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

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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/

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Thanks so much for listening!

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Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening!

-Liz Booker