Exit Velocity

Not everyone in desperate need of a job encounters a parrot from another planet. A parrot on a Duty to the Universe mission.

Deep in the heart of Bridgeport, Chicago's historic South Side working class area, Rowan Pickett is desperate for a job. Rowan's world has gone to hell, her sister murdered in a high school shooting, her mother leaving, and Rowan sitting home and mourning. But Rowan is determined to survive, and getting a job is the first step in that direction.

In seeking the job, she unwittingly sends a signal to Deeply, the parrot. This simple action results in injury to Rowan's sworn enemy, neofascist Zeb Snoddy. And it raises the suspicions of podcaster Jake Terranova, who thinks Rowan and the parrot might be a political assassination team.

When Rowan does get a job, thanks to the help of long-time friend and political leader Titus Longshaw, she starts to rebuild her life, finding solace and friendship at Package Nova, a global shipping firm. Working on the package distribution line she becomes part of each power struggle within the work place: pace, hours, safety conditions, pay, management.

Emerging from the ashes of tragedy, Rowan is doing well. Until she encounters Zeb Snoddy one dark night. Until her bosses reject the idea of a woman fighting back.

In this gripping contribution to women-fight-back fiction, Snoddy meets resistance he never expected, and working class struggle is brought to life in exciting and powerful ways.