Cleared for Takeoff:

A Pilot’s Memoir of Purpose & Resilience After 9/11

By Captain Nia Gilliam

 As one of Storehouse Voices’ inaugural Woman & Words releases, “Cleared for Takeoff” is the powerful memoir of Captain Nia Gilliam, a pilot who witnessed the World Trade Center attacks from the co-pilot’s seat on the runway at Newark Airport on 9/11.

Gilliam’s story is one of resilience, ambition and identity, as it follows her path from childhood dreams inspired by aviation pioneers to breaking barriers in a predominantly white, male industry, while confronting some of the most defining moments of her life.

The memoir moves between Gilliam’s experience on the morning of 9/11, when she was cleared for takeoff as smoke rose from the Twin Towers, and the story of how she became one of less than 200 Black female pilots in the United States. From an early fascination with space and flight to discovering Black aviation trailblazer Bessie Coleman, Gilliam’s passion for aviation is rooted in a lifelong pursuit of the skies and strengthened through mentorship and perseverance. 

That fateful day profoundly alters Gilliam’s life and ultimately leads her to step away from aviation in the aftermath. Through it all she manages additional challenges that reshape her identity and career, including becoming the first pregnant pilot at her airline, experiencing postpartum depression, and facing a career transition that forces her to redefine her relationship with flying and purpose.

Woman and Words is a pioneering publishing collaboration between Penguin Random House and Storehouse in a Box that led to the creation of Storehouse Voices, an imprint established to champion underserved creators. Through the program, aspiring authors, Penguin Random House personnel, and agents are brought together for networking and speed-dating sessions focused on demystifying publishing and providing a dedicated space for diverse narratives.

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