Literary Aviatrix: The Power of Story - Women in Aviation

Liz Booker - Pilot, Writer, Aviation Diversity Advocate
  • 4.8 (17)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join Liz Booker as she interviews authors whose books feature women in aviation from across genres, historical periods, and types of flying, and be inspired by the tenacity, adventure, and courage of our sisters in the air.  * Liz not only promotes books featuring women in aviation, but also provides the tools and information for other women to tell their stories. Check out  Writers' Room interviews for in-depth discussions on writing, publishing, and book promotion.  * Liz is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and writer, and host of the Aviatrix Book Club, Aviatrix Writers' Group, and Literary Aviatrix website where you'll find hundreds of books featuring women in aviation for all ages.  * Sign up for the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter to stay up to date on book news and book discussions and follow her on social media @LiteraryAviatrix.  * https://linktr.ee/literaryaviatrix 

  1. Aviatrix Writers' Room - Children's Author Kirsten W. Larson talks about writing, publishing, and her 'Reimagine Your Writing' craft books

    1D AGO

    Aviatrix Writers' Room - Children's Author Kirsten W. Larson talks about writing, publishing, and her 'Reimagine Your Writing' craft books

    Send us a text 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

    22 min
  2. Kirsten W. Larson on Wonder Woman, aircraft designer E. Lillian Todd, and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne

    1D AGO

    Kirsten W. Larson on Wonder Woman, aircraft designer E. Lillian Todd, and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne

    Send us a text 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

    38 min
  3. Breaking formation – U2 Pilot Merryl Tengesdal on graphic novels, confidence and courage, and raising the next generation of leaders.

    JAN 14

    Breaking formation – U2 Pilot Merryl Tengesdal on graphic novels, confidence and courage, and raising the next generation of leaders.

    Send us a text 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

    24 min
  4. Aviatrix Classics: Pioneer Ruth Nichols’ Wings for Life—record-setting flights, devastating crashes, and the resilience to find purpose that joined aviation skill with Quaker compassion to deliver air relief worldwide.

    12/31/2025

    Aviatrix Classics: Pioneer Ruth Nichols’ Wings for Life—record-setting flights, devastating crashes, and the resilience to find purpose that joined aviation skill with Quaker compassion to deliver air relief worldwide.

    Send us a text 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

    3h 42m
  5. Captain Lynn Rippelmeyer — From TWA Stewardess to Pioneering 747 Captain

    12/22/2025

    Captain Lynn Rippelmeyer — From TWA Stewardess to Pioneering 747 Captain

    Send us a text 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 culturallyBeing told women couldn’t fly “the heavies” — and proving otherwiseThe mentors (and gatekeepers) who shaped her careerHow discovering the WASP later in life reframed everything she’d been toldWhy writing her story became a responsibility, not just a creative actHow her flying career ultimately led to humanitarian work in Honduras and the founding of a nonprofitLynn’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

    1h 35m
  6. Tracey Curtis-Taylor — Bird: Flying the Spirit of Artemis Across Continents and Confronting the Old Boys’ Club

    10/31/2025

    Tracey Curtis-Taylor — Bird: Flying the Spirit of Artemis Across Continents and Confronting the Old Boys’ Club

    Send us a text 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

    1h 22m
  7. Literary Aviatrix Classics: Aviatrix by Elinor Smith — The Flying Flapper Who Outsmarted Putnam, Outflew the Boys, and Spilled All the Aviation Tea

    10/20/2025

    Literary Aviatrix Classics: Aviatrix by Elinor Smith — The Flying Flapper Who Outsmarted Putnam, Outflew the Boys, and Spilled All the Aviation Tea

    Send us a text 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

    2h 26m
  8. Finding Myself in Aviation | Mary Build’s Inspiring Story of Flying, Seaplanes, and Second Chances

    09/27/2025

    Finding Myself in Aviation | Mary Build’s Inspiring Story of Flying, Seaplanes, and Second Chances

    Send us a text 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 instructorAdventures flying to Alaska (and close calls along the way)Competing in and judging the Women’s Air Race ClassicLessons learned as a flight instructor and examinerAdvice 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

    1h 7m
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4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Join Liz Booker as she interviews authors whose books feature women in aviation from across genres, historical periods, and types of flying, and be inspired by the tenacity, adventure, and courage of our sisters in the air.  * Liz not only promotes books featuring women in aviation, but also provides the tools and information for other women to tell their stories. Check out  Writers' Room interviews for in-depth discussions on writing, publishing, and book promotion.  * Liz is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and writer, and host of the Aviatrix Book Club, Aviatrix Writers' Group, and Literary Aviatrix website where you'll find hundreds of books featuring women in aviation for all ages.  * Sign up for the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter to stay up to date on book news and book discussions and follow her on social media @LiteraryAviatrix.  * https://linktr.ee/literaryaviatrix 

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