We are so excited to dedicate this week’s edition of Inspired By to Erin Seidemann, author of Postcards From the Sky. Here, she shares the books that inspire her most…

Air Vagabonds: Oceans, Airmen, and a Quest for Adventure by Anthony Vallone

I mention this one in my book because it finally pushed me over the edge to schedule my first flying lesson. It’s a great book about pilots who ferry airplanes from one place to another, often over oceans, to the new owner. It’s an intoxicating mix of adventure, international politics, and intrigue.

Fate is the Hunter by Ernest Gann

Once I became a pilot, I started to read Ernest Gann’s books. They are a must read for anyone interested in aviation, travel, or adventure. He flew long before GPS and many of the modern conveniences that make our flying much easier and that we take for granted. I can’t get enough of stories from that era of aviation and the brave souls who were a part of it.

An Island to Oneself by Tom Neale

Tom goes on the absolute ultimate adventure: he moves to an extremely remote, uninhabited island and lives off the land for years at a time. While I could never do this myself, I do love living vicariously through others who have the guts and skills to do so!

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

Beryl was an early aviatrix, doing things that many women at the time could not do. I admire any woman who was brave enough to try something different and, in a sense, pave the way for the rest of us.

A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett

A pilot, singer/songwriter, and bestselling book author, Jimmy has always been an inspiration not only in my writing but also in my life, and this is my favorite of his novels. I thoroughly enjoy islands, flying, and intriguing men, even better when all three of those are combined, as they are in this book! As the Parrothead saying goes, I try to always “live my life like a Jimmy Buffett song”!