https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-07-29 https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/blog/the-deep-end-of-the-pool-drops-on-february-27th-from-pegasus-publishing-check-out-the-link-on-the-books-page monthly 0.5 2025-02-11 https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/blog/00j03i4hiyyhjqjiyygro6l1sa8v4z monthly 0.5 2022-08-22 https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/blog/blog-title-here-Zr3rM monthly 0.5 2022-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/1658167977905-NMO92COI0J08ALRZDAJN/DartsFlowers_Cover-RGB.jpg Blog - We have a cover and a date! - Make it stand out Coming August 23rd https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/blog/an-interview-with-dean-backus monthly 0.5 2022-03-24 https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/home daily 1.0 2025-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/7138fefd-fd05-4b07-9624-2b6953093d5b/DeepEndofthePoolCoverJacket2.jpg Home - The Deep End of the Pool Coming February 2025 from Pegasus Publishing Shannon Milne is a fantastic swimmer. He brings his special talent to his new high school and impresses those who matter. He also impresses those who shouldn’t matter, but who make it their business to dominate and control him. Shan’s life hasn’t been easy, thus far. He’s had more to contend with than many of his tender years and yet, through no fault of his own, is suddenly immersed in a new world of coercion, mental and physical abuse. Who holds Shannon’s strings now? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/1658167977905-NMO92COI0J08ALRZDAJN/DartsFlowers_Cover-RGB.jpg Home - Darts and Flowers A funny, heartwarming queer YA rom-com about two childhood buddies who reunite in high school and launch a madcap scheme of blackmail, betrayal, and manipulation – all in the name of friendship and love. Indie Foreword Gold Medal winner (2023)! Dean Backus spins a fun and crafty tale of friendship, identity, secrets, and love in this LGBTQ romantic comedy set in the 1990s at a private Seattle high school. Darts and Flowers is inspired by Shakespeare’s comedies and iconic teen films of the 90s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/70417f29-a4bb-40ef-819e-7af4f6feb6c7/San+Jose+Mercury+News+Logo.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/1fd7f3d0-5947-4c49-a76e-cf30e0a060bd/SF+Weekly+Logo.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/078837bc-85ad-427d-8ffe-e756524c4a33/FirstGlance+Film+Festival+Logo.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/c1dd824b-d688-4924-baa9-4273283569bf/San+Francisco+Chronicle+Logo.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/344b20f1-24ff-4f1d-b56f-f58cd7b92101/Fringe+Festivals+Logo.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/8d3a7587-cd50-4b95-b477-487095d6243d/IMG_2407.jpeg Home - Hey there! I’m Dean. I'm a playwright, essayist, screenwriter, journalist, filmmaker, and high school English teacher. And now, I'm a debut YA author. I've been writing professionally for more than 30 years, teaching for almost 20, and after so much time writing plays, screenplays, and working in freelance journalism, I'm thrilled to be entering the amazing world of YA storytelling. I'm so glad you're here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618511387030-5LI1E5QMVTQ2RY9S00A4/20140228_Trade+151_0046+1.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618511440608-5BVMHVN4WR2I9YQV1WWR/Aro+Ha_0010+1.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618511743693-J3A8OYH6X8C7RXNU5K0J/20140301_Trade+151_0124+1.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618511467879-K5J9BYNACHJVDV3BNSFU/Aro+Ha_0387+1.jpg Home https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/darts-and-flowers daily 0.75 2022-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/1658167977905-NMO92COI0J08ALRZDAJN/DartsFlowers_Cover-RGB.jpg Darts and Flowers - A funny, heartwarming queer YA rom-com about two childhood buddies who reunite in high school and launch a madcap scheme of blackmail, betrayal, and manipulation – all in the name of friendship and love. From debut novelist Dean Backus. Zack Standish and Josh Bradshaw are best friends, separated at 12 and reunited the first day of their junior year at Watson Academy. But their joyful reunion quickly becomes an epic mess when Josh tells Zack that he’s gay and has his eyes set on Brian, his first love and the school’s star athlete whose beautiful girlfriend is Zack’s secret crush. So when the two develop a harebrained plan to nab the objects of their affection, Brian’s cunning sister Jamie slips into the game and takes it to a whole other level where loyalties are challenged, betrayal and manipulation ensue, and true identities are revealed – all in the name of friendship and love. Debut young adult author Dean Backus spins a warm, witty, and clever tale of friendship, identity, secrets, and love in this gay romantic comedy set in the 1990s at a private Seattle high school. Darts and Flowers is inspired by Shakespeare’s comedies and iconic teen films of the 90s, including Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You. The perfect discovery for fans of Sophie Gonzales’ Only Mostly Devastated, Simon James Green’s You’re the One That I Want, and Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/1658167977905-NMO92COI0J08ALRZDAJN/DartsFlowers_Cover-RGB.jpg Darts and Flowers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.deanbackusauthor.com/the-deep-end-of-the-pool daily 0.75 2025-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c876dce11dc7eccd88c67/7138fefd-fd05-4b07-9624-2b6953093d5b/DeepEndofthePoolCoverJacket2.jpg The Deep End of the Pool - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.