Book news and author events at VERTICON2025, WAI2025, and SUN 'n FUN 51!

But first, let's get our bearings . . .

Author

Liz Booker
March 05, 2025

Happy March, and if you’re new here, welcome! Thanks for joining the Literary Aviatrix community where every month is Women’s History Month.

Before we look forward to the awesome author events coming up in the next few weeks, let’s take a moment to get our bearings. The current climate is disorienting, but we can all find truth and power in our lived experiences, the achievements of our pioneers and peers, our story arc within the history of aviation, and our collective voices to bolster our strength and visibility as individuals and as a community. I encourage you to share and amplify our stories—yours as individuals, those from within our social media community, those in our books—to as broad an audience as possible, and continue to support and uplift one another on our journeys.

You can join me in this endeavor with an awesome lineup of author events at VERTICON2025 in Dallas, WAI2025 in Denver, and SUN ‘n FUN 51 in Lakeland—and, as always, by reading, promoting, and reviewing our books, listening to the Literary Aviatrix author interview series, and joining our upcoming Aviatrix Book Club discussions.

If you know someone who would enjoy the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter, please share it and invite them to sign up!

Blue Skies and Happy Reading!

-Liz Booker

Join us at the VAI Connect booth in the VERTICON Exhibit hall from 3:30-5pm on Wednesday, March 12th  for the Author Lift event where, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Vertical Aviation International, we will enjoy an author meet & greet, book singings, and giveaways.

Fred and Peggy North will headline this event immediately following their conference presentation with a Q & A session on the VAI Connect stage then they’ll roll right into a book signing with their 2023 release, Flying Sideways: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Stunt Pilot.

Leave room in your suitcases for all of the awesome books you’re going to pick up while you’re there. We have over 30 pioneering fighter pilots, airline pilots, and astronauts, New York Times, USA Today best-selling, and literary award-winning authors with books in a variety of genres for all ages. We’ll have a bookshop, author signing schedule, and early Friday morning coffee and author meet & greet that’s complimentary for all conference attendees, an education session on Friday morning moderated by and celebrating our 2025 Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame Inductees, a Book Zone at Girls in Aviation Day on Saturday, and four separate author events in town throughout the week in collaboration with The Tattered Cover Bookstore.

Aerobatic Champion Dr. Cecilia Aragon will be our guest speaker for this catered event at Prop 75 from 11:30-1:30 on Saturday April 5th. Learn how Cecilia overcame her paralyzing fear and self-doubt, adapted to fly and train as a competitive aerobatic pilot, and used mathematics to overcome the limitations of her Pitts S-1T to maximize the score of an impossible aerobatic competition sequence and earn her place as the first Latina on the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team, the ‘Olympics’ of aviation. 

Join the Discussions:

These are standing days and links for the year - Third Thursday and Last Sunday. Make a note in case I miss a month ;-).

Meeting ID: 841 2236 1966
Passcode: 267022

Meeting ID: 874 4978 1521
Passcode: 779609

Meeting ID: 841 2236 1966
Passcode: 267022

Meeting ID: 874 4978 1521
Passcode: 779609

by Heather B. Moore

Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition.

Click on the images below, or enjoy on the Literary Aviatrix YouTube Channel or Podcast wherever you listen. And please like, subscribe, and leave a review!

When Dale's plans for a fun day on the water turns into a struggle for survival, he is left clinging to his overturned boat, hope dwindling with each passing minute. Just as his strength begins to fade, a Coast Guard helicopter unexpectedly appears on the scene, its crew [including a female flight mechanic] risking their lives to pluck him from the frigid water.

Fast-forward forty years, and Dale's world comes full circle. While exploring a museum with his grandkids he stumbles upon the very helicopter that once saved him!

This remarkable tale weaves together themes of survival, heartfelt gratitude, and the lasting impact of the rescuer's bravery. It's a poignant reminder of how courage and compassion can transform lives in unimaginable ways.

Perfect for parents and educators. This heartwarming story showcases the profound influence of one person's actions on another's destiny. It powerfully illustrates that even the most minor acts of kindness can create ripples that echo through generations, potentially shaping the future and sparking inspiration.

Before our beloved aviators, like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh soared into our hearts, there was also Bessie Coleman. Bessie Coleman was the first African American and Native American woman to receive her pilot’s license.

Queen of the Skies is an intimate portrait of Bessie Coleman, told in collaboration with the family from their perspective. From her humble upbringing picking cotton in Waxahachie, Texas at the turn of the century, Bessie never gave up on her aviation dreams, despite all the odds against her. She made her way to Chicago and learned French, and then moved overseas to France to learn how to fly as she faced many obstacles in the US.

Her story is an inspiring tale of hope, inspiration and determination of a woman whose very existence in aviation defied the injustice and racism of the time. Bessie continues to inspire aviators today. Here is the story of her deepest desires, the people she loved, the determination behind each milestone, and how she succeeded in changing aviation forever with her indomitable spirit.

The extraordinary true story of America’s first female astronauts hailed as “suspenseful, meticulously observed, enlightening” by Margot Lee Shetterly, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures, now adapted for young readers.

Sally Ride may have been the first US woman in space, but did you know there were five other incredible American women who helped blaze the trail for female astronauts by her side?

When NASA sent astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s, the agency excluded women from the corps, arguing that only military test pilots—a group women were also aggressively barred from—had the right stuff. But as the 1980s dawned so did new thinking, and six elite women scientists—Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, Anna Lee Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon—set out to prove they had exactly the right stuff to become the first US women astronauts.

In The Six Young Readers Edition, acclaimed journalist Loren Grush shows how these brilliant and courageous women fought to enter STEM fields they were discouraged from pursuing, endured claustrophobic—and often deeply sexist—media attention, underwent rigorous survival training, and prepared for years to take multi-million-dollar equipment into orbit. 

Told with contributions from nearly all the living participants and now adapted for young readers, this book is an inspiring testament to their struggles, accomplishments, and sacrifices and how they built the tools that made the space program run. It’s a legacy that lives on to inspire young people today.

Massive, mighty, there before us, colored Army green: Apaches, Blackhawks and Chinooks-- an aviation scene!Mom says we have some time to spare, I scan the hangar floor, Not able to decide which sleeping giant to explore.

When military child Finn and his helicopter mechanic Mom head to the hangar, a day of imagination and adventure is about to begin! Sleeping Giants is sure to awaken a love of military aviation in readers young and old. With included educational resource pages and a STEM activity, readers will fall in love with this timeless story and develop a deeper appreciation for our service men and women.

"Hold your brakes and give your engine all the power you have. When I tell you to release the brake, you're going to run down the runway as fast as you can! Can you feel yourself ready to lift off?"

Come on an aerial adventure to the clouds with Fiona!

Based on a true story about a real airplane and a girl who became a pilot so she could fly like the boys!

Join Zara Rutherford on her inspiring solo flight around the world, capturing breathtaking moments and overcoming incredible challenges.

Young readers aged 7-9 can join the thrilling, real-life journey of a young female pilot who broke records on her solo flight all around the world. 

At just 19 years old, Zara Rutherford embarked on a daring adventure to become the youngest woman to fly solo across the globe. This captivating book chronicles her journey through 52 countries and 5 continents, from the icy landscapes of Greenland to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. 

This exciting book for kids offers:

  • An incredible story about Zara’s solo flight around the world, setting a new benchmark for young aviators to follow their dreams.

  • Strong narrative non-fiction; the true story of the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.

  • Encouragement for girls not to limit themselves in STEM subjects and be as persevering as Zara.

With striking illustrations and engaging storytelling, Zara shares her encounters with diverse cultures, wildlife, and the natural wonders of our planet. Perfect for young readers and aspiring adventurers, I Flew Around The World is a testament to the power of dreams and determination. Discover the highs and lows of Zara's incredible voyage, her meticulous planning, and the resilience that carried her through the most challenging moments.

For fans of Nghi Vo, P. Djèlí Clark, and Alix E. Harrow: a new stand-alone set in the world of the critically acclaimed Murder and Magic series during Prohibition. The Improvisers is the tale of Velma, a barnstorming pilot and former magic bootlegger, who pursues dangerous enchanted items and a mystery that crosses the US and cuts through time—right to the heart of her family’s past and present.

Velma Frye is many things. A pilot, a former bootlegger, a well-seasoned traveler, a jazz pianist…and a wielder of celestial magic. She’s also a member of the mystical Rhodes family as well as an investigator for arcane oddities for a magic rights organization, dealing with both simple and complicated cases. And when a pocket watch instigates a magical brawl after one of her flight shows, things become very complicated. 

In 1930s America, enchanted items are highly valuable, especially in the waning days of the magical Prohibition. As Velma digs deeper, she discovers the watch is part of a collection of dangerous artifacts manipulating people across the country—and in some cases, leading to their deaths. Something about all this is tickling Velma’s memories, and the more she discovers, the more these seemingly isolated incidents feel as if they’re building to something apocalyptic.

Connecting the dots isn’t easy, though, and further complicating her work is journalist Dillon Harris. He hounds her steps, and while not actively sabotaging her investigation, he also clearly knows more than he lets on. Whether it’s his presence that she finds so vexing or his easygoing charm, that’s a mystery she isn’t interested in solving. Because someone is out there seeding cursed objects with the intent on wreaking havoc, and Velma will have to use every trick in her tool kit, including some well-placed magical improvisation, to win the day.

Focusing on a new generation of the Rhodes family, The Improvisers brims with charming magic, intriguing mystery, and high-flying adventure seeking new heights.

Fly along with Ruby, Sarra, Isoke and other young heroines as they take to the skies to save their families.

Nine scenarios, nine heroines, nine lessons in flight.

Gia travels from Manhattan's Lower East Side to the Aleutian Islands to capture one of the most mysterious warplanes of all time - the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

Young Yi-Tai Jo falls in love with the homely, misunderstood X-1 rocket jet. Heartbroken at X's failure to break the speed of sound, she may have a solution.

One morning, bratty Anke has a bitter spat with her sister, Romy. Yet when Romy is kidnapped, Anke is the one who can save her - using an old war-kite to glide to the villain's tower. Can she navigate gliding through the Black Forest and save Romy?

Ship-salvager's daughter Sarra defies a garrison to save Father from Rome's wrath. Can her home-made balloon win the day?

Author and Teacher Tom Durwood offers a collection of nine stories to challenge young readers. 

Katniss Everdeen meets October Sky. 

Nine adventures set in key moments of aviation history. 

Historical fiction featuring remarkable aircraft and singular heroines. 

For young adults and readers of all ages.

School’s almost out! Zoe’s excited about the adventures summer break brings, including her first flight on a vacation to New Orleans. There’s just one catch. She’s afraid of flying. Determined to conquer her fear, Zoe is in for a big surprise the moment she walks onto the plane.

An even bigger surprise awaits when Zoe is invited to a summer camp where she could learn to fly along with dozens of kids just like her. She’s just had her first plane ride, and the thought of learning to fly is both exciting and scary.

Follow along as Zoe’s journey brings opportunities and uncertainty. Will the support of her family and friends and her perseverance give her the courage to try a new adventure?