Hi. Jason Fagone here, author of “The Woman Who Smashed Codes,” the true story of the codebreaking Quaker poet Elizebeth Smith Friedman. She caught gangsters and Nazi spies with little more than a paper and pencil. I spent years researching her life.
The book is out today in paperback, which is why I’m writing.
If you’re getting this email, you are probably either
a person who wrote me at some point over the last year to say you enjoyed the book (thank you)
a reader who pointed out a misprint (thank you)
a person who used to subscribe to my old email newsletter, years ago, and who may or may not want to keep getting updates on my projects (no problem if not, sorry to bother, hit unsubscribe)
my parents (hi)
I realize that some of you have probably already bought the book in hardcover, kindle, or audiobook format. I am not asking you to buy the book a second time. Instead, I’m asking for this:
If you liked the book, please tell one friend about it.
In person, if possible. Or on the phone. Social media is ok too.
The truth about books is that the whole publishing industry is a crazy mystery and there is no magic way to get a book in front of readers who may enjoy it.
The only way that works, unless you are James Patterson or something, is grassroots conversation. People telling other people that they like it. So…
Here are a few links about the book you can share:
a Twitter-thread “trailer” for the book that tells a shortened version of Elizebeth’s tale
an archive of primary source documents I uploaded to the Internet Archive
a review of the book (some options: NPR, Washington Post, New York Times, SF Chronicle, Ars Technica)
That’s it. Thanks for listening. And if you’d like to get occasional updates about the book, Elizebeth Smith Friedman’s story, and my other projects, you should stay subscribed to this list. The name of the list, by the way, is:
K E D P O !
N L G S W !
O W E I E R
P.S. If you would like a signed bookplate for your hardcover or paperback of TWWSC, write me at jfagone@gmail.com and I will send you one.