The Safety of Deeper Water

This quietly brilliant novel by Tim Poland balances plot and lyricism, mystery and romance, while evoking characters that find they belong beside - and especially in - the rare wildness of an Appalachian river. . . .Like the river. this novel does not flash its poetic qualities, but almost hides them, carrying the reader with strong, smooth, invisible currents. Laura Longsong, Appalachian Heritage

The genius of The Safety of Deeper Water is its ability to make fishing appealing, even irresistible, to non-anglers. . . .Poland's tale is unusual and unique, especially in its cast of characters and use of metaphor and language. Rege Behe, The Pittsburgh Tribune

Tim Poland's The Safety of Deeper Water is more of a novel with suspense than a suspense novel. In fact, it's a fishing novel with suspense - and a first-rate writing job. Dick Cady, ForeWord Magazine

From the social consciousness of Wendell Berry, the cosmic awareness of Walt Whitman, and the psychology of grotesqueness of Sherwood Anderson, The Safety of Deeper Water distills a wonderfully integrated spirit of belonging. Very few regional novels have so clearly shown how to shed the burden of a destructive egotism and achieve a transcendence that partakes of a particular terrain's personality. Don Secreast, author The Rat Becomes Light and White Trash, Red Velvet

Poland has executed a glimpse into the world just under the rushing waters, the quieter deeper waters where the larger, wiser fish lurk. The Safety of Deeper Water is a well written short novel that tells the tale of the deep change people are capable of and the beauty found in the sport of fly fishing. Heather Froeschl, The Back Cover

Tim Poland weaves many characters, recurrent troubles, aspiring hopes, and community life into an organic and ecological whole... Thomas F. Fehr, Nantahala: A Review of Writing and Photography in Appalachia

This quietly briliant novel by Tim Poland balances plot and lyricism, mystery and romance, while evoking characters that find they belong beside-and especially in-the rare wilderness of an Appalachian river. . . .Like the river, this novel does not flash its poetic qualities, but almost hides them, carrying the reader with strong, smooth, invisible currents.
LauraLongsong, Appalachian Heritage

The genius of The Safety of Deeper Water is its ability to make fishing appealing, even irresistible, to non-anglers. . . .Poland's tale is unusual and unique, especially in its cast of characters and use of metaphor and language
Rege Behe, The Pittsburgh Tribune

Tim Poland's TheSafety of Deeper Water is more of a novel with suspense than a suspense novel. In fact, it's a fishing novel with suspense and a first-rate writing job.
Dick Cady, ForeWord Magazine

From the social consciousness of Wendell Berry, the cosmic awareness of Walt Whitman, and the psychology of grotesqueness of Sherwood Anderson, The Safety of Deeper Water distills a wonderfully integrated spirit of belonging. Very few regional novels have so clearly shown how to shed the burden of a destructive egotism and achieve a transcendence that partakes of a particular terrain's personality.
Don Secreast, author The Rat Becomes Light and White Trash, Red Velvet

Poland has executed a glimpse into the world just under the rushing waters, the quieter deeper waters where the larger, wiser fish lurk. The Safety of Deeper Water is a well written short novel that tells the tale of the deep change people are capable of and the beauty found in the sport of fly fishing.
Heather Froeschl, The Back Cover

Tim Poland weaves many characters, recurrent troubles, aspiring hopes, and community life into an organic and ecological whole...
Thomas F. Fehr, Nantahala: A Review of Writing and Photography in Appalachia