Best-selling author Don Winslow talks about 'The Border'
DALLAS - For 20 years, best-selling novelist Don Winslow has investigated and written about America’s war on drugs.
His newest book called “The Border” wraps up his trilogy. It’s a story that follows a new generation of police, drug traffickers, addicts and politicians.
Winslow has spent a lot of time at the border carefully researching the cartels, crime and law enforcement for his books.
“I’ve had police departments come to me. The books are used as training, I think by some DEA people and some sheriff’s departments. So it’s very flattering,” he said.
He has strong feelings about President Donald Trump’s border wall. He doesn’t believe it will work.
“In terms of drugs, the proposed wall will do absolutely no good at all and the reasons are very simple. There are 52 official points of entry along that border, three of which really matter and one of which is the busiest commercial border in the Western Hemisphere. So most, 90 percent of the drugs – and these are the DEA’s numbers -- come through those ports of entry in tractor-trailer trucks or vehicles. There’s no way you’re going to stop that unless you want to shut down commerce between the two countries,” he said.
The final novel is set in the present day and includes some characters – like a president – who may sound familiar.
“I set the books in our times. It would be silly of me to pretend the president is someone other than who he is,” Winslow said.
Winslow will be at a book signing event Thursday at 7 p.m. at Interabang Books on Preston Road and Royal Lane in Dallas.