My book, Breaking the Code, finally released!

I'm so excited to announce that my book, Breaking the Code - a Father's Secret, a Daughter's Journey, and the Question That Changed Everything (Sourcebooks), came out on 11/1/11. Yay! If you haven't followed any of this, in short here's a synopsis. My father is a WWII veteran who started experiencing flashbacks and nightmares more than 50-years after the war. I set out to find a way to help him. When he gave me more than 400 pages of letters he'd written during the war, I started asking him questions. Over the course of several years, I learned that he hadn't sat behind a desk as he'd lead me to believe for many years. He'd actually worked as part of a 5-person team, breaking a top secret code based on the Japanese, Katakana. This was the basis for the greatest loss of his life and the reason for PTSD to surface many years later.

Anyway - I want to thank all of you who supported me as I queried and questioned, while writing the book. The forum has meant a lot to me and in fact one member made himself so available that I personally thank him in the book. My father and I were even interviewed on National Public Radio (NPR). You can listen to it here; NPR Media Player

My father is 90 now and is going to book signings with me. He's just amazing. He has changed so much from the closed off person he once was. Now he's talking people's ears off. And I swear he gets younger with each event we do. What an adventure it has been for both of us. Thank you WW2Forums! ~Karen Fisher-Alaniz

 

Cool! What an acheivement! Im sure your Dad is way proud...You've given your fathers past life a positive validity, shown him what he did was important and saved lives...Your a good son.

 

Thank you all! You're the best!

 

Gosh! Getting red now...probably sexist to say thats even better!
Thanks for the heads up Graybeard...

 

I guess I should have said that it's available at bookstores everywhere, and online at places like Amazon.com Amazon.com: Breaking the Code: A Father's Secret, a Daughter's Journey, and the Question That Changed Everything (9781402261121): Karen Fisher-Alaniz: Books . In fact, if you order it by phone (has to be phone) from my local independent bookstore Book & Game - Home , you can get a signed one. And if you tell them you want my dad to sign it too, I'll make sure that happens. Thanks again, everyone!

 

Great achievement, Karen. Best of luck with the book.

 

Not sure how I missed this, but congrats on the book, Karen.

 

Congratulations and I wish you much success. I pleased for you and your father that his story has been told. Please tell him how thankful we are for his service.

I will check out your book.

 

Not sure how I missed this either...will be ordering it as soon as pay day rolls forth.

 

Congratulations on the book! Is this signed copy still an option ... or can I purchase one and send it to you through the mail to have it signed (with return-postage paid, of course!) by you and your dad??

 

Thanks everyone. Glad you enjoyed it, Lou. Very busy time, sorry it took me so stinkin' long to get back here. Indianajdp - yes, you can still call the bookstore and ask for a signed copy. And if you'd like Dad to sign it too, let them know that. Thanks for your interest. Dad continues to be amazed that people want to hear his story - quite an adventure at the age of 90! ~Karen

 

I plan on calling the store this weekend! This is a birthday present to myself and I am very anxious to hear his story. I'll post more once I get through the book, and I absolutely will request that he sign it, too. I've obviously never met your dad, but I hold his generation and those that fought in the war in the highest regard. Please pass along my thanks to him for his service and sacrifice to our country.

 

The History channel use to have a ww2 discussion board and for years there was a poster P Jacobson who was also in the intel department. Maybe your father knew of him? He died several years ago and Im not sure who might have copies of his postings, but it was sure fun watching him go after the PH deniers.

 

Karen,
Thanks for writing your Dad's story. Give him my best regards. It is nice that he gets to experience the thanks people still hold for our veterans.

 

Thanks once again, everyone.

When we get a call from the bookstore to sign a book, Dad and I make that part of our Wednesday routine. My "Wednesdays with Murray" began when he started having symptoms of PTSD, almost 10-years ago now; we still go to breakfast every Wednesday at a local diner. We also run errands together. So, when we get the call that someone wants him to sign a book, he really looks forward to it. Thanks for purchasing our book!

Steve, that looks interesting. I'll go poke around on the website. ~Karen

 

Congradulations! Maybe I will buy it whevener I find myself browsing Chapters.ca again!