For Gqeberha writer and former minister Dean Cothill, writing four books was never simply about becoming an author. It was about making sense of a deeply personal journey through ministry, burnout, healing, and rediscovering hope.
After recently launching a BackaBuddy campaign to fund the first print run of his books, Dean has been overwhelmed by the support he received from the community. Within just a few weeks, the campaign surpassed its original fundraising goal, allowing the books to move into production ahead of their planned September release.
Dean said he is deeply grateful for the generosity shown throughout the campaign. The support has made it possible to place the books into the hands of readers, sharing messages of comfort, healing, and hope that he believes are needed now more than ever.
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Ministry has been at the centre of Dean’s life from an early age.
He knew he was called into ministry while still a teenager and entered the Methodist ministry shortly after leaving school at the age of 18. He served as a Methodist minister for almost nine years before moving into teaching before eventually transitioning into pastoral ministry at an evangelical church in Gqeberha.
“Ministry has always been part of who I am,” Dean said. “It has shaped the way I see people, faith, suffering and hope.”
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Like many pastors, however, he eventually discovered that caring for others while neglecting his own wellbeing came at a cost.
About four years ago, he experienced severe burnout accompanied by depression, stress and anxiety, culminating in a panic attack that forced him to confront his own limitations.
Rather than allowing that difficult season to define him, Dean began writing. As a minister of the Word, a worshipper, and someone who has spent years communicating through preaching and social media, expressing himself through writing came naturally. The blank pages became a place to process grief, ask difficult questions, pray honestly, and rediscover a gentler understanding of faith.
Those reflections eventually became four books.
His first book, SOUL, explores identity, grief, wonder, tenderness, love, and the lifelong journey of becoming whole.
Inspired by his life as a frequent traveller, Between Arrivals and Departures is a deeply personal memoir rooted in the rhythm of airport terminals. For Cothill, airports are a microcosm of life itself — filled with people arriving, departing, or waiting in transit. The book speaks to anyone navigating life’s in-between seasons, when one chapter has ended but the next has yet to begin. It explores endings, new beginnings, homecoming, and the sacred space of transition. And sometimes the transition can mean waiting for the next transit.
“This one is very personal, and the stories I share are deeply personal,” Cothill said. “We’re not often taught how to move from one season of life to the next. Our hearts and souls usually take a little longer to catch up. We may have checked in, but there might still be delays along the way.”
His third book, 5 Questions, is written particularly for men and fathers. Through five thought-provoking questions, Cothill encourages readers to examine the legacy they are building, the burdens they carry, and the kind of people they are becoming. It is an invitation to pause, reflect, and live with greater purpose and intention. One of the questions that stand out is one to fathers where he said “Will you (as a man or a father) be proud if your son grew up to be exactly the same man that you are today?”
The fourth book, Poems & Prayers, is a collection of poems, prayers, and honest reflections designed to accompany readers through both ordinary moments and life’s more difficult seasons.
While each book stands on its own, they are united by recurring themes of faith, healing, identity, vulnerability, grace, and hope.
Reflecting on the response to the BackaBuddy campaign, Dean said the experience has reminded him that people are deeply hungry for authentic stories and honest conversations about faith, struggle, and restoration.
For him, these books represent far more than a publishing milestone.
They are the fruit of years of ministry, personal struggle, and spiritual renewal—and an invitation for readers to discover that even in seasons of uncertainty, loss, and exhaustion, healing remains possible.
As the books prepare for their official release in September, Dean hopes they will become trusted companions for people navigating their own journeys of faith, transition, grief, and rediscovery, offering reassurance that hope can often be found in the most unexpected places.
Readers who would like to follow the journey or learn more about the books can do so through Dean Cothill’s BackaBuddy campaign, which documents the project from its beginnings to the upcoming release or through his website https://deancothill.co.za/ where he shares information about each book. Watch the website for details on when and how the books will be available — or email Dean at dean@deancothill.co.za
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