Weaving historical events into fiction is both a fascinating and challenging part of the writing process. I want to give my stories verisimilitude, but at the same time, I tremble at the mantle of portraying history accurately. A Flying Affair is the juncture of my imagination and a slice of the past based on the following documented historical events.
Colonel Charles Lindbergh did indeed fly the Atlantic in May 1927, a widely acclaimed feat, and in the months following, he went on a goodwill tour promoting aviation. He made an overnight stop in Louisville on August 8, 1927, landing the Spirit of St. Louis at Bowman Field. The conversation with Mittie Humphreys is a product of my imagination.
In an exciting decade of aviation, there were numerous events across the country. Barnstorming was generally unregulated and flight challenges sprang up frequently. The events I created were based on similar shows and events found during the research process, but none are factual until the Women’s National Air Derby near the end of the book. It is based on a true event—the first Women’s National Air Derby that took place in August 1929, a collaborative effort of the Cleveland Air Race officials and the National Exchange Club. The scheduled stops, mishaps, and people mentioned are based on others’ accounts of this much-heralded event. Among the women who participated were Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, Pancho Barnes, and Marvel Crosson, whose death was a sobering reminder of the dangers of early flight. I inserted Mittie Humphreys and Calista Gilson as two of the twenty participants for the purpose of the story without changing the outcome or historical significance of the race. I pray my portrayal pays homage to these women pioneers in aviation.
I’m so grateful for the work of Heather A. Taylor, whose meticulously researched, award-winning documentary, Breaking through the Clouds (2010), was invaluable to me as I crafted the scenes of the Women’s Air Derby. For readers who want to learn more, I encourage you to visit www.breakingthroughtheclouds.com.
A sidenote about women in aviation: In November 1929 there were 117 licensed American female pilots. All were invited to assemble in New York to form an organization for mutual support and the advancement of aviation. Of those, 99 charter members formed The Ninety-Nines, a group that is still active today. Amelia Earhart was elected the first president with Louise Thaden as secretary.
When I first began research on A Flying Affair, I thought the Humphreys farm would have Thoroughbred horses trained for racing. On a research trip, I discovered the other jewel of the Kentucky equine world—the American saddlebred, considered by many as the peacock among horses. This look into the training and showing of this magnificent breed is based on my observing a training session at a modern-day saddlebred farm and the information gleaned from reading about similar shows held during the era. Creative license was taken with the actual dates and winners.
Thank you for following the fictive dream of A Flying Affair. I’ve tried to stay the course in presenting history in a way that entices and entertains. Any errors are mine.