We chat with author K.D. Alden about Lady Codebreaker, which is a gripping historical novel based on the true story of the woman who used her codebreaking skills to bring down Prohibition gangsters and WWII Nazis, and who ultimately helped found the present-day NSA.
Hi, K.D.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! Well, I’m definitely a nerd, so thank you for featuring me in The Nerd Daily. I feel right at home.
A little bit about me: I live in south Florida with two goofy rescue greyhounds and my husband of 31 years (which of course means that I was, let’s see … at least minus 19 when we met. Because no way am I this old).
I’m a dreamer with a wide practical streak—which is why I majored in art history. So many employers were knocking down my door to hire me with that degree that I decided to get a master’s in it, too! Then, staying true to the pragmatism mentioned above, I wrote a novel instead of my thesis. It was a very, very bad book. So I sent it off to a lot of publishers, convinced that I’d immediately be offered a six figure advance. You can guess how that turned out.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Probably in-utero. My mom was a literature professor.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Probably The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. Or A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: (Laughing.) It’s “in development.” I haven’t even written a synopsis for it yet, but the main character won’t leave me alone! Serious answer: Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.
Your latest novel, Lady Codebreaker, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
True heroine. Secrets, spies, smugglers.
What can readers expect?
A deep dive into the life and love of an extraordinary woman. My protagonist, Grace Feldman, is based upon cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman, one of the first female codebreakers to work for the U.S. government. Her top secret job aided in the capture of saboteurs in WWI, rum-runners during Prohibition and Nazi spies in WWII. She was small at 5’ 3” but as her husband says in the novel, she had a sky-scraper in her soul.
Where did the inspiration for Lady Codebreaker come from?
I first encountered Elizebeth Smith Friedman on a PBS special called The Codebreaker, which is based on The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies by Jason Fagone. It’s a brilliant book–narrative non-fiction.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
So many! A few got murdered off for the capital crime of Not Advancing the Plot. But I loved writing Nellie Farquhar, Kangaroo Cox—and of course, Grace and Robert. The development of their relationship over the years fascinated me.
What’s next for you?
I mentioned that synopsis swirling around in my head … lol. Since I haven’t seen it yet, neither has my agent or editor! All I can say is that the protagonist is an American spy, and I hope they like her as much as I do.
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
I’m really looking forward to reading:
- The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester
- The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson
- Can’t We Be Friends by Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight
- The House on Prytannia Street by Karen White
- Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell
And so many others! These are just a few I can think of off the top of my head!
