In this edition of Endnotes, we take a look at Joe Moore's White Robes and Broken Badges (Harper, Aug.), which recounts how the author, an FBI informant and former Army sniper, infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in Florida.
Here's how the book came together.
Joe Moore, Author
“I experienced 10 years undercover inside some of the most dangerous organizations in the country. What I uncovered was not being told in full, and I wanted the nation to know the whole truth. The book looks at how alt-right forces and white supremacists work to infiltrate the political and legal arenas to effectuate their goals. I really tried to avoid politics in the book; however, terrorism is about achieving a political goal and so there was no way to keep it out completely.”
Kirby Kim, Senior Literary Agent, Janklow & Nesbit Associates
“I was drawn to the true crime element, but I was also looking for a story about the rise of white supremacy in America. We worked on the proposal with Jon Land, who is an experienced ghostwriter but also a crime novelist. We figured out the structure of the book based on the elements we wanted to make sure were included: details about spycraft, an inside look at the modern KKK, and the disturbing infiltration of law enforcement by white supremacists.”
Maddie Pillari, Editor, Harper
“From the moment I saw the proposal, I knew this would be a unique and important project. The sheer gravity of Joe’s story—the shocking details of his experience infiltrating the KKK and the firsthand account of his extraordinary heroism—blew me away. It was immediately clear that this was a book that had the power not only to push the conversation forward, but also to shed new light on the terrifying rise of racism and hate in the U.S.”
Mike McQuade, Cover Designer
“The cover’s intensity is much like Joe’s encounters with the right-wing extremist groups that he helped take down. I think the cover is effective. Joe looking through blinds, within the cut-out shape of a Klan member.”
