Transcripts For CSPAN2 Brad Meltzer The House Of Secrets 20240712

[cheering and applause]. There in the washington dc area. And viewers of cspan, we love you. And of course the regular viewers as well. We welcome everyone to cspan. But theres a couple of other things. So first i will tell you about the different between history and destiny. And we all know what this history. Its what happened. But destiny is what must happen. And its true, cant believe this is happening but my father may he rest in peace was struck by lightning. His father, my grandfather, was also struck by lightning. And the means dont stand next to me in a rainstorm. I was doing my son last week, the story and telling him, listen, my dad was struck by lightning in my is that was due. In his democrat, we can be struck by lightning. And i said you wont be but sure, you might be. This is true. My son, and my wife and my kids work taking amtrak train from new york city to washington dc for this event. In the train, was struck by lightning. My son texted me and said youre not going to believe what happened tonight. [laughter]. Destiny people. When you see thats coming in late. But this is destiny. So couple of other things. To do this and he brought in. First of all, where is jim. I want to thank you here. Please set up. Theres so much work for the history and all these other things pretty. [applause]. I love you. Thank you. I assume you got rid of all your secrets redefine him if you want a lighter version of me. [laughter]. Brad so hes like a drug dealer of stickers. [laughter]. Now you got one. A good fruit thank you. The does look like me. So this is yours. So now, the other person want to think. Amy, raise your hand please. So this is amy. A couple of years ago, my history teacher contacted me saying that she was sick. She needed to can he or she might die. I would put on my Facebook Page and amazingly, people actually said, no brad, this might change my life. You take my life and i love history. And of all of the people who volunteer, there was the first is that, kate i didnt hear from the teacher. I volunteered. I was like, so brave he didnt hear back pretty shes really busy. But for whatever reason i took that email i forwarded it and this is one that we missed. In the person we missed was a me. And what happened was when they get the email, the contacted her an email be back into not going to believe this but she was a match. So six months. So six months ago, and he came down to florida where i live, she gave her kidney my history teacher. And wait actually checked, i said whatever happened to that original email. His and went to spam. And was gone forever. So again, history destiny. Amy, is here if you give a body part to a stranger. Come on people. [applause]. So if you want be a better person, though donate a body part to a stranger. And if you do, you will get to be first in line. [laughter]. So this could right here, this is true, championship game tonight. Is giving his name. [laughter]. Is more to the story. [laughter]. Is any skimming it because he wanted to come here for the book signing. In his dad is the coach of the team. That is so mad tonight. [laughter]. Is and is here tonight coming to the front of the line. Lets hear for the kid who actually skipped. Dear that applause. [laughter]. It is true or in. Cheering and applause. And in the National Archives, know someone is here after mr. Shy. But thank you for being here. So thank you everyone is help with these books. Into my wife and kids who face lightning to get here. If you want to be a better person, 11 kidney. Yet to fight lightning. He also get to come to the front of the line. So we talked about destiny. Lets talk about history. This book was written by myself and todd goldberg. He blessed me with the ideas come from. To me a good idea a living thing. If you dont do it, eventually someone else will do it. For five years and stuck with me and i didnt know what to do with it. Sitting with me. We have to figure this out and do the story. When i was in the National Archives and i was in what they call the treasure vault. So they keep all the good stuff. Not open to the public. They had any the sheet of paper little like a paperback book you turn it sideways. And on the sheet of paper, George Washington get to a top military. I solemnly swear i will never betray the United States. A number of them, so number one and two and three and 45. Number five, was signed by a guiding Benedict Arnold. That moment, almost sound like a sword for people of history. But in the moment, you he was a decorated officer who fought for the country. He was rewarded and promoted. He was a real person look into paper and just couldnt shake that. The last moments between Benedict Arnold and George Washington heartbreaking in history. They were like the bffs of the revolutionary sent. What happened was when Benedict Arnold reportedly said was one of the only times that George Washington is ever seen crying. And that image stuck with me. And that her this detail. Benedict arnold wrote a letter, he didnt deliver it and saw a wrap but he did deliver this letter from Benedict Arnold George Washington. He said three things. He said one. Dont tell my wife she did noisy traitor. Said to the tell the staff either. And three, for the greatest moments in letter writing history. Do me a favor, can you send me my baggage and my belongings. His most hated man since juice himself and he basically says i can have myself. [laughter]. The amazing part is to this day, nobody knows what was in that baggage that George Washington sent back to him and he did send it back. Nobody knows what is in the baggage. I do not want to ruin chapter 85 in the house of secrets. You will hear my theory. When check it. For fat five years, half a decade, i figured out that that figure out how to do this idea. Lets remit todd goldberg. Writer of this book. He depict someone who you think is worse than you. Or someone whos instead as you. Someone whos better than you. In your choice. To me, i know boy im thinking. It was the guy who is better than me. Who can do something that i think that i cannot do. And todd is an amazing, try giving the publisher side for years. And pair up with a mystery writer and a criminal record. For the most part, shes going to give me more plot. I want somebody who does character like somebody ive not found before. Found a literary writer who is amazing that character. He killed the character. My love is that a wonderful book i highly recommend come out and then sickness after the book got nominated, and also with stephen king. When publishers and who we are working with. And i said i know. Hes a color. It is because todd and i really together, did something that neither of us alone could do. So what happened is me know the opening scene to this book. His girl name hazel who was sitting on her fathers lap and heres a story for the first time. A person story. Six years old, her dad hosted a conspiracy tv show. I dont write any books on the this people. [laughter]. He tells a story to her there was a present body that was found in the revolutionary time. He said that this body, they opened it up and then side of the body was a block of wax contain something. And if it over the wax and there is a priceless book, when that belongs to Benedict Arnold look. In this little girl says, tell it again. Utilities are different than everyone else. Shes the type of kid who would put her hand on the stove and burn it and then the next day come back and Martin Mcguinness to see what differences there would be. She wakes up in the hospital, has no memory. When she finds out theres been an accident, her father is now dead. An fbi said that the last person that her father was seen with, they found him dead in when they could open his body, they found an angel sent first memory that she could recall, is they found a book that was belonging to Benedict Arnold in that moment she realized that the stories that her dad told her as a little girl, they were all just for her almost like a training up of his daughter. All of these years. And from there she finds things that are in a house that she dont know how they got there. She doesnt remember how scars on her body. As you quickly realizes that only by serving and tried solving this murder, she figure out who killed her father. And also who she really is. She is the mystery of this book. To me its got a great plot but the great plot is a great character. An hazel herself is the character. She has no memory. She cannot remember people she has emotional memory loss. So is not amnesia. She has emotional memory loss. Lilies of the people she was most connected to, she has forgotten them. So she can walk into a bar and the guy shes attractive, she doesnt know if it was someone she loved her her worst enemy. Now everywhere she goes it is an adventure for it and she feels like maybe that wasnt maybe i wasnt a nice person. She has this moment where she can bring live her life. She restarts her life. And i love that is a character because everything becomes an adventure in that moment. And everything was new pretty think about it for a moment. You take a moment, knock ourselves in the head with a hammer. Start over. Our lives anew. I would go pick out really nice hammer. Soon amazing idea. To me what i loved about it, is it fits perfectly with this idea that ive been carrying around for five years. This Benedict Arnold. And for doing the fun of it is that Benedict Arnold, think of him as the buckeye the story. He said the bad guy or good guy. Like all of us, he is a complicated man. Are all not too good, not bad pretty broad good and were not a bad but we are all complicated afraid and i realized in hazel, she finds his life that she used to have. And she had a chance to suddenly be good, she could be just like Benedict Arnold operated on some basic, as a base bedford just like the rest of us. We are all amazing and we are all terrified. If we are all brave and all cowards. We are all defendants. Some of us on the very same day. Generalized that in this character, and in the spots, not just hazel, but the stories of Benedict Arnold and what it means to be good to be bad. And whether and what our identity several events. I always love that seven when i was researching this book, and by the way, half the great sources i have are inscribed right now. This might look around people. [laughter]. Judge each other. As washington dc and virginia. So heres one of the things that happen. When i researched book, and met this military intelligence officer. And i asked where do we get the best intelligence. In one of the things that they said to me, this is a true story. He said that years ago, theres a dictator the faded the United States and its he hated us to their hearts into their bones, right down to the heart and bones. And what no one knew as dictator, one of his top lieutenants is actually secretly working for the United States pretty is actually inside of america. I was likewise. Anything from the very best reason of all. Because of a family. And what happened was his top lieutenants had a sick child. Who needed the kind of medical attention that only the United States could give. And so we give this young child medical attention in exchange for this dictator, give us information about terrace weaponry out of the hands of extremist notice with a financial investigation and nobody knew about it. The scene involving aussie self, i did not make enough, israel and happening in love that i get to the book with details like that. Thats with the house of secret opens and you get to explore hazel in this world. And you get to explore who she is. She good and bad. And of course for been Benedict Arnold. Its amazing. Obviously, that is really for the book starts right and i love is also answer questions about the book. Because to me thats also the fun. And i can tell someone here lots of questions. Shes trying to get my attention the entire time. And so you can is anything you want. You can ask about the thrillers, the research, but i will tell you that the one thing that i need to say here. Thank you barnes and noble pressing. Lets get to some questions. And what will explore mark. Guest my buddy leo has a question for you. Brad okay leo. Shouted out. Guest . [inaudible]. Brad demand leo ehrhardt lego set come out. If you havent seen now you are laughing now. So this is this is a million ehrhardt ago set. So americans would help us. Heres what happened lego love this idea. Like i didnt need you to tell me im not normal. Understand that. I know that very clearly. [laughter]. They totally love this. They will consider making it. So the ghost busters, i was made in your mothers how i met your mother, and if you put the words, so i know, we have 2000 people and i can see scout over 200 people there. At least more people to operate it if you put lego familiar ehrhardt, the first thing that comes up. One of the page, register with your name and email. And vote. Now the point of this, is to give my kids real heroes. But i also love taking my kids lego set of real heroes. If we do that, i want to do it lego session want to do one with Albert Einstein set. Every set we can do. How great would be we can inspire kids with a real amazing toys to play with. So pleased i appreciate it. [cheering and applause]. Brad you guys will do that, good. Go and vote. Yes in the back. Guest . [inaudible]. Brad now Everyone Wants their loan lego sets. I promise. She wants susan b anthony, oh eleanor roosevelt. See, love this. This is what you want your kid to ask for. Martin luther king junior. Im telling you, i love that. And George Washington. And this is what i want to do. Tell your dad that if you love me you will go register for the lego and if you dont register and vote, you dont love me. He said those words and watch what you get. [laughter]. Guest on the inner circle, you had a scavenger hunt. Do you future plans doing Something Like that. Brad i love hiding things and all of my books. Cant do it a tv show, called decoded without playing some decoded. In one of the things we should talk about his kind conspiracies. So first a few things. So the book the inner circle, a put it secret code that was hidden in there. If you crack the secret code that is hidden in the page of this inner circle, there was a reward that was there. If you got it found it, the reward of his tendon and not telling where an american it was hidden but you got it. It took four years before someone finally cracked it. And today who has sitting here, he was the first person in four years, and he cracked it. [applause]. Brad now jim also loves a good little code. So jim also was kind enough to put it back. So it is out there and still there. It is hidden for the taking. If you want the treasure, it is hidden in the pages of the inner circle. And jim both not tell you where it is but is still there. I would love to tell you anything else live in an over the years. But in the kids books, i am hidden in every book. Guest i thought that predict. Brad you saw that, the guy that was like me you think, there are so many things hidden in the book you will never find. And my number is 27. Guest . [inaudible]. What about the kids books. Brad and yes, i do hide in the next kids book. [laughter]. I will say that anything throughout the books, we have lots of fun things in their. In the number 27 is very special to me. But it was on this. About the third thing. Right now, i hosted for years a conspiracy tv show. They used to be something that were really friendly thing. There were in french. Like comic books. If you love comic books, you are fringed groups predict no one really cared about you. And suddenly, books are in every street. And every spring and every television burn now conspiracy understanding, they are now entering. Now you donald trump talking about ted chriss being involved with sleep hot our bills old. The two main candidates running for the presidency are talking about conspiracies. Theyre not just these french things anymore. Whats happened and what i love we do the house of secrets, of the fun part of writing the book or one of the main characters host a tv show it to get explore close like to facet show. The fun of it for me was a realized over time that people tell me secrets. To me secrets. I had the department of Homeland Security command. Had president s of the United States write me letters. And invite me to houston. People from fort knox want to talk to me about whether if there is gold in fort knox anymore. The family of John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln tracked me down and said to me, this is the family john who, and Everybody Knows that 12 days after Abraham Lincoln was shot, john was with, was in guildford misses his family into the shot the wrong guy, they say actually escaped and have the proof. If you want to hear that story. Yes, i do want to hear the story. [laughter]. I do want to that story. I love the people tell me they secrets. I went and had a private lunch. In the white house. I hosted a tv show about conspiracy never lies in a perfect spy. If i am. And the more i and system for the more you left the more you say maybe he is telling the truth. Thats just what i want you to think. [laughter]. And then i have the perfect cover. Because i can go anywhere. Everybody just things under no fun research for new thriller. And i think i would not use that in the next book. I also when conspiracies become so mainstream and president ial candidates are talking about them. There is a true industry of conspiracy. And you can know all the people who regularly do it. Hearing about the government is always out to get your survey still you far. With harnessing about the market people are going to try to tell you the story of all, the true story. And i remember when we first started filming decoded, bless you actually have on this, the more scary music you play. Thats the true conspiracy. That is sad for me. And never want to be part of that show. Initially the house of secrets, you see what its like on the inside of what it is like one of these people who used to host a conspiracy tv show. Because of that, people come to me. Ive had people at the book signings bringing the holy grail and an event. All these Amazing Things because just because of the job i have i love that. So code in secrets and all those things are for ever part the projects that i work on. Guest i watch things that i dont like i dont know why. Brad she says i watch things they dont like i dont know why. And she says that right after i talk about my own television show. [laughter]. Youll go to the back of the line today. [laughter]. Guest tv shows. Brad lets talk about that. So for those who love decoded we left doing lost history. They did everything it was supposed to do. It really did. So happy with the readings. The only issue was that sure you realize in your google channel was that age to which is what were on, actually got changed over to a network. In a it. So thats where it went pretty we still love working with history channel. We will be filming a special towards the end of the year. And we are very excited to be doing that predict steve will hopefully have Something Back soon. As for movies and things like that, cant say anything but lester say having my fingers crossed that something i have something very exciting to announce very soon. How is that for everyone. [laughter]. Guest keep tell us about storytime. Brad yes, sorry time. I love a good story. So anyone follows me on facebook, were starting to realize that facebook, were doing live video. You can do anything. It you can enjoy life im thinking he wants to see that. But we can tell stories. Remember its a nice, that was for me like this family night. Other than you can bring back the lost art of telling stories, we use this technology and i just got on facebook. This was at 8 00 oclock in ascending i would just read stories to people. In the percent that i did this, we had a few people watching and than 300 people watching in the by the time get to the end, there would actually be like a waste of it, 2000 people watching live. We had 100,000 people who watch the video when it was finished. And the point where we had captain underpants himself, came to my house. He said this is what you do pretty is the waynes world. He was at my house any setting with me. My sons Favorite Book was captain underpants pretty badly 50000 people. It was incredible. Is this amazing thing id we plan on doing mark storytime. And it is filled with somebody so amos, emma someone who i cant say whether it is quarter past but in the white house. That is the funniest storytime a promise that you will ever see read or just editing it and putting it together. It will take a couple of months. You want to save it for a special moment. Guest so how you go from writing this for yourself. Sue and honey go for just writing for yourself and then submitting and publishing a book. I will tell you that when you start writing, you dont ever imagine that you will be sitting here in cspan will be here and it will be like one of your closest friends you will have the time. It is right because you have a story to tell. And so pure and beautiful. Started fighting because of the jobs i went to did not work out. With boston them move myself to boston. The weekend got to boston, my mentor took me under his wing, left his job. The only gush direct my life. I did what any of you would do in the moment that you think you have wrecked her life. Im write a novel. [laughter]. Is most logical thing i can think of. I didnt know what i was doing. I just wanted to tell my story to myself. That first novel got me 24 rejection letters. There were only 20 publishers. I got 24 read rejection letter letters . [laughter]. Some people wrote me twice to make sure that i got the point. And then if they didnt like the book, when right another party you will see people who want to write and publish the book. All you have to do is get one person to say yes. Just one person. They tell you yes, one editor and you are a published author. Your job is to find the person. I got 25 rejections. And i always look at that experience has ice entered life is subjective. Whatever you do with your life, their teacher new state homecoming or lawyer or a doctor, whatever it is you do, dont let anyone tell you know. Dont let anyone tell you know. If you love it, keep doing it and then you will submit it and you will find one who will say yes and the jobs just to find them. I keep going, keep going, keep going. Other questions. Guest do you tell yourself often the book. Brad yes. Guest . [inaudible]. Brad the first one is did you kill yourself in the book. Because you are a character. I did. I totally dead. I had the opportunity. The character, to see the house of secrets what happens to the character. It really has nothing to do with me. But the fun part of writing the book where you have the job. Everyone look at her. No. [laughter]. Is actually my favorite part because the person, and now were going to totally caught to Pay Attention to her. So what i love that we get to do we do Something Like that this we really do get to put myself in the world under the microscope. Using the book, and the fun part, is becomes, the thing is that when youre in the business of telling conspiracy stories, every once in a while you have someone. Because if you dont have the audience thinks you are full of it. Every once a month you could bring a factor a solution. They dont eventually do that they go somewhere else. So thats the carrot. When watergate happen, every dream and nightmare that everyone have about the government was so real. They really werent out to get you. The president really was breaking into your house at night. And although spears became true in the moment, everything was like water and sunlight every other horror story that would come after that. And of course jfk. Thats the interesting part about conspiracies. Even those thriller, you get to full part of the makes. I went to michigan. And thinking about what happened in flint. And no ones favorite disaster. But i will tell you that one of my greatest moments in my entire life took place just a couple weeks ago. As i got to go back, in michigan to the university of admission. Thank you in the back. I really appreciate it. They asked me to give the commission address pretty heres, ive already gave a speech before. But i was 22 years old, living in washington dc. Might mentor who is a person came in that job and who hired me, he actually was a speechwriter. And he hired me as a speechwriter. One of the first features the ghastly to work on for him was his commencement address at the university of michigan good also. So here it was, i was actually 24 years old and now i was back there 46 years old. In all of those years later. And talk about them in the speech, i think it was actually a really important thing, what are the hardest thing in the greatest risks that you will ever taken life, is admitting what you want. In week know what we want but to admit it. It is hard to admit what you bought for you because if you do, you might fail you might not get it. The way you know it but you want, you have to admitted that to love it, you have to admit what scares you and you have to admit what brought you here in the first place. When i was doing the speech, and never tell the story. Dont talk about your fear. I used to work at the argonauts giving ice cream in a mall in florida. This woman came one day and she kept stepping her finger at me. She was a survey. I actually convince the manager to make us managers. This woman is snapping her fingers. And i said ill be with you 112th ride and she says no you will serve me now and she sets her finger some more and she said a missing manager. And he said of the with the manager for you can to help you. [laughter]. I said i am the manager notes do not going to serve you because you said being so rude to everyone. She said youre going to work on this miserable life im sure for the met rest of your miserable five. And i said maam if im here for the rest my life, youll never get dry spring. Ice tell historian safe and didnt bother me. But totally bothered me. You make me feel like i would walk like my dad. I felt like i was never going to succeed. Was not about wanting money for success like that. Does appear of real problems. I was terrified of that. I realized in that moment to admit what i feared. I all of a sudden knew that that fear drove me. He drove me to write and succeed and do everything and the reason i am here today. As a of the ladies room but it was my rocket fuel. Cephalic it is so important today. He will see in the pages above. All of you. Your greatest weakness is also here greatest strength. Let it be your rocket fuel. This is the best part of the story. When i got to the end of the speech so i actually went back and found the speech mike mentor the life that i worked on when i was 24 years old, and washington dc. I tracked down the speech and i wanted to see, is this the speech, it had worked and i may or may not have written. To this that i had no idea which lines i wrote and which was a did not write. But what i did find was the line forcing of the speech and the lines in this. To all of you are sitting here today, that have been 30 years from now, that one of you lucky enough to be sitting appear and giving a speech. And whoever it is this audience, you are just that, lucky. And i was reading the speech. I was in my office crying. As i was like oh my god, hes talking to me. I literally couldve written the line. But i was talking to myself. As i got was in a time machine. I feel like i need to leave you with the perfect ending. But i feel your today, in his town where i started writing for the first time. I just feel so lucky to be here. And i you for supporting me. And thank you for supporting me with the thrillers and the kids books and a means so much to me. Ill take one final question. Guest was your historical figure they most identify with and why and also was a historical figure over the centuries or millennia whatever that you most are inspired by. Brad could you identify with and who inspires me. Thus the kids book line. That is what the court is spread my values for those of you who dont know these books, so tired of my kids looking at these loud mouth athletes and other people who they thought were heroes. So folks like Abraham Lincoln and i am jacky robinson, lucille ball. I wanted my daughter to have an entertainment hero. Wasnt just famous for being pretty. And lucille ball shows that is spectacular to be different. And i am helen keller, when she goes blind, the pages in the book goes black. Cover your ears, this is how i see the world. Inland she learned to read, we put real braille of the book. This is my name and my name is helen. This is what your name. In the alphabet is there the book. None of the helen keller did that. It is about a moral lesson. Enemy is helen keller this is i will know no limitations. And deceiving different. As for always, always, always be curious. Those are my answers. That is who i admire. Abraham lincoln is the one for me. Hes the one that lives up to the height every time reading his book is about i will always choose kindness and always speak up for others. And on the front, the most important part of the book is on the front but the moral lesson. And you can see a sincere, i will always speak my mind and speak for others. That is something to aspire for our kids. We are doing i am George Washington in september. I am jane goodall which im super excited to do pretty. [applause]. And i will tell you this. In the house of secrets do a lot of George Washington Benedict Arnold. I was like i am putting cool stuff in the kids book. There is no retreat. Dont give them disinformation. But also tell them, this is how George Washington used inc. Right in that secret code name was 711. In my editor said we really need to put this in their afraid and i said we totally need to put this in the parade every these book choices in. He gets that part. My son thinks it is so cool. And i keep telling him, yes, i know, so my editor. It is so true. And you will see that invisible ink. The someone to figure that out. Someone will figure that out for us. One magic copy, how awesome would that be. And then with my phone number that we come up would be a drawing. [laughter]. Im not saying it didnt happen, im saying it could happen. And we actually will tell you that we also, we have discussed on the books pretty so 18 of the south. [applause] with that said, im not going to tell you who it is after that. As a person who comes after George Washington and jane goodall. I cant wait to share with you but i have to get through of the things because there are semi things to be cleared. But if you think this is my level of nerdy, were going here. [laughter]. Thank you for everyone coming here tonight. I really appreciate your support with this book. And thank you cspan for helping us all. I really appreciate it. [cheering and applause]. Host really quickly can we give him one more round of applause because he is so awesome. [cheering and applause]. Host thank you. Taking a couple of hours to show you programs with bestselling author brad meltzer. Hes a parent book tv 15 times. Never in 2018 he provides a fictional account of an employee at the air force base. The met remains of military personnel have been killed abroad. When they first arrived back to the United States. [background sounds]