Literary Aviatrix *ALL-STAR* Author Reading and Reception at WAI23
I was thrilled to host an intimate evening of readings and networking with an all-star lineup of fourteen authors and 100 guests on opening night of the 2023 Women in Aviation International annual conference in Long Beach, Ca. Among them were 2023 Women in Aviation International Hall of Fame inductees John and Martha King and Col. Merryl Tengesdal, USAF (ret). This showcase event was a proof-of-concept with the long-term goal of exporting this format to other major aviation venues around the country throughout the year with Title sponsorship, offering intimate access to our celebrity women authors and showcasing their work to an enthusiastic audience.
In 2022, I coordinated the first-ever author readings on the last day of the WAI conference, just before the banquet. This year, I wanted to get them in front of attendees early so they would tell all of their friends about the books they’d heard and visit the book signing tables on the conference exhibit floor. I also wanted to do it in a casual, comfortable venue where guests could mingle with authors in a more intimate setting than other conference events might offer. The Long Beach Convention Center set us up with a gorgeous private space in Bogart & Co. with excellent catering and a cash bar.
I did a brief introduction and each author got up and did a three-five minute reading of their books to pique the audience’s interest.
As a special surprise for the guests, Los Angeles Poetry Society’s Typewriters Anonymous provided an impromptu poetry installation at the door to the event. As guests arrived, they were asked ‘what do you love about flying’. While the authors were doing their readings, the clack-clack-clack of vintage typewriters drifted through the doors as the poets crafted poems based on guests’ prompts. Every guest was invited to leave with a poem as a memento of the event, and some were moved to tears over how they resonated.
Original poems weren’t their only parting gifts. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cargo Network Services, each guest left with a signed copy of one of the authors’ books. Cargo Network Services is an International Air Transport Association company, whose 25 by 2025 initiative seeks to promote women to 25% of executive and non-traditional roles in the aviation industry by the year 2025. It was wonderful to have the support of an organization so completely aligned with the Literary Aviatrix mission, and for them to support our authors this way.
The Literary Aviatrix Author Reading and Reception was tremendous success. I’m grateful to all of the authors for their enthusiastic participation, and to the guests who ventured out on opening night to try something new. The feedback was phenomenal, with some long-time attendees who reported it was their favorite event of the conference. I can’t wait to do it again!
