Literary Aviatrix: The Power of Story - Women in Aviation

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an astronaut takes a needle and thread to space? In this episode, I talk with astronaut, engineer, and textile artist Karen Nyberg and author Ann McCallum Staats about their gorgeous new picture book, A Quilt of Stars: Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream. Buy the book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/a-quilt-of-stars/ Karen began dreaming of becoming an astronaut when she was eight years old, growing up in a tiny Minnesota town. That seemingly impossible dream eventually carried her to NASA, two spaceflights, and 166 days aboard the International Space Station. Along the way, she also carried something else with her: a lifelong love of sewing and textile art. During her long-duration mission aboard the ISS, Karen brought fabric, thread, and needles into space. What began as a personal creative outlet eventually inspired an invitation to quilters around the world to contribute star-themed blocks to the Astronomical Quilt Block Challenge. They expected enough for a quilt. More than 2,400 blocks arrived from at least 30 countries. Those individual pieces—each reflecting the hands, imagination, and experiences of the person who made it—became 28 quilts and a beautiful physical representation of something Karen experienced while looking down at Earth from space: we are individual pieces of something much larger. Our conversation ranges from Karen's childhood dream and path to NASA to the very real challenges of working in a spacesuit that wasn't designed for smaller bodies. We talk about imposter syndrome, the decisions and disappointments that unexpectedly open other doors, and what it meant to help build the International Space Station. But we also spend a lot of time talking about art. Karen and I both grew up sewing, and I loved exploring the false boundaries we sometimes draw between technical and creative pursuits. Engineering requires creativity. Traditional quilting is deeply mathematical. A person doesn't have to choose between being an engineer and an artist—or between pursuing an audacious dream and finding joy in making something beautiful with her hands. Ann shares how Karen's story grew from a chapter in her book High Flyers into a picture book of its own, and how illustrator Alida Massari brought the story to life on the page. We also talk about the Overview Effect—the profound shift in perspective astronauts often describe after seeing our small, interconnected planet against the blackness of space—and Karen's hope that A Quilt of Stars might give young readers a little glimpse of that perspective for themselves. This is a conversation about space and science, but it's also about art, possibility, connection, and what can happen when a little girl is allowed to believe that an impossible dream might not be impossible after all. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail A decade before Amelia Earhart became a household name, Harriet Quimby made aviation history. In 1911, Quimby became the first woman in the United States to earn a pilot’s license. The following year, she became the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel—a dangerous and extraordinary achievement at a time when aviation itself was still in its infancy. And then history largely forgot her. In this episode I talk with longtime television journalist and author Don Dahler about his biography Fearless: Harriet Quimby, a Life Without Limit . He shares Quimby’s beginnings on a struggling Michigan farm; her successful career as a journalist, critic, and travel writer; her determination to learn to fly despite widespread resistance to women in aviation; her ingenious plum-colored flying suit; and the extraordinary 1912 English Channel flight whose moment in the headlines was eclipsed by the sinking of the Titanic. And Harriet was much more than a pilot. Don describes a fiercely independent woman who traveled the world, wrote fearlessly, resisted the limitations society placed on women, supported her family, wrote screenplays, and imagined an eventual career as a novelist—a future cut short when she died in an aviation accident at just 37. We also wander into Don’s own fascinating story. A former CBS News correspondent and war reporter, Don is the author of the memoir Souvenirs from an Absurd Life . We talk about journalism, adventure, writing, encounters from Ethiopia to Grenada, retirement, curiosity, and what a lifetime spent deliberately seeking out the wider world has taught him. And near the end, our conversation circles back to the word at the heart of Harriet’s story: fearless . Is anyone really fearless? Or is courage something more interesting—the ability to acknowledge fear, accept the risk, and keep doing the thing that matters anyway? Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail In her memoir, Lady MacGyver , Michelle Huntington shares everything from ferry flights across oceans to surviving a lightning strike over Australia's Snowy Mountains, building an airline career after being told women couldn't be pilots, motherhood, breast cancer, and the mindset that carried her through it all. Our discussion explores those experiences, along with her writing process, her philosophy of "keep going until you can't," and even a friendly debate about the word aviatrix. But when we chatted, I hadn’t finished the book yet. Without spoiling the ending, I'll simply say that the final chapters gave me an even deeper appreciation for Michelle's courage and reminded me that the barriers women face in aviation are far more recent, and far more persistent, than we'd like to believe. Lady MacGyver needs to be on every aviation company CEO’s, COO’s, and Human Resources Manager’s reading list. Our community’s culture still needs a lot of work. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail Few figures loom larger in aviation history than Amelia Earhart. Yet after hundreds of books, countless documentaries, and nearly a century of speculation, how much do we actually know about the woman behind the legend? In this episode, Laurie Gwen Shapiro talks about her bestselling book, The Aviator and the Showman . Drawing on newly digitized interviews, archival discoveries, and years of research, Laurie argues that the real mystery of Amelia Earhart isn't what happened to her at the end of her final flight—it's understanding who she was as a person. We explore Earhart's journey from social worker and hobby pilot to international celebrity, the complicated role publisher and promoter George Palmer Putnam played in her fame, and the tension between aviation skill, public image, and advocacy. We also discuss the extraordinary ways Earhart used her platform to champion both aviation and women's rights. Along the way, we venture into the world of some of Earhart's remarkable contemporaries, including Eleanor Smith, Louise Thaden, Lady Mary Heath, Bessie Coleman, and Jackie Cochran. We also talk about the challenges—and rewards—of writing history that is deeply researched, rigorously sourced, and unafraid to embrace the complexity of its subjects. Whether you're a lifelong Amelia Earhart enthusiast or someone who has wondered why she continues to captivate the public imagination nearly a century later, I think you'll find this conversation both thought-provoking and illuminating. And if you're a writer hoping to dig into a different historical mystery, you'll learn from Laurie's expertise as an author, journalist, and professor of journalism. Buy the book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/the-aviator-and-the-showman/ Some links we discuss in the episode: NASM Amelia Earhart Project Recordings: https://sirismm.si.edu/EADpdfs/NASM.2020.0025.pdf Archive Grid: https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/ Book Finder: https://www.bookfinder.com Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a family scrapbook opens a door into a forgotten chapter of aviation history? Author Cindy Weigand never intended to become a historian of women in aviation. While sorting through her late mother's belongings, she discovered scrapbooks and newspaper clippings connected to her great-uncle Jack, a barnstormer of the 1920s. What began as a family history project soon became a deep dive into the remarkable women pilots who shared the skies during aviation's Golden Age. In this conversation, Cindy and I discuss her novel Mavis Perkins: Flying Journalist , a work of historical fiction inspired by the real women aviators of the 1920s. Together we explore the world of barnstormers, air races, flying clubs, Billy Mitchell's controversial warnings about air power, and the women who flew alongside Amelia Earhart whose stories are rarely told today. The conversation also touches on Cindy's earlier work documenting Texas women who served during World War II, the challenges of historical research, self-publishing, and her efforts to adapt these stories for film. If this history piques your interest, you might enjoy my Aviatrix Classics discussions with Dr. Jacque Boyd and Captain Jenny Beatty. You can find our latest conversation about Ruth Nichols, one of Mavis’ Snooty Skylarks in Cindy’s book, on the Literary Aviatrix website, YouTube Channel, and podcast. https://literaryaviatrix.com/ruth-nichols/ Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered whether self-publishing is the right path—or how to do it without getting overwhelmed or taken advantage of—this conversation is for you. In this episode, I talk with publishing consultant Polly Letofsky, founder of My Word Publishing, to walk through what self-publishing actually looks like behind the scenes. From maintaining your rights to building the right editorial team, Polly breaks down the process with honesty, clarity, and a few hard-earned lessons. Using my own book-in-progress as a real-time example, we explore what happens when an author books a consult, what it really costs to publish well, and how to avoid the most common (and expensive) mistakes. If you’ve got a story in you this episode is a roadmap for getting it into the world the right way. In This Episode, We Talk About: •Why Polly built a publishing model where authors keep 100% of their rights and royalties •The difference between bad decisions vs. getting ripped off in publishing •What actually happens during a self-publishing consult •The real cost breakdown of publishing a professional-quality book •Why editing is non-negotiable (and what kind you actually need) •How to think about book length, structure, and audience •The pros and cons of including photos in your book •Why authors should not rush the final stages of publishing •How Amazon KDP vs. Ingram impacts your distribution strategy •What royalties really look like—and how authors make money •The role of AI in writing and publishing (and where it falls short) Key Takeaways 1. You don’t have to give up control to publish well. Polly’s entire model is built around authors maintaining ownership—from ISBNs to royalties to final decisions. 2. Editing is where your book becomes your book. Developmental, copy line, and proof editing all serve different purposes—and skipping them shows. 3. Your publishing “team” matters more than you think. Editors, designers, and layout specialists aren’t interchangeable. The right fit changes everything. 4. Distribution strategy should match your goals. If you’re speaking, selling at events, or reaching niche audiences, platforms like Ingram matter. 5. Don’t rush the finish line. That final stretch is where good books either become great—or stay just good. Resources Mentioned •Polly Letofsky – My Word Publishing mywordpublishing.com •Polly’s “Publishing 101” video https://youtube/HJRkczc9m08?si=7WlDI9S3jsuWbiu8 •Aviatrix Writer’s Room resources: oInterview with literary agent Amy Collins https://literaryaviatrix.com/amy-collins/ oInterview with hybrid publisher Brooke Warner https://literaryaviatrix.com/brooke-warner/ oInterview with editor Marilyn Noble https://literaryaviatrix.com/professional-editing/ oInterview with book promoter Jen Coburn https://literaryaviatrix.com/book-promotion/ Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail Heidi Porch was 540 miles east-northeast of Hawaii when her engine began losing oil pressure. She was 500 feet above the Pacific when she turned off the master switch and prepared to ditch. In this episode, Heidi joins me to talk about Ditching the Sky , her gripping memoir of ferrying single-engine Cessnas across the Pacific in the 1980s—and the day her engine quit over open ocean. We talk about: Growing up with a dream of becoming an airline pilot Building time as a glider pilot and ferry pilot Flying 17-hour legs over open ocean without autopilot Trusting your instincts when your “little voice” says something isn’t right Calling a Mayday when others aren’t convinced Engineering your own ditching plan mid-flight Surviving impact Climbing into a life raft in the open ocean Being rescued during the Cold War by a Soviet refrigeration vessel And going on to fly the DC-9, Airbus 320, Boeing 747-400, Airbus 330, and Gulfstream 500 We also talk about writing the book decades later, self-publishing, narrating her own audiobook—and the unexpected recognition that followed. This is a story about preparation, intuition, resilience, and the long arc of a career that almost ended before it began. Buy the book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/ditching-the-sky/ Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail Australian private pilot and author Fran West joins me to talk about her remarkable three-month journey flying around the coastline of Australia in a Cessna 172—an adventure she later captured in her photo-rich journal, Plane Reflections . What began as inspiration from the 1978 aerial circumnavigation known as “Pelican’s Progress” became Aus Flight ’99—a meticulously planned, shoestring-budget flight completed with grit, humility, and hard-earned wisdom. Fran shares what it really takes to execute a marathon aviation journey: · 52 charts · 67 flight plans · 75 mainland airstrips + 15 in Tasmania · 101 landings · Multiple weather turn-backs · And the emotional weight of flying in a community that didn’t always support her We talk about: · Growing up inspired by aviation books (and inheriting a library of them) · Becoming a private pilot while building a career as a librarian · Navigating male-dominated flying spaces · The curious scrutiny around “solo” flights · Why turning back is not failure · Writing and self-publishing Plane Reflections · And an unforgettable chocolate cake “mud map” story This conversation is about aviation, resilience, self-trust, and doing the dream. Buy the book on Etsy. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail Caroline Paul—former San Francisco firefighter, lifelong adventurer, and pilot—joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about her new book, Why Fly (launching February 24). We talk gyrocopters, paragliding, trikes, the “rat-tat-tat” rhythm of humor and terror in pilot stories, and the way aviation can become both refuge and mirror when relationships shift and life asks us to find our footing again. 📚 Pre-order Why Fly through my website here: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/why-fly/ In This Episode: Why the title is Why Fly (no question mark—and why that matters) Caroline’s flight path: Cessna training → paragliding → weight-shift trike → gyrocopter What a gyrocopter is, how it flies, and why it stole her heart “Pilot error” as a framework for accountability, learning, and humility The wonder of flight: scale, perspective, and the quiet, tearful moments that catch you by surprise Why girls are often trained to be cautious—and how bravery can be taught Tower communication vs. relationship communication Featured Book: Why Fly Caroline’s Other Titles: Fighting Fire (memoir) The Gutsy Girl You Are Mighty Tough Broad Lost Cat East Wind Rain About Caroline Paul Caroline Paul is a former San Francisco firefighter, author of eight books, and a lifelong pilot and outdoor adventurer. Her writing explores bravery, wonder, risk, and what we learn when we choose to step outside our comfort zones. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail In this Aviatrix Writers’ Room conversation, former NASA public affairs specialist and author of four nonfiction picture books, Kirsten W. Larson talks about writing true stories for young readers. We dig into how she learned the craft, the communities and organizations that helped her grow, and the realities of traditional publishing timelines (especially for illustrated nonfiction). Kirsten shares a clear-eyed look at writing “school and library” work-for-hire books, what those contracts mean for rights and creative control, and why she ultimately shifted her focus toward her own trade projects. We also talk about nonfiction kidlit craft—how research becomes story, why emotional connection matters, and the revision mindset behind her Reimagine Your Writing craft books Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book: A Step-by-Step Revision Guide and her latest launching February 1st - Telling it True: How to Write Non-Fiction Kids (and Teens) Want to Read (Reimagine Your Writing). What we cover • How Kirsten developed her craft (study, critique, repetition, feedback) • Communities that helped: critique groups, SCBWI, NFFest, webinars, classes • What “kidlit nonfiction” really asks of the writer: story first, facts supported in back matter • The publishing timeline reality for illustrated books (and why it takes years) • Work-for-hire school/library books: what the contracts typically mean (flat fee + publisher holds rights) • How to break in: magazine clips, portfolios, pitching educational publishers • Why she wrote Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book (and what it’s designed to solve) • What she’s building next: a broader nonfiction craft “prequel” + a middle grade graphic novel project • Encouragement for new writers: read what’s being published now, learn the medium, write, revise, repeat Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail I’m joined by Kirsten W. Larson, former NASA public affairs specialist and author of four nonfiction picture books—including Wood, Wire, Wings, the story of pioneering airplane designer E. Lillian (Emma) Todd, and A True Wonder, a biography of Wonder Woman as a cultural icon shaped by women’s history. We talk about how Kirsten became a children’s nonfiction author, why the back matter matters, and what drew her to stories that put overlooked women back into the historical record—especially women who weren’t “the winners” history tends to preserve. We also dig into the inventive, practical brilliance of Lillian Todd, the wild early days of aviation design, and the fascinating ways Wonder Woman’s portrayal rises and falls alongside cultural attitudes toward women in the U.S. Buy the book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/wood-wire-wings-emma-lilian-todd-invents-an-airplane/ Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail In this interview, Merryl Tengesdal, Col USAF (ret.) returns to talk about Shatter the Sky: Tales of Dragon Lady 788 — a comic designed to bring confidence, critical thinking, and leadership lessons to younger readers. We discuss why comic books and graphic novels matter, how real-world aviation experiences shaped this story, and why kids (and adults) need to listen to their inner voices and speak up when something doesn’t feel right. This conversation moves from the cockpit to the classroom to the living room — touching on parenting, peer pressure, mental health, and the responsibility of preparing the next generation to lead with integrity. Buy the Book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/shatter-the-sky-tales-of-dragon-lady-788/ If you haven’t listened to my full interview with Merryl about her memoir, Shatter the Sky , you can find it here: https://literaryaviatrix.com/shatter-the-sky/ Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply immersive Literary Aviatrix Classics conversation Dr. Jacque Boyd, Captain Jenny Beatty and I discuss Wings for Life , the extraordinary memoir of pioneering aviatrix Ruth Nichols. Nichols’ life reads like myth—altitude, speed, and distance records; repeated catastrophic crashes; unrelenting physical pain; and a relentless return to the cockpit. Beneath the headlines lies a story of discipline, preparation, spiritual conviction, and resilience shaped by mentorship, friendship, and loss. We trace Nichols’ journey from debutante to record-setting pilot, from shattered vertebrae to historic long-distance flights, and from personal heartbreak to immensely impactful global humanitarian work. This conversation also places Nichols within the broader context of women’s aviation history—alongside Amelia Earhart, The Ninety-Nines, and the interwar aviation world that shaped (and constrained) women’s opportunities. What makes this episode special is not just what Nichols accomplished—but how she endured. This is a story about what happens when a woman refuses to disappear, even when the world—and her own body—tries to stop her. Topics Covered · Ruth Nichols’ record-setting flights in altitude, speed, and distance · The brutal physical cost of early aviation—and survival against the odds · Mentorship from Harry Rogers and Clarence Chamberlain · Women pilots, publicity, and the economics of survival in aviation · The founding and early purpose of The Ninety-Nines · Competition, friendship, and tension with Amelia Earhart · Faith, Quaker values, and Nichols’ pivot toward humanitarian aviation · Relief Wings, disaster response, and the roots of Civil Air Patrol · Why Ruth Nichols deserves a larger place in aviation history Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail Pioneering airline pilot Lynn Rippelmeyer reflects on her extraordinary journey from being hired as a TWA stewardess in the early 1970s to becoming one of the first women to fly the Boeing 747, and later retiring from United Airlines after a career shaped both by deregulation, mergers, and furloughs, and by generosity, unexpected opportunities, and adventure. We talk about her two-part memoir, beginning with Life Takes Wings , which traces her path from the cabin to the flight deck at a time when women were told — explicitly — that they didn’t belong there. Lynn shares unforgettable stories from the cockpit, including a laugh-out-loud reading involving a seeing-eye dog, Florida mud, and an entire airport watching it unfold. In Life Takes Flight , the adventures continue as she pursues her flying career, takes a break to raise a family, and then returns to flying as a single mom. This episode also explores: The transition from “stewardess” to “flight attendant” and what that shift meant culturally Being told women couldn’t fly “the heavies” — and proving otherwise The mentors (and gatekeepers) who shaped her career How discovering the WASP later in life reframed everything she’d been told Why writing her story became a responsibility, not just a creative act How her flying career ultimately led to humanitarian work in Honduras and the founding of a nonprofit Lynn’s story sits at the intersection of aviation, feminism, labor history, and storytelling — and it’s one every aspiring aviator (and writer) should hear. Buy the books directly from Lynn to support her non-profit Roatan Support Effort. https://lynnrippelmeyer.com/purchase-now Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail If you love daring women, vintage airplanes, and real-world adventure, you’re going to love this one. Pilot and author Tracey Curtis-Taylor shares her journey from a $15 introductory flight in Canada to flying her restored 1942 Stearman across Africa, from UK to Australia, and across the United States. We talk about her inspirations — Lady Mary Heath, Amy Johnson, Out of Africa — and her experiences confronting backlash in modern aviation. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail Hold on to your flight goggles — this episode might be our juiciest Literary Aviatrix Classics yet. In this roundtable, Dr. Jacque Boyd, Captain Jenny Beatty, and I dive into Aviatrix: The Story of Elinor Smith , the 1981 memoir of the teenage pilot who took the 1920s aviation world by storm. Elinor Smith — “The Flying Flapper of Freeport” — was famous for flying under New York’s East River bridges at just seventeen, setting endurance and altitude records, and standing toe-to-toe with the biggest names in early aviation, from Jimmy Doolittle to Amelia Earhart. We talk about her outrageous feats, her sharp wit, her complicated relationships with the men (and women) of her era, and the political games of George Putnam that still echo through aviation history. It’s history, fierce flying, gossip, mentorship, and womanhood — all wrapped in one bold memoir. ✈️ Topics include: · Elinor’s bridge stunt and early fame · The rivalry (and respect) between Elinor Smith and Amelia Earhart · The dirty dealings of aviation icons and prominent promoters. · Women’s solidarity and tension in 1920s aviation · Why Aviatrix should be required reading for every pilot Even after you listen to us dish about it for 2+ hours you’ll still want to read it yourself. There are a few used copies on the market and it’s available in e-book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/aviatrix-elinor-smith/ Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail At age 47, Mary Build took her very first flight lesson. What followed was a remarkable 30-year career in aviation—flying seaplanes, running her own seaplane base in Maine, flying to Alaska, competing in the Air Race Classic, and serving as a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). In this interview, Mary shares her powerful journey from overcoming personal challenges to becoming a respected leader in aviation. We talk about her memoir Finding Myself in Aviation , the courage it takes to start something new later in life, and the joy of never saying no to opportunity. 📚 Finding Myself in Aviation was the Aviatrix Book Club pick for August. Order it here: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/finding-myself-in-aviation/ ✈️ Topics we cover: Mary’s path from young motherhood to seaplane pilot and instructor Adventures flying to Alaska (and close calls along the way) Competing in and judging the Women’s Air Race Classic Lessons learned as a flight instructor and examiner Advice for starting—or restarting—your aviation journey at any age 💙 Blue skies and happy reading! #WomenInAviation #Seaplanes #AirRaceClassic #AviationHistory #PilotLife #LiteraryAviatrix Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Captain Tammie Jo Shults — one of the first women to fly Navy tactical jets, longtime Southwest Airlines captain, and author of Nerves of Steel . Tammie Jo is best known for her extraordinary leadership on Southwest Flight 1380 , but as she shares in this conversation, her story is about much more than one day in the cockpit. It’s about the obstacles she faced along the way, the resilience she built, and the way her faith, perseverance, and preparation equipped her for the moment the world was watching. We talk about: 🚫 Being told “girls can’t fly” — and proving them wrong ✈️ Breaking barriers in Navy aviation in the 1980s 💪 Facing cultural and institutional challenges in both military and airline cockpits 📝 Why journaling matters and how it shaped her memoir, Nerves of Steel 🧭 How true stories and past experiences shaped her decision-making on Flight 1380 ❤️ The role of faith, family, and community in sustaining her through adversity This is a conversation about resilience, truth, and the power of persistence — one that will inspire anyone navigating obstacles in their own path. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail This is my first in-person interview, recorded at Patty Bear’s home in a medieval village in Provence. Her new book, Captain Patty’s Wisdom Hacks , launches September 9 and is available for preorder now . We bridge the years after her memoir From Plain to Plane —from USAF KC-135 pilot (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) to nearly 30 years at United Airlines, parenting, coaching, and building a life between the U.S. and France. In this episode: Pay Yourself First (money, health, time, energy) Like It or Love It? (making aligned choices) New Day, New Jet (reset after mistakes) The Ground Doesn’t Care (respect reality) Mentor Yourself (self-leadership > gurus) Anam Kara (soul friends & discussion prompts) Leaving Your Neighborhood (life passages & growth) Preorder: link in show notes Launch: September 9 Also by Patty: From Plain to Plane and House of the Sun . #AviatrixBookClub #WomenInAviation #Leadership #Resilience #Provence Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker

Send us Fan Mail This June, I sat down with bestselling author Tracey Enerson Wood to talk about her newest historical novel, Katharine, the Wright Sister: A Novel (2024). The book shines a spotlight on Katharine Wright , the often-overlooked sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright—whose contributions were vital to the invention and promotion of the airplane. Tracey and I talk about her path from registered nurse to novelist, her love of writing about “hidden women in history,” and her other works: The Engineer’s Wife, The War Nurse, The President’s Wife, Homefront Cooking, and Life Hacks for Military Spouses. Since recording this, I’ve begun work on my women in aviation history textbook—and Katharine appears in Chapter One, in a sidebar about the hidden women who shaped early flight. Listen in for a lively, inspiring conversation about writing, research, and the women who changed history. Buy the book: Katharine, the Wright Sister #AviationHistory #WomenInAviation #BookClub #Podcast Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/ Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree . Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening! -Liz Booker