Jennifer Chiaverini
Michael Chiaverini
Jennifer Chiaverini
Switchboard Soldiers, the latest historical novel by Madison-based New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini, brings to life an overlooked story of World War I by introducing readers to the real and fictional women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Among the first female enlistees, they were well-trained telephone operators, fluent in English and French, deployed throughout France to swiftly and accurately connect multiple calls that conveyed classified military information. Chiaverini writes as if she were alongside these women, and Switchboard Soldiers recently appeared on BookBub’s list of “best historical fiction coming out this summer.” It's free to attend but a ticket is required; find info at mysterytomebooks.com.
Mystery to Me and Leopold's presents: Jennifer Chiaverini! 6:00p book talk at Mystery to Me, afterparty to follow at Leopold's Books Bar Caffe
media release: From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini, a bold, revelatory novel about one of the great untold stories of World War I—the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, who broke down gender barriers in the military, validated women as essential workers, and battled a pandemic as they helped lead the Allies to victory.
In June 1917, General John Pershing arrived in France to establish American forces in Europe, but communications with Allied commanders and troops in the field were perilously unreliable. Pershing needed telephone operators who could swiftly and accurately connect multiple calls, speak fluent French and English, remain steady under fire, and provide the absolute secrecy required for conveying classified military information. At the time, nearly all American telephone operators were women—but women were not permitted to enlist, or even to vote in most states. Nevertheless, the U.S. Army Signal Corps promptly began recruiting them.
Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-two novels, including critically acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series.
Her works of nonfiction include seven collections of quilt patterns and original designs featured in Country Woman, Quiltmaker, Quilt, and other magazines. She has also written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Writer’s Digest, Quilter’s Newsletter, and numerous online publications.
In 2020, Chiaverini was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association for her novel Resistance Women.
Her most recent novel, Switchboard Soldiers, has earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist. Publishers Weekly praised the novel as “Enchanting,” adding, “Chiaverini brings her singular characters to life, including real historical figures, as they become united in the quest to serve their country. Fans of historical fiction will be captivated.” About her historical novels, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, “In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years.”
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin.