. >> we've only got a few minutes with brad meltzer. we'd like to hear your heros. numbers are on the screen. go ahead and start calling in now. who's on the cover here? >> you know, it's funny. everyone think it's my son. i have two sons. my publisher wanted me to pick between my kids. i'm not stupid. it's my good friends rusty and elizabeth's son. the last hero, is my favorite hero. my mother. she died two years ago from breast cancer. before she died, my publisher was shutting down. i didn't know if anyone would take care of my contracts. i called my mom and i said, mom, i'm so nervous about this. she said i'd love you if you were a garbage man. she's not taking a crack. my uncle was a garbage man. i say that soaking in her strength. for anyone out there, the last two pages are blank. your heros are here, and your heros stories are here. you take this book, and give it this holiday season and put their picture. write one sentence about your father, grandfather, military member, what they mean to you, that would be the most beautiful page. i wanted my book to be s

so i sent him a free book, andid he's been a really good friend. >> brad meltzer is our guest. first call onk. heros, maryland. go ahead, please. a >> caller: yes, brad. i wanted to thank you ford creating such a wonderful book. i think it's extremely important that people really understand that, you know, heros are not just the people that are famous, but i like that you did put in people who are not famous, and a kid would have an opportunity -- not only your son, but anyone who's giving this gift to theirh family -- to let them know that ordinary people not only can do extraordinary things, but alsoir be truly extraordinary by pursuing their goals and dreams and really going after it andng can trying to make a difference. so i want to thank you for thish and for giving me something is can share with my family. >> host: now, who's your hero? >> caller: my hero would be mysh mother. she was a african-american woman from south, had a ninth grade education, -- raised my brotherf and i, he trades on wall street, and i have my master's degree. >> guest: you're exactly right. >> ho

. >> host: brad meltzer has been . . i've written a number of books, and each time you decide to write a book, at least i feel, you ask yourself the question. and i wrote about franklin roosevelt, and i wanted to find and answer the question was he as my eve during world war ii as many were alleging in the post-world war two period. this talk was about the american foreign policy. i wrote about john kennedy and i looked at the polling data which said that the great american presidents in the eyes of most people were predictably washington, lincoln, fdr, but the included kanaby. it was a puzzle to me. he was only their fourth house in the days and yet he had become an iconic figure, and i wanted to get into the archives, read the material, and make some assessment of what his whole presidency was light. i worked for several years on the two volume life of lyndon johnson, and one of the principal questions that captured my attention was how can someone who, as brilliant a politician, has successfully politician as lbj, hav

here on the booktv set, we are joined by author brad meltzer. who is known for his thrillers and fiction. he has written a nonfiction for children, "heros for my son" it is called. brad meltzer, why a nonfiction? >> well, the truth was -- is, it's for my son. eight years ago, on the night my son was born, i said i'm going to write a book that lasts his whole life. i was coming back from the hospital. it's that great moment when you can dream anything for your child. he can be the president, nice person, generous person, all realism, i'm going to write a book that lasts my whole life. i came home and started writing rules for him to live by. there you go. pictures of it. what i wanted was, i'm going to write rules down. love god. two, be nice to the fat kid in class. things i thought were important for him to know. the truth was i knew nothing about being a father. so a friend of mine told me the amazing story about the wright brothers. every time they'd go out, they'd bring enough materials for multiple crashes. they knew they'd fail. they would