Literary Aviatrix: The Power of Story - Women in Aviation copertina

Literary Aviatrix: The Power of Story - Women in Aviation

Literary Aviatrix: The Power of Story - Women in Aviation

Di: Liz Booker - Pilot Writer Aviation Diversity Advocate
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A proposito di questo titolo

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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https://linktr.ee/literaryaviatrix

© 2026 Literary Aviatrix: The Power of Story - Women in Aviation Arte Mondiale Storia e critica della letteratura
Episodi
  • Aviatrix Classics: Lady Mary Heath - The Woman Who Challenged Aviation's Gendered Rules | Woman and Flying (1929)

    Aviatrix Classics: Lady Mary Heath - The Woman Who Challenged Aviation's Gendered Rules | Woman and Flying (1929)
    Oct 31 2026
    Send us Fan MailIn 1925, when women were prohibited from obtaining commercial pilot licenses in Britain, Irish aviator Lady Mary Heath wrote a letter to the International Commission for Air Navigation challenging the medical assumptions being used to exclude them. She brought her expertise in physiology and women's athletics to the argument, offered herself for scientific testing, and made a compelling case that women's bodies were perfectly capable of meeting the demands of professional aviation.In this installment of our Literary Aviatrix Classics series, I'm joined by Dr. Jacque Boyd and Captain Jenny Beatty to discuss Woman and Flying, by Lady Mary Heath and journalist Stella Wolfe Murray, with contributions from fellow aviator Lady Bailey, published in 1929.We came to this book because Lady Heath kept appearing in the memoirs and histories we've been reading. She was a mentor to Elinor Smith, a contemporary of Amelia Earhart, an accomplished athlete, and a pioneering aviator who flew solo from Cape Town to England in 1928. But the more we learn about her, the more complicated and interesting she becomes.We explore her difficult childhood, athletic achievements, marriages, aviation advocacy, spectacular flying adventures, and tragic later years. We also examine the book itself, which offers an intriguing window into the early days of commercial aviation, when flying was still a novelty and its advocates were working to persuade the public that it had a future.There's plenty to marvel at, including Lady Heath's resourcefulness as a pilot and mechanic, her ingenious (if unsuccessful) attempt to improvise flotation equipment for a Mediterranean crossing, and the extraordinary collection of tools, spare parts, clothing, and personal possessions she carried across Africa.We also wrestle with the attitudes embedded in the writing, particularly its colonial worldview, assumptions about class and privilege, and the ways women of the period understood their own roles in aviation.And then there's that letter.For me, Lady Heath's willingness to confront the people making decisions about women's bodies and professional opportunities is among the most important things we discover in this book. Her argument is familiar, and our discussion leads to a larger conversation about the importance of women speaking openly about their experiences, challenging institutional assumptions, and preserving the stories that don't always make it into the official histories.We also share recommendations for additional reading about Lady Heath, including Lindie Naughton's biography Lady Icarus, and a recent historical fiction which I have since read and is very well written, The Sky is Not Enough, by June O’Sullivan. Look for it on the 2027 Aviatrix Book Club reading list.A guide to Lady Mary’s long list of names: Born Sophie Catherine Theresa Mary Peirce-Evans (1896–1939), she was also known as:1. Sophie Peirce-Evans — her maiden name, sometimes written Pierce-Evans in historical sources.2. Sophie Elliott-Lynn — her name following her first marriage to William Elliott-Lynn.3. Lady Mary Heath — the name under which she became internationally famous as an aviator, following her marriage to Sir James Heath.4. Mary, Lady Heath — a formal variation commonly used in contemporary publications and archival records.5. Mary Heath — the shorter name appearing in aviation histories.6. Mary Williams — her name following her third marriage to American aviator Jack Williams.7. Lady Icarus — her famous nickname, particularly associated with her pioneering long-distance flights. 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
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    1 ora e 59 min
  • Flight Path of Fortitude: Olga Custodio on Breaking Barriers, Finding Allies, and Staying the Course

    Flight Path of Fortitude: Olga Custodio on Breaking Barriers, Finding Allies, and Staying the Course
    Oct 9 2026
    Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to keep pursuing a dream when the institution you want to join isn't ready to welcome you?In this episode, I talk with trailblazing military and airline pilot Olga Custodio about her memoir, Flight Path of Fortitude, and the remarkable journey that made her the first Latina and first Puerto Rican woman to become a U.S. Air Force pilot.Olga grew up around the world as the daughter of an Army serviceman and knew from an early age that she wanted to wear a military uniform. But when she tried to join Air Force ROTC, women weren't permitted to participate. A later attempt to enter the Air Force as an officer was similarly unsuccessful. It would take ten years, several career detours, and an extraordinary amount of determination before she finally found her opportunity.By then, Olga was married and raising a young daughter. She entered military flight training at 26, navigating the demands of learning to fly high-performance jets while building a support system that made it possible to succeed as both a mother and a pilot.Olga and I share our experiences of going through military flight training as mothers, discuss the importance of finding advocates and speaking up for ourselves, and explore the challenges of entering aviation environments where women were still very much the exception.We follow her transition from Air Force instructor pilot to American Airlines, where she became a pioneering Latina airline captain, and talk about the unexpected places discrimination can come from—including other women.But Olga's story extends well beyond the flight deck. She's a musician, a champion of Puerto Rican culture, a sought-after speaker, and a passionate advocate for the next generation. We talk about her appearance in Modelo's Fighting Spiritcampaign, her induction into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, and why she waited until retirement to write her memoir.Throughout our conversation, Olga returns to the importance of confidence, flexibility, mentorship, and staying open to opportunities that may not look anything like the original plan.Her message is especially meaningful for anyone who has ever been told no, struggled to find a way forward, or wondered whether a dream is still worth pursuing.In this episode, we explore:Olga's childhood in Puerto Rico and around the world, and how those experiences shaped her confidence and worldviewThe institutional barriers that delayed her entry into the Air Force by a decadeHow she navigated the application process and found advocates willing to helpMilitary flight training as a mother, including the family and community support that made it possibleBecoming a T-38 instructor pilot and transitioning to the Air Force Reserve and American AirlinesDiscrimination, solidarity, and the complicated dynamics of women supporting other womenHer work as a speaker, cultural advocate, and role modelThe process of writing Flight Path of Fortitude and preserving our experiences for future generationsOlga reminds us that role models need to be more than visible. They need to be accessible, willing to share their experiences and help others discover what might be possible.And sometimes the most important thing we can do is take the next step, even when we can't yet see the whole 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
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    1 ora e 10 min
  • Astronaut Karen Nyberg and children's author Ann McCallum Staats talk about their new book A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream

    Astronaut Karen Nyberg and children's author Ann McCallum Staats talk about their new book A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream
    Sep 5 2026

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    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
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    50 min
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