Dean Backus's Blog: Website update
March 2, 2025
"The Deep End of the Pool" has dropped!
A five-star rating on Instagram from @arizonarian_bookreviewer_u.s.a.
"Dean Backus’ The Deep End of the Pool is an evocative coming-of-age novel that weaves together themes of trauma, resilience, and self-discovery through the lens of a young swimmer, Shan Milne. The novel’s introspective and deeply personal narration pulls readers into Shan’s world, where water is both a sanctuary and a battleground. The vivid prose and raw emotional depth make this a gripping read that lingers long after the last page.
From the very first chapter, Backus immerses us in Shan’s childhood fears and struggles. The memory of flailing in a community pool as a five-year-old, fixating on the glowing ember of a cigarette for guidance, sets the tone for a story steeped in both literal and metaphorical survival. This moment encapsulates the central motif of the novel: the struggle to stay afloat, both in water and in life. The transition to Shan’s teenage years, where his swimming talent has earned him a scholarship, presents a stark contrast between outward success and internal turmoil. Despite his achievements, his past continues to haunt him, a fact underscored by his defensive and cautious interactions with new acquaintances.
One of the novel’s strengths is its complex character dynamics. Shan’s encounter with a mysterious girl, described with a mythical aura, introduces an element of intrigue, hinting at a potential romance or deeper emotional connection. Similarly, his guarded response to a stocky, overly friendly classmate reveals a past shaped by neglect and abuse. The subtle references to Frankie, a figure who appears to have been both a guardian and a source of trauma, add an unsettling layer to Shan’s story. His memories of physical punishment, juxtaposed with casual interactions in the present, underscore the lingering effects of past wounds.
Backus’ writing style is both lyrical and immersive, using sensory details to enhance the storytelling. The descriptions of water, whether in a chlorinated pool or a mountain stream, serve as powerful metaphors for Shan’s inner state.
Ultimately, The Deep End of the Pool is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the complexities of adolescence, trauma, and the search for identity."
"Dean Backus’ The Deep End of the Pool is an evocative coming-of-age novel that weaves together themes of trauma, resilience, and self-discovery through the lens of a young swimmer, Shan Milne. The novel’s introspective and deeply personal narration pulls readers into Shan’s world, where water is both a sanctuary and a battleground. The vivid prose and raw emotional depth make this a gripping read that lingers long after the last page.
From the very first chapter, Backus immerses us in Shan’s childhood fears and struggles. The memory of flailing in a community pool as a five-year-old, fixating on the glowing ember of a cigarette for guidance, sets the tone for a story steeped in both literal and metaphorical survival. This moment encapsulates the central motif of the novel: the struggle to stay afloat, both in water and in life. The transition to Shan’s teenage years, where his swimming talent has earned him a scholarship, presents a stark contrast between outward success and internal turmoil. Despite his achievements, his past continues to haunt him, a fact underscored by his defensive and cautious interactions with new acquaintances.
One of the novel’s strengths is its complex character dynamics. Shan’s encounter with a mysterious girl, described with a mythical aura, introduces an element of intrigue, hinting at a potential romance or deeper emotional connection. Similarly, his guarded response to a stocky, overly friendly classmate reveals a past shaped by neglect and abuse. The subtle references to Frankie, a figure who appears to have been both a guardian and a source of trauma, add an unsettling layer to Shan’s story. His memories of physical punishment, juxtaposed with casual interactions in the present, underscore the lingering effects of past wounds.
Backus’ writing style is both lyrical and immersive, using sensory details to enhance the storytelling. The descriptions of water, whether in a chlorinated pool or a mountain stream, serve as powerful metaphors for Shan’s inner state.
Ultimately, The Deep End of the Pool is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the complexities of adolescence, trauma, and the search for identity."
February 14, 2025
"The Deep End of the Pool" drops THURSDAY 2/27/25
Hi readers!!
Huge news!! My second book, "The Deep End of the Pool" drops 2 weeks from yesterday on THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27th from Pegasus Publishing!!
Star high school swimmer Shannon "Shan" Milne is in an abusive relationship.....and the abuser is his girlfriend. Enter "The Deep End of the Pool" but save your last breath to scream for help. (Recommended for readers 17 and up.)
Pre-orders are available now, or you can order from the publisher: www.pegauspublishers.com
A future giveaway will be happening in the next several week to several lucky readers/followers/supporters! Keep your eyes open!
THANK YOU to everyone who made "Darts and Flowers" a success--your wonderful reviews and support meant so much to me. I hope you'll follow me on this new, much darker journey as I push myself way out of my comfort zone--it's a tough tale (it was hard for me to write some scenes), but I feel it's important to draw attention to a largely unspoken social problem, specifically boys in abusive relationships with female partners. I hope this book helps break some of the silence around the topic.
Again, thanks for your support! Say hi anytime---deanbackusauthor@gmail.com
Huge news!! My second book, "The Deep End of the Pool" drops 2 weeks from yesterday on THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27th from Pegasus Publishing!!
Star high school swimmer Shannon "Shan" Milne is in an abusive relationship.....and the abuser is his girlfriend. Enter "The Deep End of the Pool" but save your last breath to scream for help. (Recommended for readers 17 and up.)
Pre-orders are available now, or you can order from the publisher: www.pegauspublishers.com
A future giveaway will be happening in the next several week to several lucky readers/followers/supporters! Keep your eyes open!
THANK YOU to everyone who made "Darts and Flowers" a success--your wonderful reviews and support meant so much to me. I hope you'll follow me on this new, much darker journey as I push myself way out of my comfort zone--it's a tough tale (it was hard for me to write some scenes), but I feel it's important to draw attention to a largely unspoken social problem, specifically boys in abusive relationships with female partners. I hope this book helps break some of the silence around the topic.
Again, thanks for your support! Say hi anytime---deanbackusauthor@gmail.com
April 8, 2024
$.99 sale for the month of April on amazon.com
Hullo friends!
Amazing news; for the month of April, Amazon.com is offering my Indie Foreword Gold Medal winner "Darts and Flowers" as an ebook for only $.99!! Darts and Flowers Check it out!!
Amazing news; for the month of April, Amazon.com is offering my Indie Foreword Gold Medal winner "Darts and Flowers" as an ebook for only $.99!! Darts and Flowers Check it out!!
September 3, 2023
"Darts and Flowers" is a $1.99 ebook for SEPTEMBER ONLY!
Hullo fans and friends!
Some amazing news for you: for the month of SEPTEMBER ONLY, the Indie Foreword Gold Medal winning YA novel "Darts and Flowers" is on sale for $1.99!!
Wherever you download your eBooks from, check out "Darts and Flowers" on sale for the next 27 days! This is a limited time deal and only applies to the eBook version, so pass the info on!
If you've read and loved the book, please write a review so others know about it! And please always feel free to send me a note at deanbackusauthor.com.
Happy reading!
Some amazing news for you: for the month of SEPTEMBER ONLY, the Indie Foreword Gold Medal winning YA novel "Darts and Flowers" is on sale for $1.99!!
Wherever you download your eBooks from, check out "Darts and Flowers" on sale for the next 27 days! This is a limited time deal and only applies to the eBook version, so pass the info on!
If you've read and loved the book, please write a review so others know about it! And please always feel free to send me a note at deanbackusauthor.com.
Happy reading!
June 20, 2023
Kindle promotion Monday 6/26/03!!!
If you buy the INDIE FORWARD AWARD WINNER "Darts and Flowers" on MONDAY JUNE 26TH as a Kindle download, it's only $1.99 (down from $6.49).
Oh yeah, did I mention that "Darts and Flowers" is the INDIE FORWARD AWARD WINNER for Best LGBTQ book? Now you know. :)
Oh yeah, did I mention that "Darts and Flowers" is the INDIE FORWARD AWARD WINNER for Best LGBTQ book? Now you know. :)
November 6, 2022
October 1, 2022
September 2, 2022
Congrats to my giveaway winners!!
Ree Tabassum of Lansdowne, PA
Jessica Hackett of Marcellus, NY
Marisela Dominguez of Bastrop, TX
Look for your copies of the book next week! Thank you everyone who entered and added it to your "interested/to read" list!!
Jessica Hackett of Marcellus, NY
Marisela Dominguez of Bastrop, TX
Look for your copies of the book next week! Thank you everyone who entered and added it to your "interested/to read" list!!
August 22, 2022
The book drops TOMORROW AUGUST 23rd!
The book drops TOMORROW AUGUST 23RD! Thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered it, told friends and family, reblogged about it, and in general helped it become an Amazon bestseller in TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES! (LGBTQ YA, and LGBT Romance).
On a personal note, my dad passed away 3 years ago today; I’d like to think he’ll be my guardian angel over the next day or two as the book officially launches. He was so proud of my play writing work, and he was also one of the kindest and most loving people I’ve ever known. And this is indeed a love story (if a kind of skewed one), so his fingerprints will be all over it along with mine.
In related news, Pegasus Publications is moving forward with Book #2, “The Deep End of the Pool",” which should be out early next year! More details to follow.
On a personal note, my dad passed away 3 years ago today; I’d like to think he’ll be my guardian angel over the next day or two as the book officially launches. He was so proud of my play writing work, and he was also one of the kindest and most loving people I’ve ever known. And this is indeed a love story (if a kind of skewed one), so his fingerprints will be all over it along with mine.
In related news, Pegasus Publications is moving forward with Book #2, “The Deep End of the Pool",” which should be out early next year! More details to follow.
August 17, 2022
THANK YOU!!
The book doesn't come out till Tuesday August 23rd, but it's apparently already hit the Top 100 at Amazon.com in YA LGBTQ+ romance.
THANK YOU to everyone who made this happen! Once you've received and read it, please review it here and let myself and other folks know!
THANK YOU to everyone who made this happen! Once you've received and read it, please review it here and let myself and other folks know!
Website update
New reviews, and a teaser for my new book due next year:https://www.deanbackusauthor.com
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