About Heather
Like the title of her award-winning book, Heather’s life was Never Dull!
She intended to follow in her family footsteps and become a world champion cowgirl, but during career day at high school, Rodeo Star or Horse Trainer were not options. Despite only 1% of pilots being women, a teacher, knew she wouldn’t be intimidated and encouraged her to become a pilot. She traded her horse for a cockpit and spent ten years flying freight and commuter routes. When faced with a challenge, she told herself, “Cowgirls don’t cry. Dust yourself off and get back on that horse.”
Facing economic downturn, she joined the military, receiving the ironic call sign Notso (as in, not-so-sharp). Proud of her new call sign, she brushed it off and graduated first in her C-130 pilot training class.
In 1997, she got married, landed a job flying the 747 worldwide, moved to Alaska. She defied societal norms again by being the breadwinner while Jack cared for their son. Three years later, she became a 747 instructor, moved to a Minnesota hobby farm and welcomed their second son. Everything was going according to plan.
Eh, not so fast.
She became a frequent flyer on medi-evac helicopters after nearly dying in a 2008 car crash and (because she is over-achiever) a freak farm accident in 2010 resulted a collapsed lung, twelve fractured vertebrae and a severe brain injury. After 5 days in a coma, doctors thought she would never be the same. Miraculously, she resumed flying in 2017—not a little Cessna, but the Airbus 320.
Life was great. She expected smooth skies ahead and no more turbulence.
Well… life doesn’t turn out like we plan. After 38 years as a professional pilot, she retired in 2020 when she discovered a loved one’s struggle with alcohol. Three treatments and countless prayers later, he is sober today. Praise God.
After facing death twice and overcoming many challenges, she shares her unique perspective on the value of faith, family, and a positive attitude. She also speaks about the healing power of horses. and that is the subject of her next book.
Aside from writing a novel on the healing power of horses and giving motivational talks, she trail rides with Jack, visits her adult sons, and tries to live up to her dog’s high opinion of her.