Read First Chapter

Lavinia · Sep 27, 2011

Hi, Friends! My book, Breaking the Code, is moving right along. In fact, things are happening really fast now. Media coverage is starting and my father and I have even been invited to be on NPR! Can hardly believe it. I was here asking for advice, not that long ago and hoping, wishing, dreaming for days like this!

Anyway, with my publisher's permission, I have posted the first chapter on my website. I would love to know what my AW friends think. And thanks, one more time, for your support! ~Karen

http://www.storymatters.com

underthecity · Sep 28, 2011

Hi Lavinia,

I checked out the website and saw the excerpt. Is the entire first chapter that one paragraph? I guess I expected to see a lot more than that. Unfortunately, it was so short I couldn't find it engaging. I guess I would need to read more than that.

So I read the "additional stories" thing about the Cord breaking down etc. I thought it was interesting and liked how you kept his "voice" throughout the piece. The only thing that bugged me was the "ho ho!" which got on my nerves. But since the piece was taken out of context, I didn't see what it had to do with breaking any codes, which was what I was curious about.

Anyhow, thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to reading the book. Will it be on Kindle?

Lavinia · Sep 28, 2011

OK, so I now have the second chapter up. Sorry I am so slow. I had formatting problems...live and learn, huh? Yes, the first one is very short. There's a reason for that, but I don't think you want the lengthy explanation. Anyway - I'd love it if you'd give it one more chance by reading the second chapter. It's longer, includes the first of many letters my father wrote to his "folks" during the war, and hopefully will give you a good sense of the book.

Thank you for taking a look and giving your input. I appreciate that! It's all new to me, so I'm learning as I go.

The "additional stories" section is just that. They are not necessarily related to the book. And the whole "story" you read is an email my father sent to me. It is unedited. "Hoho" is just something he often says, so he writes it too.

My hope beyond the book is that readers will be encouraged to share their own stories, or interview their loved ones and share those stories. All of those stories that we think we'll write down "some day" will one day be gone. So, I hope to create a space to share them.

Thanks again! ~Karen

Lavinia · Sep 28, 2011

OK. You reminded me how important the code breaking is to this story, so I've now posted chapter three as well. As I said, live and learn!

I hope there is enough there now to give you a really good idea of what the story is all about.

Thanks again, for your input. ~Karen

LoLo · Sep 29, 2011

Lavinia said:
Hi, Friends! My book, Breaking the Code, is moving right along. In fact, things are happening really fast now. Media coverage is starting and my father and I have even been invited to be on NPR! Can hardly believe it. I was here asking for advice, not that long ago and hoping, wishing, dreaming for days like this!

Anyway, with my publisher's permission, I have posted the first chapter on my website. I would love to know what my AW friends think. And thanks, one more time, for your support! ~Karen

http://www.storymatters.com

Congratulations!!!!! I am so happy for you.

underthecity · Sep 30, 2011

Hi Karen,

I read the posted chapters two and three and just kind of fell right into them. Very engaging! I did like how you mixed the "present" day with his history and the first letter. I also found it all very well written, only I thought it started better with chapter 2 than chapter 1, in my opinion.

Looking forward to reading the entire book.

RAL · Oct 8, 2011

Congratulations Karen!

Your story is engaging and makes me want to find out more about your father as a young man and hoping i hear about many code breaking heroics to come!

I don't know how that first paragraph ties in later on but i agree with underthecity when he said starting at chapter two seems to flow more naturally when i read it.

Great Stuff!

ral

Lavinia · Dec 5, 2011

I think once you read the book, you'll see why it was important to put that first mini-chapter in there. It's actually something that is often done in screen writing. You give a glimpse of the end to lead readers (watchers) through the book (movie). And then at the end, you show the same scene but in a bigger scope. I took a screen writing class and learned about it and then it just seemed to work for this book. Or at least, I hope it works. You'll have to let me know when you read it. Sorry to all the screen writers out there. I know I slaughtered the explanation. ~Karen

mccardey · Dec 5, 2011

Lavinia said:
I think once you read the book, you'll see why it was important to put that first mini-chapter in there. It's actually something that is often done in screen writing. You give a glimpse of the end to lead readers (watchers) through the book (movie). And then at the end, you show the same scene but in a bigger scope. I took a screen writing class and learned about it and then it just seemed to work for this book. Or at least, I hope it works. You'll have to let me know when you read it. Sorry to all the screen writers out there. I know I slaughtered the explanation. ~Karen

Funny thing - I've read your book (no, you don't know me...) and I thought you absolutely nailed it. Congratulations! It's a really engaging, well-written memoir that brings the reader back to a time we should all remember and gives us a glimpse of the people who - well - helped change history. And it did that from a small and intimate viewpoint. I really liked it. It was a terrific read; so - thank you.

trumpetology · Dec 5, 2011

Many congrats!!

Bookchew · Dec 7, 2011

I think you've reached the 1% of writers by publishing. Have you tried posting the 3 chapters elsewhere? It can only help.

Lavinia · Dec 17, 2011

Wow, Mccardy - That's quite an endorsement! Thank you so much.

Trump: Thanks!

Bookchew: No, I haven't posted it elsewhere. I'll think about that. Good suggestion! ~Karen

Rhonda2 · Jan 14, 2012

Very nicely written and on a subject you would have had to do a lot of research. How proud your father must be that he experiences could be so well documented.

priceless1 · Jan 14, 2012

Karen, I really love this. You captured me at the very beginning and kept the lines smooth between your narrative and your father's letters. Lovely writing, easy and conversational. The way you develop the story, I felt like I was joining you on your journey. So...I just bought it. Good job!

And don't you love Sourcebooks? One of their editors is such a lamb that I want to eat him every time I see him at writer's conferences.

song_of_calliope · Jan 14, 2012

I love this, too. You're doing really important work here, giving these stories a voice and helping make sure they get told before they're lost forever. What a wonderful thing you've done for your father, too, he must be very proud.

Your Web site is brilliant and your book looks fascinating. Congratulations.

Purple Rose · Feb 2, 2012

I can't seem to get access to it, maybe because I'm in Indonesia. Anyway, it looks like you have done very well with this book, it is a story that needed to be told and you told it beautifully. I wish you much success, Karen.

Read First Chapter

Lavinia

underthecity

Finestkind

Lavinia

Lavinia

LoLo

underthecity

Finestkind

RAL

Lavinia

mccardey

trumpetology

Bookchew

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin

Lavinia

Rhonda2

priceless1

song_of_calliope

Purple Rose

practical experience, FTW