The Whistlers

Magic and Mayhem continues

People are on the streets, using their whistles to alert their neighbors if ICE goons (I refuse to call that bunch legitimate law enforcement, they are not) are in the area. It’s a simple, effective, peaceful way to respond to what’s happening out there. As someone who works in an elementary school, I can assure you that humans are somehow conditioned to pay attention to a whistle alert. Maybe it’s instinct, because those children arrive in kindergarten knowing the whistle is something to pay attention to no matter what.

Yesterday I was listening to Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Joyce Vance White on You Tube and they discussed this tactic, and a bunch of other good stuff to know. On of them referred to the protesters with whistles as “the whistlers” so naturally that gave me a chuckle since that was the name of of “the good guys” in the book I published, October of 2024, before the election. I was so certain Harris would win. I’m going to open here, and believe me, I am not a conspiracy nut, but I believe she did win. But that’s a whole ‘nother discussion and it doesn’t change what’s happened over the past year.

So, I self published my book on Amazon, KDP Select, which gave them an exclusive for 90 days. I thought that might be a good entry point. I put a lot of effort into marketing on FB groups, Instagram, etc.

And then the election happened.

I watched as Bezos, Zuck, Musk and company threw their money and support behind what turned out to be a fascist Christian Nationalist regime. They’re still enabling it. So, I shot myself in the foot and immediately cut ties with them, including Amazon, once the contract was up. But I didn’t really try to market it after Jan.2025. Eventually, I took the print version down and left the e-book up as a placeholder for a future relaunch where it will NOT be Amazon exclusive. Maybe not Amazon at all. I don’t know yet, still trying to puzzle that one out since they control 75% or more of the book market.

Lots to puzzle out. Like, I probably need a website, and I could do more through Substack which I’ve been reticent to do after hearing they had a Nazi problem. I’m reconciling that by remembering that I am in favor of free speech, even when I don’t agree with it, don’t like it or even hate it. I don’t see or hear the Substack nazis and am very good with the block button in case I do run into them.

In the meantime, I wrote the next book. I’m calling it The PotStirrer for now, but I’m not 100% sold on that title. It’s set in the same world because one of the characters from the first book decided he had something to say. I hoping to have that one ready to publish by summer 2026 and that’s when I’ll also relaunch the first book, in an expanded edition.

So many people, most of my friends, are still on Zucks platforms. I’m not going back there, but I may contract with others to post some marketing related things. I’ve heard all the reasons people tell me they can’t leave Facebook or Instagram or WhatsApp, and I get it. They don’t want to miss out. I know I’ve missed out on a few things since severing connection there. I’ve had to adapt and let go. It’s actually been good for me except for losing the followers I was building, missing out on some calendar events, and the Buy Nothing group. I didn’t know I’d miss that one, but I do!

I’ve got some other things in the works; a short story anthology, a serial fiction/modern day retelling of a popular American folktale, some humorous essay about being the school lunch lady, and the box of poetry and essays my dad wrote which I still need to go through, organize and publish in his honor. Plus, I intend to publish more this-n-that on Substack. That ought to keep me busy when I’m not working or doing my civic duty of yelling at the regime.