This month’s guest on the FF Women’s Fiction column is bestselling author, Katherine Reay. Katherine’s newest book, THE BERLIN LETTERS, set in the Cold War era, tells the story of a CIA codebreaker who discovers that the father she long assumed was dead is actually imprisoned in East Germany. Her daring attempt to free her father and get him out of Berlin alive is full of twists, turns, danger, and love in the last place she expected to find it.   Q: Katherine, I’m so happy you’re with us today. What inspired you to write The Berlin Letters, and how did you create your characters Luisa and Haris? A: While writing my previous novel, A Shadow in Moscow, I discovered more fascinating stories and hidden secrets, courageous acts and remarkable sacrifices, than I could use— and so many interesting ones out of Berlin too. I also was intrigued by the Wall, both as iconic symbol of the Cold War and as barrier that kept families apart for 28 years. Take all that and my discovery of the extraordinary women codebreakers of the CIA’s Venona Project and I was off and running. As for my two main characters, Luisa and Haris,…

Book Title: THE BERLIN LETTERS Character Name: Luisa Voekler   How would you describe your family or your childhood? Dull. Or maybe gray is a more appropriate description. I was raised by my grandparents, who brought me from West Berlin, and they were afraid in many ways and that translated into strict rules for me and, for what I imagined to be, little fun. But I can’t discount the love they showered on me – they even left West Berlin just to give me a better life. I also can’t forget the fun riddles and puzzles my Opa constantly created for me. I guess I shouldn’t be too critical about my childhood. It’s all about perspective, isn’t it?   What was your greatest talent? I suppose cracking all those riddles, codes, and puzzles my Opa made for me. I couldn’t find a birthday gift without solving a complicated maze of clues. It was fun, really, and I loved him for making all those efforts to spend time with me. Now – it’s my career. It’s odd, but true – my childhood game and the acumen I developed has turned into an amazing profession at the CIA. Most days on the…