Pivoting From Blue
Skip Van Gardner
Palmetto Publishing (2026)
ISBN: 979-8318841224
Reviewed by Rachel Dehning for Reader Views (08/2026)
Life is full of the unexpected, which keeps us on our toes. These unexpected events can be positive or negative, or seem one way to begin with and end up on the other side of the spectrum after it’s all said and done. This is true for Skip Van Gardner, as seen in his fictionalized memoir Pivoting From Blue: One Year of Death, Divorce, and Discovery. Skip experiences life events whose reasons initially seem unknown, but observation and time reveal they were actually present all along; they seemed like the worst things to happen, but by the end, they revealed their purpose and benefits in his life and others. What Skip terms The Year tests and extracts his patience, perseverance, and priorities as he endures and hopes to overcome events that range from annoying to potentially life-ending, using problem-solving and lots of faith.
Pivoting From Blue: This is raw, real, and riveting. While his stories have a disheartening aspect, they serve as learning moments and occasionally bring out a laugh or two from the reader at the ridiculousness of the situations. It might prompt the reader to reflect on each story and its outcome in relation to similarities in their own lives; his colorful writing and storytelling are clear and to the point, making it difficult to miss what he’s saying directly and between the lines. He shows how his experiences are relatable to others, both individually and socially. Most experiences took my emotions on a roller coaster; I felt down that they were happening to him, then happy when he figured something out that would work for him, then down again if someone contradicted him, then up again if he was able to overcome those barriers and many others. More to the point, his stories had me white-knuckled and worried for him, as well as proud and joyous, as if I knew him personally.
Pivoting From Blue is more than it seems and has much to offer; it will appeal to a variety of readers, those who have faith, are open-minded about faith, or don’t have it but can still appreciate and respect someone’s interpretation of personal events.
At a Glance: A fictionalized memoir tracing one brutal year of loss, divorce, and quiet revelation. Blending hardship with unexpected humor, it follows a man leaning on faith, patience, and problem-solving to make sense of events that first seem like disasters but slowly reveal their purpose. Raw, reflective, and surprisingly uplifting.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy: Fictionalized memoir, inspirational fiction and nonfiction, faith-driven stories, resilience narratives, personal transformation, midlife reinvention, reflective life writing, redemption arcs, everyday courage