{"id":550313,"date":"2026-09-16T04:51:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newjerseyheadlines.com\/news\/story\/550313\/skip-van-gardners-pivoting-from-blue-receives-literary-titan-book-award-for-its-powerful-story-of-survival-and-transformation.html"},"modified":"2026-09-16T04:51:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:51:24","slug":"skip-van-gardners-pivoting-from-blue-receives-literary-titan-book-award-for-its-powerful-story-of-survival-and-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/story\/550313\/skip-van-gardners-pivoting-from-blue-receives-literary-titan-book-award-for-its-powerful-story-of-survival-and-transformation.html","title":{"rendered":"Skip Van Gardner\u2019s \u201cPivoting From Blue\u201d Receives Literary Titan Book Award for Its Powerful Story of Survival and Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Skip<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

United States – September 15, 2026 –<\/strong> Pivoting From Blue<\/em>, the debut novel by businessman and storyteller Skip Van Gardner, has received the Literary Titan Book Award, recognizing its emotionally resonant exploration of grief, family, faith, identity, and the courage required to rebuild a life after profound upheaval.<\/p>\n

Blending autobiographical fiction, contemporary family drama, and spiritual reflection, Pivoting From Blue<\/em> follows one chaotic and transformative year in its narrator’s life. Divorce, aging parents, family conflict, parenthood, career uncertainty, and a life-threatening Atlantic crossing converge in what Van Gardner calls “The Year,” pushing the narrator toward a psychological and spiritual breaking point.<\/p>\n

Written with unfiltered honesty and unexpected humor, the novel examines what happens when a person can no longer outrun pain and must instead turn toward it. As the narrator confronts the collapse of the identity he spent decades building, therapy, prayer, music, nature, walking, and writing become essential tools in the difficult process of healing.<\/p>\n

In its review, Literary Titan describes Pivoting From Blue<\/em> as “an intimate, messy, frequently funny, spiritually charged story” about surviving upheaval and deciding how to live afterward. The review also praises Van Gardner’s distinctive first-person voice, noting his ability to move between anger, humor, sentiment, self-reflection, and spirituality while finding meaning in both ordinary moments and life-altering events.<\/p>\n

The novel’s central themes will resonate with readers who have experienced grief, divorce, family strain, caregiving, a crisis of faith, or the disorienting loss of a once-familiar identity. Rather than presenting survival as a matter of unwavering strength, Pivoting From Blue<\/em> offers a more compassionate message: healing begins with the willingness to keep going, even when the path forward remains uncertain.<\/p>\n

Through hospice hallways, difficult family conversations, moments with his children, and the dangerous waters of the Gulf Stream, Van Gardner explores forgiveness, accountability, love, mortality, and the clarity that can emerge when life forces a person to confront himself. The result is a deeply personal story that reminds readers that surviving the worst chapter is only part of the journey. The greater challenge is choosing how to live once the storm has passed.<\/p>\n

Readers seeking an honest, moving, and frequently humorous story about grief, resilience, faith, and personal transformation can purchase Pivoting From Blue<\/em> on Amazon<\/a> and Barnes & Noble<\/a>. Visit either retailer online and search for Pivoting From Blue<\/em> by Skip Van Gardner to order a copy.<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

Skip Van Gardner is a businessman, storyteller, and first-time author whose life changed profoundly during one unforgettable year of spiritual, mental, and physical transformation. After stepping away from writing for many years to experience and learn from life, he returned to the page with renewed purpose. Pivoting From Blue<\/em> is his debut novel.<\/p>\n

Following two decades of living and working in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, Van Gardner settled outside Orlando, Florida, where he embraced a quieter chapter focused on family, reflection, and exploration. He and his wife raised two children.<\/p>\n

Van Gardner draws inspiration from adventure, meaningful connection, and the stories people share. He enjoys writing, sailing, fly fishing, hiking, and spending time in the mountains of the Carolinas and Colorado and on the waters of the Bahamas and Caribbean. Above all, he treasures time with his family.<\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/span>
Company Name:<\/strong> Literary Titan
Contact Person:<\/strong> Skip Van Gardner
Email:<\/strong> Send Email<\/a>
Country:<\/strong> United States
Website:<\/strong> https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ULzz6l<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

United States – September 15, 2026 – Pivoting From Blue, the debut novel by businessman and storyteller Skip Van Gardner, has received the Literary Titan Book Award, recognizing its emotionally<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550313"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=550313"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550313\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=550313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=550313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.northcarolinaheadlines.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=550313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}