Sara Rimmerman had the biography, she wrote about a female pilot, published.

Sara was fascinated as her younger sister, Rachel, talked about Fay Gillis-Wells’ dramatic school visit. Sara wanted to know how Fay obtained her pilot’s license within two months. She also wanted to know how Fay parachuted to safety when her plane seemed to disintegrate in mid-air during a series of aerobatic maneuvers. “A get-acquainted luncheon was arranged,” Sara explains. “Fay, then in her nineties, was telling us all these stories about what she’s done. She had enough stories to fill a book, but no one’s ever written a book about her. So, it all fell into place.” Sara would write the book.

Sara spent two years doing research. She interviewed Faye and utilized the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and the National Air and Space Museum. She also received help from a Virginia newspaper reporter and photographer.

“Sara spent every Wednesday after school in my classroom working on her story,” explains Ms. Funk, fifth grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. “In addition, she spent many hours at home writing and rewriting her book. She gave up a great deal of her time and remained devoted to sharing Fay’s fascinating life with others.”  Sara’s support team also included her mother, Carol, as well as other teachers, especially Debbie Sack who helped push the project toward completion.

“It was hard to sit down and do the writing,” Sara explained. “I had to set deadlines for myself and try to reach them.”

“I really didn’t think Sara would have the follow-through. I am very happy that she proved me wrong,” Fay confessed.

Sara’s hard work paid off. Hidden Heroine: Fay Gillis Wells was published. The 32-page book portrays Fay’s adventurous life as one of America’s first women pilots, an international news correspondent, and founder of Ninety-Nines, the international organization of women pilots (named for its number of charter members). A portion of the book’s proceeds went to the International Forest of Friendship which honored aviation pioneers and was one of Fay’s major projects. Sara explained, “I really like to describe things.”
(Kansas City, Missouri: 1999)