we're back now with more of "today" on a friday morning. it's the 25th day of september 2009. guess what? we're getting ready for the last weekend in september >> that's right. starting to feel more fall-like. >> it is. we've got a brisk breeze out on the plaza. we've also got tamron hall. >> yes. >> of msnbc, joining me and al. >> a fresh breeze. >> tamron filling in while natalie's on assignment. have you had fun this week? >> it's great. i love it. >> but it's still early. >> it's still early and i'm still waiting to file a report. >> are you? okay, it's all right. >> it's with human resources. >> personnel, exactly. meanwhile, we're going house hunting in this half hour. >> that's right. barbara corcoran is here to give us an idea of what you can get for $500,000 or less. in fact, in some cases, much less than that. >> that's a cute house. >> it is. new orleans, to the coast and the heartland of new york. >> also, we're talking to ken

burns, an emmy award-winning filmmaker. he is trying to remind us of how beautiful this country is, with our national parks and how we should appreciate them. instead of going to a movie, get the family together and witness one of these beautiful natural landmarks in our country. i shouldn't compare it to movies, because that's a lame comparison, but my point is, with the family, you can do so much that's free. >> actually, it's a good comparison. there are a lot of free national parks in here. >> so ken burns is prolific at this and we'll look at his beautiful work. >> we will. >> if you've got a curious kid around the house, how about putting that natural enthusiasm for facts to good use? we're looking for "today's kid reporter," that's right, between the age of 8 and 12. we'd like them to report on any story they'd like and submit the tape. >> the video should be no longer than one minute. mail it to today's kid reporter, 30 rockefeller plaza, new york, new york, 10112. the official rules -- because you've got to keep it

official -- at todayshow.com. >> and ann's standing by now with a look at the headlines. >> hi, guys. in a dramatic development today, president obama and the leaders of france and great britain accused iran of secretly building a second nuclear fuel plant for enriching uranium. >> this is not the first time that iran has concealed information about its nuclear program. iran has a right to peaceful nuclear power that meets the energy needs of its people, but the size and configuration of this facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program. iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow. >> the accusation comes as negotiators are preparing for talks between the u.s. and iran next week for the first time in years. a delta 2 rocket thundered into space this morning in florida carrying two missile defense satellites. they are designed to track missiles launched by all countries, including north korea and iran. a denver terror suspect goes to trial in federal court today

charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction in new york. prosecutors say najibullah zazi and others bought bomb-making ingredients and that zazi tried to prepare explosives before a recent trip to new york. supreme court justice ruth bader ginsburg spent the night in a washington hospital. a statement from the court said that ginsburg became light-headed and fatigued after a treatment for an iron deficiency, anemia. in february, ginsburg had her spleen removed along with a malignant growth on her pancreas. a new study finds that children who are spanked have lower iqs. a professor from the university of new hampshire found that children between the ages of 2 and 4 and 5 and 9 who were spanked had iqs over three to five points lower than kids who were not spanked. and about 30 school teachers are flying high on thursday over albuquerque, getting a chance to ride in a zero-gravity jet. and for art gould, it was a chance to leave his wheelchair, if only for a few moments to float in midair. art says it was the best

experience of his life next to the day he got married. it is now four minutes past the hour. let's get another check of the weather from al. >> love that ending. >> i do. i loved it. it's fantastic. >> all right. now let's look at what's going on as for as your weather's concerned. we've got a flood threat back in the southeast again, unfortunately, because of all the heavy rain that's going to be moving in. dry today in atlanta, but it's going to start raining again some time late afternoon into tonight and into tomorrow. look at some of that rainfall. the good news is, the heaviest of the rain will fall up near tennessee and on into kentucky, but some of the suburbs to the north and west of atlanta will see anywhere from one to three >> light showers around the area, but this afternoon, variably cloudy. on the lower eastern shore, of

now on to "today's real estate," and what $500,000 or less might get you. you may not each be in the market for a house, but when you see what real estate contributor barbara corcoran has in her file, you might be ready to sign. good to see you. >> good to see you, al. >> after a rise, existing home sales dipped. now, this shows we're clearly not out of the woods yet. >> we're clearly not out of the woods, but you shouldn't take a one-month number so seriously. we've had an upward climb on the number of deals being done as well as prices. recoveries are never nice and smooth. they're always bumpy, so you really have to look at it over a six-month period would be my good advice. >> let's look at some great houses. first, evansville, indiana.

this would be a great house for swimmers. it's got two pools? wow. >> two pools and a fish pond, if you get tired of swimming in your pools. this is for swimming, you're right on that. and look at this house. it's one, big house. it's 4,400 square feet. that's a spanish-style home, and it was built in 1915, but don't be misled by the year it was built because it's in really good condition. everything here comes in threes. you mentioned the three bodies of water, three big arches out front, three bedrooms, three-car garage. it's got a formal dining room. that's the indoor pool. >> man! >> who wouldn't want that pool? windows on both sides. actually reads like a green house. updated kitchen as well, a living room. tons of arches throughout the home. everything's been meticulously restored. a windowed kitchen, newer appliances, the cabinets are in great shape. this is a house for someone who wants a lot of house for little bit of money. >> now, it's in a historic preservation area. does that affect what renovations a homeowner can do? >> yeah. it's a funny thing.

people love to brag that they're historically preserved, but the fact is, once you try to make changes, it's one big pain in the neck, but this house is in great shape, so you can kind of skip over that concern a bit here. >> let's head down to the big easy, new orleans. $239,000. great food, good jazz, lots of partying. what's not to like? >> nothing about this house not to like. >> oh, how sweet. >> it's like a picture-perfect red-doored house and a lovely yellow color, which is perfect for that house smack in the middle of new orleans. that front porch, i think -- i wish i had that color sense. look at the colors there. looks like a magazine shot, doesn't it? >> wow. >> it's got nine-foot ceilings inside, so it's not to be confused with a tiny, little house on the inside. it's got hardwood, ceramic floors throughout, french and arched windows and doors. it's got apass-through from the dining room into that pretty kitchen, and that is one sweet kitchen. i think the person who owns this house has got ton to be an artist. it is really sweet. >> really pretty. >> but it's not small and it's a good deal. >> it's in new orleans, and the owners say it was not flooded. i'm sure the potential buyers

are going to want to know about that. >> let me tell you, in new orleans, the most important card there is you're not in a flood zone, and this house isn't. and that in effect makes that house worth so much more. >> now to stamford, new york, the catskills, western catskills region. $298,000 for this. >> and what you get around this house, beyond this giant, painted lady house -- >> wow. >> as they call it up there. original victorian house, but inside in great shape. you get scenic paths throughout it, the valleys and the mountains. the whole surround of this house fits the exact look of that house. it's a museum quality, queen anne victorian, totally renovated. all of the interior is in natural woods. oak, walnut, chestnut, hickory. i'm not sure there's any other trees to stick in that house. you've got every kind of wood, but it's meticulous. look at the floors, the moldings, trim around the windows. pocket doors, four porches, antique lighting, ten-foot ceilings on the first floor. that's a high ten-foot ceiling in that dining room. it's got the original staircase

there and the original butler's pantry, which kids get a load of fun of when you have one of those with your house. >> or you get a butler. >> then it makes the wife of the house happy. >> there you go. >> especially if he's young and good-looking. >> okay, let's move on now, barbara. something more understated. we're going to sunny southern california, long beach. this is for $345,000. >> yeah, and everybody knows where long beach is. it's only 20 minutes south of l.a., but it's probably got the most beautiful weather in all of sunny california. it's picture perfect year-round weather. that's a white painted house. again, move-in condition. it has a living room with cove ceilings within. that's the back terrace there. again, the yard you can't quite see from here, but it's really lovely, perfectly manicured. there's the charming fireplace which adds charm to that living room setting there. it's got a brand new kitchen. floors, counters, recessed lighting. the doors lead to the patio we saw a moment ago and everything around the house is perfectly landscaped.

it's one sweet house. >> now the most expensive house in bozeman, montana, listing at $350,000. >> this is about an hour from big sky, montana, and i don't know if you know, but that is the biggest ski area in the usa, 90 miles from yellowstone park as well. it's constructed on entirely green materials, which a lot of people don't care about, but people will also pay extra for. it's got bamboo floors throughout, big and open, airy layout. there's a big backyard. the person likes guardening there and that certainly helps the value of the house. there is the front road, which looks like a highway, but it's not. it's a quiet road, so you don't get any traffic there. and it's got the latest rage, paperstone counters, which is a status symbol in a kitchen today. and why? because it's made out of recycled paper. >> oh, cool. >> and people kind of like to talk about that. this is also a sweet house. >> looks awfully nice, and you're a sweet lady. >> oh, al, cut it out. >> barbara corcoran, good to see you. coming up next, why ken burns says our national parks are america's best idea. he ain't whistling dixie, right

after this.

from the civil war to jazz and baseball, filmmaker ken burns has tackled some of america's great stories, and now he's focusing on our national parks, a treasure in the new film "the national parks: america's best idea," premieres this sunday night on most pbs stations. ken, it's great to have you back. i like looking at you, but i love looking at that photo much more. >> much, much better. >> i mention your resume there. so, why the parks, why now? >> i'm always interested in how our country works, you know, who are we. and our parks are the best idea. for the first time in human history, land was set aside not for kings or noblemen, the rich,

as land was disposed, but for everyone for all time. it could have only come from a democratic people. i know establishing a country with a democratic people is our best idea, but once that's established, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better idea than the parks. >> talk about the scope of the project. ten years in the making. >> we filmed from the gates of the arctic in northern alaska to the dry tortugas off the florida keys, from hawaii voluntarily canas to acadia, where the first light of day in maine hits this glorious and complicated republic. >> 53 of the nation's 58 national parks, and your biggest budget to date. >> yes, oh, because of that travel. >> oh, sure. >> and the attenuated stuff. we had to film in every season, at every time of day or night at every vantage, straining to look for that thing. but we're not just a travel log. this is not a nature film. it's a history of ideas and individuals. >> again, it's not just about natural beauty, it's these individuals. some of these people who played such an important role in not only the creation of the parks, but then in kind of nurturing them. you talk about people like john mueller. >> this is the wilderness prophet, this scottish-born

wandering who walks into yosemite and understands he could find god not with the dogmatic devotion of his father's faith which had whipped him until he memorized most of the old testament and new testament, but in the united states we could worship god on our own as we saw fit in the cathedrals of nature. and he began to write about this and convinced americans at this very critical moment in our history to save these places or we'd lose them. >> you say that a trip to a park should be a transformative experience, and actually, in the process of making this film, you were reminded of a transformative experience in your own young life. >> we were filming at yosemite, one of the first shots. i should have been dog tired. i told everybody, this is my first natural national park. i had been to the historic battle fields for the civil war, but i couldn't sleep. and all of a sudden, i realized that in 1959, when i was 6 years old, when my mom was dying of cancer, our house was a dim and demoralized place, my father

wasn't a great father, but one day he took me to shenandoah national park, and suddenly, lying away in yosemite, i could remember what his hand felt like in mine, the hike we took, all the songs that he sang to me that i've sung to my three daughters without remembering where they came from. so the parks perform sort of an open-heart surgery. they're not just about that spectacle, but who you see the spectacle with. >> and you hear the expression we're loving our parks to death. are you worried? >> not at all. >> after completing this project, are you worried we are overusing and straining the resources of these parks? >> those are always good tensions to have in a democracy. you know, if we didn't have those tensions, if there weren't people going to the parks, then they'd fall prey to the development they were originally created to provide an antidote to. it's like being in pottersville or bedford's falls. we don't want our grand canyon lined with mansions for the rich. we want it available for our children and our children's children. going there creates some tensions and problems, but those are all good problems to have in a democracy. >> but you have to worry that in a time of recession, when money

is so tight and going in so many different directions that smart people will neglect these parks. >> well, you know, they're getting good stimulus money as they did during the depression. they got franklin roosevelt's new deal dollars. and people can't travel that far afield. they're still a deal and they remind us in an intangible way what makes us americans. we all own this property. this is still, as john mere said, the morning of creation. and we have an opportunity not too far from our doorsteps to show ourselves and our children and our posterity why we sing "my country 'tis of thee." >> i'm going to sit down with my kids and watch this series, i can tell you that. ken, always great to have you here. >> my pleasure, matt. >> "the national parks: america's best idea" premieres this sunday night, 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. central time on pbs. coming up, why one amazingly talented young musician has risen to fame, and it's a miracle.

we're back now with anthony anderson who plays detective kevin bernard on nbc's "law & order," hitting a record milestone tonight. good morning. >> good morning. >> it's marking its 80th season, tied with "gunsmoke"? that's the longest running -- >> "gunsmoke," yeah. >> are you feeling old? >> i haven't been there 20 years, but longest running drama script in history. so i'm excited to be a part of that. >> what is the secret? why has this show persevered where others have come and gone, literally hundreds of shows in this period? >> i think the secret is, one, it starts with the writing. we have a great writing staff. but the chemistry that they've been able to put together along these 20 years. i'm the 26th cast member on this show since its inception, and i

think dick wolf knows what he wants and has an eye for that and has an eye for chemistry, and that's what it's about. >> chemistry. >> yeah, and you made a great transition. your fans know you as your comedy act and you're a comedian. in the movies, you made a great transition, but i understand there are some perks with this job since you've been in new york. have you been breaking the law and getting out of tickets? being a cop has an advantage. >> what are you talking about is this. >> no, i have a fake badge i get to go home with. i can stop traffic. >> how tough is it? you get to shoot in new york city. i see you guys all the time. >> right. >> which, it means all kinds of weather. >> it does, it does. new york isn't just a backdrop for the show. it's actually the seventh lead in our show. but i wouldn't want to shoot any other place. the lifeblood in this city, the energy, everything, the people. i mean, you know, we have people when we're shooting on the streets, we walk off the set and people don't care, new yorkers don't care. they walk right through. it i don't give a damn if this

is "law & order"! i've got to get to work! >> there was a really fun moment before this interview because a lot of the guys behind the cameras were recounting some scenes, and i love that scene and i love that scene and you were smiling. and you said something interesting. you said you made a pact with yourself at age 9 that you were going to have a life -- >> have a life doing this, but i also wanted to have an effect on people's lives with the work that i do. >> well, you do. anthony anderson. >> tonight at 8:00 p.m. here on nbc. >> look at that handsome man!

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. city police and fire officials are trying to work with the city leaders on ways to cut costs while avoiding furloughs that would reduce the numbers by as much as 20%. the city is trying to squeeze as much as $8 million out of the police and fire department. bob kerrey wants to hold the city to furloughs and extend other measures that could save the city $5 million. >> we to take compensatory time or other cuts here until the furlough plan and spirit we expect that this will obviously stop as well. it will protect younger officers from being laid off at all of us from being furloughed, but more importantly, it keeps the costs for the tax. >> another baltimore city police

detective and faces federal charges for making false statements and stealing from suspects, according to police. mark lunsford was a task force officer for the dea trafficking. read a criminal complaint alleges that the 16-year veteran received items including clothing from a person who have just been arrested. he has not been convicted of a crime and is scheduled to be back in court next month. >> we will be clearing by this afternoon, variably cloudy, seventies, right where we should be read the breeze is helping to get the humidity out of here. we have an issue. the front as god to slide to our south but reemerged tomorrow. -- fred is going to slide to our south but reemerged tomorrow. it will get through here saturday night. cooler than normal tomorrow.

>> thank you, and thank you for joining us. we bought another update at 9:55. 9:55.

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♪ when somebody needs you, it's no good unless he needs you all the way ♪ we're talking harry connick jr., out once again with a new album. he's going to be here to celebrate that with a live performance. and guess what? it is not a friday, it's a monday here on "today." so, mark your calendars. always fun when he's here. he just kind of makes -- brings the romance, i think, back into life. i'm ann curry along with al roker and msnbc's tamron hall, filling in for natalie. been doing a great job. >> thank you, ann. >> it's a party because we've got "weekend today's" amy robach. what's happening this weekend? >> well, is it time to start investing again? the best places to put your money right now. >> and the must-read books you'll want to curl up with this fall. we'll have more on that. >> and this is probably going to be the fun one picturewise.

janet, qulerst and i all go back to school to relive our glory days. >> wow. >> let's get to jenna now. what she was like back in college. oh, come on! >> i look just like amy! that's crazy! >> it's punky brewster! >> thank you, ann. >> aww, i love all the hair. '90s. >> looks like you haven't aged. like you're anchoring the news. >> that was my sweater with the unibrow. >> here's the tease. if you want to see what lester looked like, you're going to have to tune in this weekend on "today." >> actually, lester looked exactly the same. >> he probably looked just the same, right? who are we kidding? >> we also have a story this hour about triumph over tragedy? >> yeah, it's rachel barton pine's story. she started playing the violin at age 3. leading her to perform with the world's most acclaimed orchestras and to win so many awards, but it was that violin that nearly caused her death and we're going to hear her incredible story, but one of

inspiration, too. >> wow. >> it's amazing. yeah. >> and it's time for another meeting of "al's book club for kids," and this morning, members of the club get to meet the author of "39 clues: the black circle." >> ooh. >> we also have a moving story this morning about how a woman has inspired a lot of people to help women caught in brutal conflicts, not just to survive, but also to thrive. it's a really interesting thing a lot of women in america are taking up the cause of the women in combat, which is terrific. anyway, let's get a check of the weather. >> all righty. let's see what's going on for your weekend. we've got sunshine up and down the west coast. in fact, the western half of the country, sunny and warm. heavy rain, unfortunately, through the mississippi river valley into the southeast. sunday, things dry out there. we've got rain in the northth >> light showers out there now, but we will be into the 70's with a very bleak cloudy skies. winds northeasterly at 10 to 15

>> and, of course, we've got the weekend, and of course, you know what that means. it's sunday night -- oh, we're not going to do that. anyway, ann? >> thanks, al. what we are going to do is tell you about a violinist who can inspire all of us, and not just with her music. that's after these messages.

now to an extraordinary story about a young woman who survived a near-fatal accident and now she's a rising star on the concert stage. nbc's peter alexander has her remarkable story. ♪ >> reporter: she's been called a virtuo virtuoso, plays with a passion she brings to her music. admired for her ability to connect with audiences. >> i really believe that music, especially classical music, really uplifts us, it really is nourishing to our souls. >> reporter: rachel barton pine began playing the violin at 3 after her parents took her to a church concert. it was love at first sight. >> i started really just as a hobby. i just became absolutely obsessed by it to the point where my parents were saying things like, don't you want to put that thing down and go ride

your bike? >> reporter: that obsession paid off. by 10, rachel was already performing with one of the world's most acclaimed orchestras, the chicago symphony. and soon began winning international competitions. stardom seemed certain. that all changed on a january morning in 1995. rachel, then just 20, was getting off a train near chicago when her violin strap got caught in the doors. she was pulled underneath, one leg amputated, the other severely damaged. >> i was kind of transported to a place that i guess you would have to call it a near-death experience, and i really had the choice to either stay there or come back. i knew i wanted to come back, because i knew that there were so many things that i still wanted to accomplish with my life. >> reporter: it's been a long and painful recovery, more than 40 surgeries. >> gosh, if somebody had told me 14 years ago that 14 years later

they wouldn't have quite finished putting me back together yet, i would have said, you have got to be kidding. that's not possible. >> reporter: barton pine has fought to rebuild her career. she's recorded 15 critically acclaimed albums, her latest "a german bouquet," due out next week, and performs around the globe, traveling as many as 200 days a year. do you ever allow yourself to think what might have been, what you may have lost professionally? >> honestly, i really don't. you know, it's so iso terrok to think what would life have been if this hadn't happened? all we can do is the best with what we have and focus on the present and the future and make the most of our lives. ♪ >> reporter: critics say she's playing better than at any point in her career. >> her performances never feel phoned in to me. there is a depth of musicality, a real feeling for phrase, for tone quality that i think is

quite unusual. ♪ >> reporter: also unusual, her passion for heavy metal music. ♪ barton pine is as much a fan of metallica and slayer as she is of beethoven and bach, in a heavy metal band. >> i get to improvise in a different way i do in classical music. i'm inventing notes right up there on stage. >> reporter: barton pine says she's enjoying a renaissance personally and professionally. she is happily married and has started a foundation to help young musicians in need, a cause close to her heart. >> i knew that i could never fully repay those who helped me when i was a student, but i always dreamed of some day being able to help other students who might be in similar circumstances. >> reporter: visiting schools, she also hopes to inspire a new generation to find its own voice. >> i'm learning from them as they're discovering music, and you know, it really just keeps

me energized. >> reporter: and determined to be an ambassador of classical music wherever she goes. >> my dreams have come true. i'm playing the music that i love and traveling around the world sharing music with people. i'm learning more new music every day. >> reporter: a dream nearly lost, now fulfilled. ♪ for "today," peter alexander, nbc news, chicago. up next, women empowering women around the world.

most americans don't know the worst humanitarian crisis since world war ii is happening in congo. we showed you firsthand back in

2007 with b this crisis and introduced you to some of the victims who were struggling to survive. well, there is one woman named zanab zalbi, and she's created a foundation called women for women, that is changing lives in congo. she's helping create a movement connecting women here in this country with women not only in congo but all around the world. good morning to you. >> good morning to you. >> this is so interesting because there is now greater awareness in this country, and you think that the secretary of state clinton, when she went to congo just recently, has changed the paradigm of this awareness in some ways. >> absolutely. the war in congo has been going on since '98. there are more than 5 million people killed and hundreds of thousands of women are raped until today. and the change, when she went, when secretary clinton went to congo and said the most important thing there is to end violence against women, that we cannot end this war without ending that particular violence. >> we talk about this war -- what people really sort of need to understand, there is no place

that is more dangerous for women on earth than in congo, because not only is rape being used as a matter of war, but the kind of rape, the brutality of the rape can make you just ruined, just make you feel as though your life is ruined. >> absolutely. women are captured as sexual slaves where they are not only raped, but they are forced to cook and carry the ammunition in the war and the food for their captors. even refugees in the refugee camps, they get traded, and especially as they go to the forest and collect wood just for their cooking or their fire. they are getting raped on a daily basis. >> so, you're reaching out in your organization. and here's what's really phenomenal -- your organization has -- actually, there's enough interest in this country, in america now, to have seven marathons to help these women and raise money to help them. what specifically, how are you helping them? >> we're asking every american woman to join the run for congo. go to our website, womenforwomen.org, join a run and run and we raise money for

congolese women to get education, to learn about women's rights, to get health care, to learn a vocational skill and get a job at the end of a year program. >> it's kind of like the women's liberation movement in america. those of us who benefited from that, trying to extend those human rights to the women in other places. look, you can see there's a joyful moment there of singing and hope in that particular moment. you know, i've heard about dinners now that have been arranged. i know eve ensler's very involved in raising awareness about that. it's interesting that in this place that seems so far away, so many women in america seem to be making this connection. >> absolutely. we have more than 200,000 american women who have sponsored congolese women in the program where we ask every woman to sponsor one woman at a time by sending her $27 a month and exchange letters with her and communicate directly with her. and we have thousands of american women corresponding to congolese women, rwandaese women, iraqi, afghan women, and

that's the thing of our taking honorship of our voices and connecting to our sisters. >> that message is one that your mother taught you. you actually have an interesting personal story. you were raised in iraq and your father was saddam hussein's personal pilot and there was a lot of difficulties in your life growing up, but your mother helped you with one specific message. what did she say? >> my mother always told me that i have to be strong, i have to be independent, that i actually have to help other women in the world and i should never tolerate anybody abusing me or talking to me in the wrong way and always stand up on my own two feet. and she also taught me to dance and enjoy life and the congolese women have taught me that. they have been through hell and still manage to pick up for their kids' sake and dance and sing and say we are -- in that singing, they were singing thank you for bringing the movement to us. and i was so deeply touched that they know that they are part of a larger women's movement. >> zainab salni, your mother

taught you well and the influence obviously still grows. good luck and best wishes to your work. we'll have a link on our website so people can join the run if they'd like to. up next, a popular they'd like to. up next, a popular children's

when it comes to italian sauce, some people prefer this jar. but more people prefer this sauce. winner of the blind taste test. the sweet and savory taste of prego. it's in there.

and this morning on "al's book club for kids," "39 clues: the black circle." dan and amy cahill are on a steak for clues about their family's fortune. it's in "39 clues: the black circle." patrick's here with our kids ian goldstein, also treasure melvin, danielle alzalene, spencer wong in the back, dellroy brocket and tatiana perry. good to see you guys, and patrick, good to see you. >> good morning. thank you. >> so, this is a great series in

that every book is written by a different author. why did you want to be part of this? >> you know, i was a very easily distracted kid, and i think today kids -- there's even more to distract kids, and when i heard about this series where they took a big, giant adventure, put it in ten books. they included, you know, collectible trading cards and an online game and put it together. i thought, man, i would have loved this as a kid. this is what would have gotten me back into reading books. so i wanted to be a part of it. >> this one takes place in moscow, hence the faux fur hats our readers are wearing. and it actually focuses on a real-life mystery of princess anastasia and ras piuten. >> yeah, i love those characters. the thing about russia that you learn when you research a book like this is it's huge and it's old. there's so much to focus on. but those characters, rasputen, the royal family and tons of great stuff. >> and we've got some of the playing cards out here. your daughter's been playing along. how old is she? >> she's 12.

>> what does she think of it? >> she loves. it she's much better at the game part of it than i am. >> which is the way it should be. let's get to the questions. ian, what's your question for patrick? >> how did you like get your own special twist in the book? because of the other authors in the group. how did you get your own special twist is there. >> well, russia was sort of my own country to do whatever i needed to do, so i wanted to make it really exciting for kids. so i put them on a clock, so there's only so much time to find the clock so that's how i made it my own. good question. >> treasure? >> my question is, if the book was extended, what would you write next? >> if i got to write north another one, if i could keep going? >> mm-hmm. >> well, there's actually seven authors in ten books and i know everything that happens. i know a lot of secrets, but i can't give you more. i know it's going to australia next. that's all i can tell you. >> another tip there.

>> i would have loved to have gone to australia. >> did you have to go by a script or do your own thing for the book? >> i got to pretty much do my own thing, but the characters were so drawn by the time i got to them. picking up with them and going turned out to be easy. so i got to make my own choices for what i did in russia with them. >> spencer, what's your question? >> well, i wanted to know if it's easier for you to continue someone else's series or is it easier to continue your own series? >> well, this is the only time i've ever done this, worked within a series with different writers, and it was kind of challenging, but again, you've got a lot of back story and you sort of knew where the story was going to go and they gave you a lot of freedom in the middle to do your part. so i actually really liked it. a will the of the work was done for me, but i got to do the fun part of driving the story for a while. >> how did you come up with the clues? >> well, i didn't have to come up with the clues.

i knew one clue i was going to release in my book. i just had to figure out how they were going to get it. >> and tatiana? >> what made you make the setting in russia? >> again, i didn't get to pick the setting, but i'm so glad they did pick russia. there is just an amazing amount of stuff to look for. and russia's a lot like texas. everything's big in russia, so big characters, big places like the kremlin. there's a giant statue that's about twice as tall as the statue of liberty. you get to go up inside of. so yeah, i didn't get to pick it, but i'm sure glad. it's a great country. >> patrick and the book club kids, thank you very much. the book is "39 clues: the black circle," and our next book is "magyk" by angie sage and we'll be back next month to talk with the author. still to come, one of the stars of "law & order," plus, "ambush makeovers." that and more, but first your local news and weather.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. here's a look at some of our top stories. baltimore city police are investigating a shooting in northeast baltimore. it happened around 1:30 this morning at east 25th street. an adult male was shot and taken the hospital in critical condition. back in a minute with a check on

>> let's look at the forecast with sandra shaw. >> showers and white clouds around here this morning. we will be clearing or at least trying to this afternoon. 71 to 75 degrees is the temperature range today. tonight we will be down into the 50s. kind of our raw day tomorrow. it will be chilly out there but only up to 66 degrees. clouds for the majority of the day. but tonight, heavier rains possible. >> we will see you back here for 11 news at noon.

announcer: it's "live with regis & kelly." today, from the comedy series "the office" john krasinski