETTING FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK AND MOST OF THE BOOK, AND THE CHAPTERS ALTERNATE BETWEEN THIS SETTING IN GERMANY AND THE REAL LIFE UNFOLDING WHERE CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO RESCUE RYAN FROM THIS SITUATION HE'S IN, SO, IT'S REAL LIFE VERSUS FANTASY LIFE AND A LOT OF THE REAL LIFE PART TAKES PLACE IN A SORT OF HAUNTED HOUSE, IF YOU WILL.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEAS WITH ALL OF THIS?

>> IT'S REALLY THE IDEAS STARTED WITH THE PREMISE OF HOW COOL IT WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO SORT OF BE SOMEONE ELSE EVEN IF JUST FOR A DAY BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF US LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU THINK IT'S BETTER IN THOSE OTHER PERSON'S -- IN THAT OTHER PERSON'S SHOES.

THAT WAS KIND OF THE PREMISE AND BEING ABLE TO SORT OF GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IN YOUR MIND AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BOOK IS PREMISED ON, BELIEVING IN YOURSELF.

>> Ted: BELIEVING IN YOURSELF AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME THINGS LIKE FAMILY ISSUES, BULLYING, THIS SORT OF THING.

HOW MUCH OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS PART OF YOUR BOOKS?

>> THEY ARE -- THERE'S A WOVEN THREAD IN ALL OF THE BOOKS WHICH ARE ALL THINGS THAT PEOPLE DEAL WITH AND FROM EVERY AGE FROM JUVENILES TO ADULTS AND THE THREAD AND ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST BOOK, IT'S FOLLOWING RYAN RIGBY WHO STARTS OFF A LONER, AFRAID OF HIS OWN SHADOW KIND OF THING AND HE GAINS CONFIDENCE THROUGH THE ADVENTURE AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET OUT OF CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

SO YOU START THE CHARACTER ARC, A LITTLE BIT LONELY AND THEN ABLE TO HANDLE HIMSELF, HANDLE THE BULLIES, SCHOOL CRUSHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU SEE THE CHARACTER GROW AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE THEMSELVES.

>> Ted: IS THE CHARACTER GROWING THROUGHOUT THE SERIES.

PRETTY SOON IT WILL BE THE FEDORA DIARIES, AN OLDER GUY.

>> HE IS.

THE SECOND PLACE, A YEAR LATER AND THE THIRD BOOK IS THE SAME TIME AS THE SECOND BOOK, BUT YOU'LL SEE THE CHARACTER CONTINUALLY GROW.

>> Ted: AND REAL LIFE CHALLENGES LIKE DIVORCE, BLENDED FAMILIES, DEATH OF A PET, THIS IS ALL INCLUDED HERE?

>> THAT'S INCLUDED THERE AND ALSO IN MY OTHER CHILDREN'S SERIES CALLED FRIEDA THE FROG, I FOCUS ON THAT.

BUT "THE HAT DIARIES," FOCUS ON LOSING A PARENT, THERE'S LOVE, THERE'S FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS, SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT APPEAL TO EVERYBODY.

>> Ted: SO "THE HAT DIARIES" AGAIN, WE'VE GOT THAT THERE AND YOU MENTIONED FRIEDA THE FROG MAYBE YOUNGER AGE.

>> FRIEDA THE FROG FOR AGE, I'D SAY PRE-K THROUGH AGE 10 AND TEACHES KIDS ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY SITUATIONS.

>> Ted: INTERESTING, ALL RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU WRITE FOR KIDS, ESPECIALLY, WITH FRIEDA THE FROG, BUT IN CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE HAT.

HOW DO YOU WRITE FOR A YOUNGER AUDIENCE WITHOUT TALKING DOWN TO THEM?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

HOW DO YOU WRITE?

BASICALLY YOU WANT TO MAKE THINGS UNDERSTANDABLE AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL.

IF YOU'RE WRITING A BOOK THAT'S IN THE TECHNICALLY MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY GENRE, YOU WANT TO USE NO FOUL LANGUAGE AND KEEP IT WITH THINGS KIDS CAN RELATE TO.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO APPEAL TO A LARGER NETWORK SUCH AS ADULTS, YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TOO SIMPLYFIED.

IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE AND A JUGGLE TO HIT THE RIGHT NOTE.

>> Ted: DO YOU STOP YOURSELF AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, I'M CROSSING THE LINE HERE?

>> I DO.

AND I HAVE OFFICIAL EDITORS, AND UNOFFICIAL EDITORS PEOPLE I'M WRITING THE GENRE FOR.

THEY HELP ME KEEP IT REAL.

I'M TRYING TO WRITE IN THE MINE OF A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY AND THE YOUNGER READERS HELP ME KEEP IT AT THAT LEVEL.

>> Ted: AND THINGS LIKE BULLYING AND DEATH OF A PARENT AND DEATH OF A PET, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

HOW DO YOU SEND A MESSAGE WITHOUT BEING TOO OBVIOUS OR TOO PREACHY?

>> THAT'S ALSO A DELICATE JUGGLING ACT AND A BALANCE, BUT YOU WANT TO SPEAK THE WAY THAT CHILDREN WOULD SPEAK OR ADULTS WOULD SPEAK IN A MATTER OF FACT WAY AND KIND OF MAKE THESE TOPICS NOT TABOO.

AND EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT THEM, IT'S REAL LIFE.

NOT ALL OF LIFE IS A FAIRY TALE.

YOU WANT TO APPROACH IT MATTER OF FACT AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO BE COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.

>> Ted: THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ACTION IN "THE HAT DIARIES."

>> THERE IS A LOT OF ACTION.

>> Ted: ARE YOU GETTING ANY INTEREST IN FILM, STREAMING AND WHAT'S OUT THERE THESE DAYS?

>> YES, NETFLIX IF YOU'RE LISTENING, A SCREEN PLAY, OR MINI SERIES, AND ALL THE ADULTS SAY, WHEN IS THE MOVIE COMING.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WROTE WITH THAT IN MIND.

>> Ted: AND ESPECIALLY FOR FRIEDA THE FROG FORRION FOR YOUNGER KIDS, IT MUST BE REWARDING THAT A PARENT IS READING THIS TO A KID.

>> IT IS REWARDING AND A LOT OF TEACHERS USE THE FRIEDA SERIES TO USE IT FOR THE SOMEWHAT UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS AND GREAT TO HEAR THAT.

>> Ted: THIS IS "THE HAT DIARIES" ESCAPE FROM THE ADVENTURES NUMBER THREE, AND FRIEDA THE FROG NEVER GOES AWAY.

>> SHE NEVER GOES AWAY.

>> Ted: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: AND THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ TONIGHT 7:00 AND 7:30, AT 8:00.