In her latest novel, Sky Blues, Vicki Hendricks has found a way to link two of her favorite obsessions -- exotic animals and sky diving -- into a single tale. Pesonifying the two components are her principle characters: a sassy veterinarian from Lion Country Safari, and the dashing young man who sweeps her off her feet and into the air. There is said to be enough background material about the art of sky diving in this book to make you feel ready to take off, but Vicki warned us not to try this at home without real lessons.
Even though you can't judge by the cover, this book has one fit to match its lovely title and promises to deliver much more inside. You didn't think it would stop at a simple romantic entanglement, did you? After all, this is from Miss Noir herself.
Appearing with Vicki was the brisk new voice of Brandy Sejeck, who is training in the poetic arts at Broward Community College. Brandi kindly warned us that some of her material might be a bit strong for some tastes -- but not this crowd, of course ... we're ready for anything, aren't we? It even seemed tame at first, until you developed the film in your mental darkroom and got pictures of a coming of age through skin disease, like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis ... or a family portrait that tilted in the direction of incest. Yes, it was tough stuff after all, and not a bad match for the darker elements of Vicki's work.
- Steve Donachie