Olivia Campbell—Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover of the book Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History by Olivia Campbell showing the title in white, subtitle in blue, and author’s name in white over a photo of two female scientists, with faces obscured, in front of a chalkboard showing the atomic symbol and mathematical equations.
SISTERS IN SCIENCE:
HOW FOUR WOMEN PHYSICISTS ESCAPED NAZI GERMANY
AND MADE SCIENTIFIC HISTORY
Olivia Campbell
HarperCollins/Park Row Books, December 31, 2024
Hardcover, $33, eBook, $15, Audio Book, $25
Hardcover ISBN-13: 9780778333388, eBook ASIN: B0CQ5GY9RN
Audio Book ASIN: B0CSL5XYD9

Campbell reports:

I had an idea to tell the story of two women scientists: one who escaped Nazi Germany and one who didn’t. I began by digging into the data collected by Northeastern University researchers on women academics who attempted to flee the Nazis. There, I found the story of three women physicists who specialized in spectroscopy. All had helped each other flee to America. Then I discovered that physicist Lise Meitner also knew these women and was involved in assisting them to escape. That sounded like a story I wanted to tell.

Portrait photo of Olivia Campbell in an outdoor setting.
Since this is my second book, my publisher had first right of refusal. I developed the book proposal in a few months and they excitedly accepted it. I wish I’d given myself more time. I ended up having to push my deadline and now have an awkward publication date that likely will be overshadowed by coverage of the incoming president.

I got stuck at several points in the book-writing process. Much of the subject matter was emotionally distressing. I don’t speak German. I don’t have a background in physics. I was struggling to translate these four women’s stories into a cohesive narrative. I felt overwhelmed by information about the era and kept having to remind myself to maintain my focus and include only the background and contextual information necessary to tell these women’s stories.

I wish I had been more organized, but at least I began adding end notes as soon as I started writing, unlike with my first book when I left that until the end.

I got my agent by writing pieces that blend science and culture for LitHub. I recently became a regular contributor at National Geographic, writing stories in the same vein after an editor saw my NASW bio! Bylines and professional organizations really work!

My advice to aspiring authors is to write about what piques your interest. When writing a nonfiction book, you can’t get bored with the topic a year in, because you likely have a year or more to go.

Contact info:

NASW members: will your book be published soon? Promote it by submitting your report for Advance Copy.

Tell your fellow NASW members how you came up with the idea for your book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. Include what you wish you had known before you began working on your book, or had done differently.

See https://www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines.

View Advance Copy archives at https://www.nasw.org/member-article/advance-copy.

Thinking of writing a book? If you are a NASW member, you may access a list of more than 200 books and online resources to help you craft your book proposal, find an agent and funding sources, negotiate your contract, learn about self-publishing, publicize and market your book, and more at https://www.nasw.org/article/write-book.

View the recording of a Advance Copy Virtual Business Chat, A Primer for Authors on Book Publicity. NASW member login required.

View the recording of a Virtual Business Chat presented by NASW’s Freelance Committee and Advance Copy column Writing Wikipedia Profiles. NASW member login required.

View the recording of a recent Virtual Skills Chat presented by NASW’s Editing Committee How to Break into Editing. NASW member login required.

View the recording of a recent Virtual Skills Chat presented by NASW’s Freelance Committee Using Generative A.I. as Writers and Editors. NASW member login required.

Send book info and questions about book publishing to Lynne Lamberg, NASW book editor, llamberg@nasw.org.

Follow @LynneLamberg and @lynnelamberg.bsky.social for news about NASW authors, science/medical books, and writing.

Banner image adapted from original photo by Olivia Campbell.

NASW invites publishers and publicists to purchase NASW website ads to promote their authors and books via NASW’s self-service purchasing portal.

Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.

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