Medina book store hosts signing for author of new book on pioneering woman pilot

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Ronnie Barhite of Lyndonville looks at a copy of “Love is in the Air” at Author’s Note, prior to a book signing there on Saturday by author Dee Romito of Buffalo. (Right) Author Dee Romito is introduced at a book signing by Author’s Note owner Julie Berry at a book signing on Saturday.

MEDINA – An inspirational book for young girls was introduced at Author’s Note on Saturday, in a timely presentation for Valentine’s Day.

“Love is in the Air” is a children’s book written by Buffalo author Dee Romito, who wanted to show the world “a girl can do anything, and should never give up her dreams.”

The book features Nancy Harkness Love, who wanted to learn to fly in an age when women weren’t allowed to even vote.

Romito said she has researched women’s rights and she wanted to tell Love’s story.

Photo from Wikipedia: Nancy Harkness Love was a pioneering woman pilot during the 1930s and 1940s. She is shown here in the cockpit of her PT-19 Fairchild. She also piloted a B-17 Flying Fortress.

“Here’s a woman who was going to do it anyway, and that fascinated me,” Romito said. “Nancy loved adventure and had a big imagination. One day a pilot buzzed their barn and she went right over and paid for a plane ride. The pilot was charging a penny a pound. As soon as Nancy turned 16, she started flying lessons.”

According to Wikipedia, Love earned her pilot’s license within a week. She worked as a test pilot and air racer in the 1930s and during World War II she convinced the U.S. Army Air Forces to set up a group of female pilots to ferry aircraft from factories to air bases.

Romito thought it was especially suitable to launch her book for Valentine’s Day, with the pilot’s name being “Love.”

The pioneering pilot became a member of the Women’s Air Force (WAF), but that group shut down after World War II and the women never got their due, said Romito, who has 11 books published on various interests, including three non-fiction series.

“Love is in the Air” is meant to convey a simple message – “Each one of us can do small things to make a difference, and that’s what Nancy did.”

The book sells for $18.99 and is available at Author’s Note and many other indie book stores.

She is already working on her next book, “Last Plastic Straw.”