A man discovers his life purpose and shares his talent with the world. He meets a ruler with strict laws and stands up for his beliefs and principles. Through his courageous example he influences others to do the same and even the leader learns a lesson in humility and self transformation.
The Brave Whistler is a man who discovers his life purpose and shares his talent with the world. When he brings his passion for whistling to the people of a small kingdom, he is confronted by the ruler for breaking his strict laws.
Through his courageous example he influences others to find their own life purpose and even the king learns a lesson in humility and self transformation. This tale, written for children and adults of all ages, is about finding purpose and meaning, change, personal freedom, and bravely speaking the truth.
The Brave Whistler is available for pre-order on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble and will be released on May 16, 2023:
Kendig has been a writer and storyteller since childhood. His lifelong passion has been to bring meaning and personal transformation to others through his stories and personal interaction.
David Burns is inspired by the lovely combination of art and storytelling. With The Brave Whistler as his debut work he now has the “book bug” and feels compelled to never stop illustrating.
Tell us about the Brave Whistler. What inspired you to write it and what do you like most about it?
Kendig: Like many of my stories, it started out as a bedtime story for my own children. The inspiration from this book actually came from another children's book called the Quiltmaker's Gift. One night when telling a story, I guess that story was somewhat fresh in mind, and out of it came this conflict between a man who just had to whistle and a king who was no nonsense and authoritarian. It's been a theme of my own life to do my own thing, what I feel inspired to do, and it's something I think we should all stand up for in ourselves.
So did the king remind you of someone in your own life?
Kendig: Yes and no. There wasn't say a single person but more of a type of person who maybe means well but only sees things his or her way. So this inspired a point of conflict that I think most of us can see around us. This struggle between those that think they know best and want the world to be ordered a certain way and the free thinkers and dreamers who see so many other ways to do it. And it was out of that dynamic that the Whistler and the King's conflict arose and ultimately resolved. In the end, it's not just about the Whistler being who he is, but the King ultimately seeing that the world can and does work in different ways. And power itself has its limits.
Great points. In terms of power, what are the lessons here?
Kendig: Power is always given. In this case, the King's power comes from his ability to govern the people and keep the kingdom together, to make sure they have enough food to go through the year. Like many people, especially those who are used to having power, there is always the threat of losing it, and what the consequences of that are. The King fears everything will go to ruin. And of course, he maybe does not like the idea of personally losing power. It is part of his identity. So when that power is challenged, it is a big deal, and he will use that power to keep it. But that is usually when things go wrong, when that power is pushed too far, the people who accept that power may relinquish it. So the Whistler as a rebel or a voice for the rebel is important, as he shows the path for a better way not just for the people to stand up for themselves, but for those with power to use it wisely.
Do you think there should ultimately be no rulers or powerful people?
Kendig: The book really is not about that. In this case, the King discovers that there is a greater power than his own laws and ability to enforce them. There is a place for power. It's not a matter of whether a person or small group will be in power - human nature and history show that we tend towards some concentration of power. The question is how that power is used, do those in authority see their role as serving the people and the greater good or being served by the people? Do those with power recognize and support the hopes and dreams of those whom they lead, or do they see the people as automatons and incapable of self-direction? We see that here with the king - when he clings more to his authority than his mission to help the people unlock their potential, they withdraw their participation and he loses that power. Once he realizes that purpose again, then a new equilibrium is reached and a healthy power dynamic is restored.
There seem to be some other themes in the book besides just power. Can you talk about that a little bit here?
Kendig: Absolutely. Like most of my stories and writing, there tend to be layers and interconnected points. Often I do not see them all myself until they are written out. There is the Whistler himself, who is really trying to find that thing he is best at. The first few pages capture that. He is not content just following the path that society might have set out for him, the traditional job path. He can do those things, and when he does, he is good at them. But it is his love of nature and whistling that really bring the world to life for him. That is a very relatable concept, one that strikes a chord with me. One thing I would love to see is someone reading this tale to their child and having an epiphany of something like, oh I always wanted to make my own ice cream and sell it, and I know people love it. Why not? Take that risk and follow that dream.For children at an early age to think that yes, I will have a job someday, but what's really my place in the world.
That by itself seems like a big theme. I cannot help but think about the connection to nature and the role the wind plays.
Kendig: Oh yes, that is a big one. The wind, of course, is part of nature. It can be felt, and is only seen by what it does and the effects it creates. So too with Whistling and the Whistler. When the story starts out, people do not see a connection between the wind and whistling, its song or other nature. It's just there as wind, taken for granted. This is something the Whistler really connects to and he becomes bigger than himself, as he is a messenger for something greater.
On that topic, what role does religion play in this story?
Kendig: For me personally, faith is important. I do believe in God, in something higher than myself. What I like about this story, what I wanted to convey was there is something special that is greater than ourselves that anyone can relate to regardless of their belief system. I have been asked, “why is Love capitalized?” To me, God is Love - that's part of my theology. Love is universal, it transcends religion, and it something that we should all be able to agree gives life meaning.
What is the future of the Whistler?
Kendig: It is really on the wind to know where he will be next.
It's a special day for a baby dragon who is coiled up in his cave reading his treasure of books and scrolls. Introducing a new story concept by author Kendig Bergstresser about the Book Wyrms, dragons who live between the worlds and collect the lost treasures of books. [READ MORE...]
A boy uses his Imagination Powered Rocket Pack (IPRP) to travel to a world with giant
stuffed animals.
When he arrives he gets what he wishes for - an much more. He must quickly use his power
of imagination in some unexpected ways.
[READ MORE...]
The young child closes his eyes and feels the light wash over him. The magic window opens and he puts on his imagination-powered-rocket-pack (IPRP). He opens his eyes and sees colored light swirling around him. He leaps through the magic window, propelled by the IPRP. He stands suspended in space, surrounded in a soft glow, feeling warmth and comfort all around him. [READ MORE...]
Scary but Silly Stories - Whimsical, entertaining stories about a brother and sister's adventures with scary but silly encounters, which show that things are not always as bad as they might first look, and we can turn something we didn't expect into fun
Bud looked out the window and Terri looked out the door. They saw nothing.
They both stood looking and waiting.
The laughter came again, louder. And then a knock.
Bud opened the front door and looked all around. No one was there.
Then he looked up. And he screamed.
"Hahahahahahahaha!" the voice shouted out.
"I am the Floating, Talking Pumpkin Head! You cannot escape me!" Terri ran
out and saw nothing. Then she looked up
to see the pumpkin head floating in the air, shaking as it laughed.
Then it fell on her head.
"Ahhhhhhhahhhhhhh! Get it off me!" she screamed.
Bud screamed too. Meanwhile, the pumpkin head kept laughing in its creepy
voice.
Then Bud grabbed the pumpkin head off Terri's head…
"I'm scared," said Terri.
"We're almost there," said Bud. "Nothing to be afraid-"
Bud was cut off by a scratching and banging noise, like something shifting
below. Then the ground beneath them
moved! Two sets of bony hands poked out of the ground and grabbed their
ankles! Bud and Terri screamed together as
the skeleton hands pulled them down into the dirt.
When they landed on the floor, they looked around and saw they were in a
rather large area and they were not alone.
They were surrounded by…skeletons! In the corner, a band of skeletons was
banging and scraping bones and skulls
together. They were playing music! Another troupe was in the middle of the
room, jumping and moving around to the
music. They were dancing! "Welcome!" several skeletons said together.
"Is this a...?" Bud started to ask.
"Skeleton party?" Terri finished.
"What else would it be?" a skeleton in a top hat and fancy shoes said to
them. "Of course, please join the fun."
A small tree branch fell from the wind, and branches scratched against the
windows.
"What was that?" Terri screeched.
Bud looked up from the book he was reading and said hesitantly, "I
think it's just the wind, maybe?" Terri said, "I hope so, but it sounds
weird."
Bud listened for a moment and they both looked at each other as they heard
another sound.
"Ooooooooooooooo…aaaaahhhh…..ooooooooooooooooooo".
"I've never heard the wind do that before," Terri said, trembling.
Bud tried to look calm, but his voice cracked a little when he said, "It is
pretty windy today."
"It's windy alright," Terri said, crinkling her nose.
Then something bumped into the door. Bud got up to look at what it was, and
Terri followed sheepishly
behind him.
"That's strange," Bud said.
A large brown paper bag floated just at eye level through the window, and
bumped into the window.
The noise came again, much louder, "Oooooooooooooooooooo.
Ahhahahahaha…oooooooooooooooooo."
Terri cried out, "Ghost!"
They both jumped and stumbled over each other as they backed away from the
window.
Bud sniffed and put his shirt over his nose.
"Do you smell that?" he asked Terri. "It's awful!"
Terri wrinkled up her nose and pulled her shirt over her face to block the
stench.
"Ugghh! What is that?!" Terri asked in disgust.
"Hahahahahaha! That's me! Plplplplppppppp!"
"Oooooh!" Bud and Terri said together. They shook their heads to try and
clear the smell.
"I am the most terrifying thing you
will ever see! I am the….FART Ghost!"
Inspirational story about how a little girl faces her fear of night time monsters (with Mommy's help)
Marlena is sleeping peacefully, and then awakes with a fright. She yells,
"Mommy, I'm scared!"
Mommy tiptoes into the room and softly asks, "What are you scared of?"
Marlena points under the
bed and says, "There's a monster!"
Mommy hugs Marlena and says, "It's
ok, sweetheart, I can
help you. Mommy eats monsters. Now, close your eyes while I eat the
monster."
Marlena closes
her eyes. Mommy closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in and out.
There is a little shuffling
noise and then the monster makes a grunting sound. Mommy reaches under the
bed, pulls out the
monster, and swallows it whole...
Mommy burps and says, "Please watch
over her."
Mommy
turns back to Marlena and says, "Ok, you can open your eyes now. Mommy ate
the monster."
Mind Journey Creations is a studio which creates stories and content for use in various media. Our children's content deals with themes such as life purpose, facing fears, critical thinking, self assurance and self reliance, courage, faith, and principled values.
Our mission is to support personal growth and community improvement through telling entertaining, imaginative, and inspiring stories.
The use of the imagination is particularly important for children - a well developed imagination early in life helps us generate more options later in life, allowing us to better respond to the world around us and make it a better place. Our children's content is intended to be enjoyed by adults as well as children.
David Burns is inspired by the lovely combination of art and storytelling.
With The Brave Whistler as his debut work he now has the “book bug” and feels compelled to never stop illustrating. With interests ranging from comics to video games who knows where we'll see him next.