Vigilante Soft Launch of New Kids Book "Vigilant Kids"

[Vigilante]

I thought I would turn to my friends and fellow forum members with a fun announcement and a request for assistance.

Over the past year, I have written a kids book called Vigilant Kids. It's an edgy/aggressive book, aimed at teaching young kids some essential survival skills to bring them home safely. A lot of it is drawn from the work and stories we have come across over several years in the personal security industry. I've talked with experts in child abduction, law enforcement, and child psychology to create a book that we know will result in keeping children safe.

And so I turn to you. The book is going to be formally launched in June at one of the largest book fairs/trade shows in the United States (The Book Expo and then the consumer show a few days later... BookCon in New York).

We are hoping to generate some sales and positive reviews on Amazon before the book is formally available to the trade in June. We're using Amazon CreateSpace now, as well as Ingram Spark for distribution to bookstores and booksellers nationwide.

I will drop a progress thread between now and June to outline how we got this book to print, and the steps that were involved in making this happen.

I would love it if you would pick up a copy of the book on Amazon for your kids, your grandkids, or your friends and family. During this early stage, it's all about creating some social proof and setting the stage for what we hope to be a super impactful book on a national scale. I can't compensate you for a review, but know that even if you take the time to buy a copy of the book I am very appreciative. This book has been a true labor of love for me with a goal of reaching kids with a saving message. Some parents might hate it (because it is absolutely NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT) but that's OK. Even preferable. The buzz from the haters can be equally effective towards getting the message out.

If you want to grab some advance copies, search Amazon for VIGILANT KIDS. The book is $9.99 plus s/h directly from Amazon. Because the early sales channel is Amazon, I can't sign any copies now but towards Christmas we'll have some additional copies on the second printing that we can do some gift/signed copies on. Don't wait though as I need to get some buzz started now in advance of the June launch.

Thanks. You all have been a blessing to me over the years, and I hope the words of these pages might in turn bless any kids that would be fortunate enough to get a copy of this book from you.

In the upcoming progress thread, we can do an AMA on process, and I will keep you all informed on the milestones as we hit them in a quest to get the book into the hands of parents and kids across the United States. Thanks in advance for any support you lend.

- Dave

 

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[Vigilante]

MJ said the other day in an unrelated thread that you could publish a book with a message that might offend the politically correct crowd.



There will be a subset of soccer moms out there who would rather their kids not be street smart. The book will have it's share of haters and 1* pacifists.

I look forward to discussing that with them on MSNBC this Fall. I'll teach them how to keep their kids safe.

 

[Vigilante]

I got a call from the mysterious @Kak who was following this thread from the shadows and bought a copy of the book.

If he likes it I have done something right (and sure to offend at least half of America.)

 

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[James Fake]

 

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[MidwestLandlord]

Got the book yesterday. I love it! My kids love it too!

My 6 year old had no trouble reading it. It was an extremely easy read for my 9 year old.

The book fits in exceptionally well with conversations my girl's and I have had multiple times, so it compliments my parenting style nicely.

The artwork is great. Kept the kids engaged and now they want to dress just like the main gal in the book haha.

On a more personal note, I wanted to thank you personally @Vigilante for being politically incorrect with this book. The 8 year old boy in me can attest to the fact that not all bad guys are men, and I was quite pleased to see a woman as a bad guy in your book. Both genders can be evil, and kids (and their parents) need to understand this.

So...thank you.

I'll get an Amazon review up today.

 

[Vigilante]

Vigilant Kids is live on Barnes & Noble

Vigilant Kids by David Happe, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

 

[Vigilante]

Got the book yesterday. I love it! My kids love it too!

My 6 year old had no trouble reading it. It was an extremely easy read for my 9 year old.

The book fits in exceptionally well with conversations my girl's and I have had multiple times, so it compliments my parenting style nicely.

The artwork is great. Kept the kids engaged and now they want to dress just like the main gal in the book haha.

On a more personal note, I wanted to thank you personally @Vigilante for being politically incorrect with this book. The 8 year old boy in me can attest to the fact that not all bad guys are men, and I was quite pleased to see a woman as a bad guy in your book. Both genders can be evil, and kids (and their parents) need to understand this.

So...thank you.

I'll get an Amazon review up today.

Your words mean more to me than you know, as does the rest of the encouragement I have drawn from you and the rest of those who have commented thus far. As MJ and others can attest to, when you fling your manifesto out to the world you never know how it will be received.

I do think we have a story to tell. It may seem funny to some that my manifesto came in the form of a kids book, but when my hearts mission is to keep kids safe from a predatory world that in many cases intends to do them harm, this is the medium that makes the most sense.*

Your note came at the right time as my wife and I were sitting at the kitchen table concepting the next book. This one took a year to get done (mostly the artwork, obviously) so if we're going to follow this one up, we need to get cracking on the next one.

The forum has been invaluable to me as a sounding board, a learning tool, and my reinforcements. I appreciate you (and all of you) for your kind words about this project.

May your kids never need the words of that book. -Dave

* for now

 

[Vigilante]

Amazing the response you've received here at the forum with a target market that isn't exactly precise. I'd dare imagine what would happen if you reached a target audience of parents with younglings. You still wanting to buy that house with a gym?

Moreover, this kind of project taps into a potent meaning-and-purpose .... very Unscripted .

The trade show that we are launching at in June is the BookExpo at the Javits center. Most brick and mortar buyers and librarians from across the country will be there, and we have a pretty decent sized booth at the show. I will post more on that in the progress thread. We'll also be there for a few days after the private industry trade show, when they open it up to the public for BookCon (Same company that puts on ComiCon). So we'll have two days of meeting with retail buyers, followed by two days of "selling" to consumers. Should be a great way to get the book mainstream awareness, and have a chance to engage with the public directly.

 

[Vigilante]

A first grader could read it with a bit of help. There might be a few new words in there for first graders.

We'll read it to kids at 4-5 years of age, and it probably ranges from 4-9 with a reading level of first or second grade.

Warning. It is not politically correct. However, if your kids internalize the message it will give them a skill set they can call on to recognize adversarial harmful encounters and get themselves home safe.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Amazing the response you've received here at the forum with a target market that isn't exactly precise. I'd dare imagine what would happen if you reached a target audience of parents with younglings. You still wanting to buy that house with a gym?

Moreover, this kind of project taps into a potent meaning-and-purpose .... very Unscripted .

 

[luniac]

Politically incorrect Street smarts eh?

bought for myself LOL!

 

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[Raoul Duke]

I'll leave a review, once I read it. Thanks @Vigilante

 

[MJ DeMarco]

A heart warming picture that has to make you proud Dave!

 

[Vigilante]

Hey Vigi,

Would you like some unverified reviews to create that initial buzz?

No but thank you! Even just a few positive verified reviews will distance it from the pack. We'll generate a bunch of media in June.

But THANK YOU.

 

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[G-Man]

Ordered and will review. My 4 month old isn't old enough to read yet, but, then again, he's not old enough to break down and clean *ahem* sporting implements, and that's what we did together yesterday.

 

[Vigilante]

Interesting. Even with the little bit of activity generated today, the book is starting to rank. I will be compulsively watching that over the next 48 hours, and then it will fade until we launch the book in June but the little spark will be fun while it lasts. Amazon doesn't even have the full book details fully uploaded yet... minimal information on the Amazon site as of this afternoon. Thanks for all of you who are buying the pre-launch copies.

We're #2 in it's category in Hot New Releases
Amazon.com Hot New Releases: The best-selling new & future releases in Children's Safety Books

Amazon.com Hot New Releases: The best-selling new & future releases in Children's Martial Arts Books

 

[corius]

Just bought it. As a dad with daughters that are 9 and 10 I have been on the paranoid side since they were born. We have done both formal and informal anti-bully and anti-abduction training, I have also been stressing OPSEC since they started walking. This will be a great addition to that training

Thank you @Vigilante

 

[Kak]

I got a call from the mysterious @Kak who was following this thread from the shadows and bought a copy of the book.

If he likes it I have done something right (and sure to offend at least half of America.)

Nice picture you painted there. You sound like a writer.

 

[G-Man]

Your words mean more to me than you know, as does the rest of the encouragement I have drawn from you and the rest of those who have commented thus far. As MJ and others can attest to, when you fling your manifesto out to the world you never know how it will be received.

I do think we have a story to tell. It may seem funny to some that my manifesto came in the form of a kids book, but when my hearts mission is to keep kids safe from a predatory world that in many cases intends to do them harm, this is the medium that makes the most sense.*

Your note came at the right time as my wife and I were sitting at the kitchen table concepting the next book. This one took a year to get done (mostly the artwork, obviously) so if we're going to follow this one up, we need to get cracking on the next one.

The forum has been invaluable to me as a sounding board, a learning tool, and my reinforcements. I appreciate you (and all of you) for your kind words about this project.

May your kids never need the words of that book. -Dave

I flipped through it before I read it with my wife, and I gotta be honest, I wasn't sure she'd be down with it (what with all the kicking, biting, and eye gauging), but she was nodding her head the whole time. She actually loved the idea of training the kid to "fight dirty", and she, like @MidwestLandlord loved that there was a woman villain. She spends all day every day with our kid, so she had quite a different perspective. When I'm carrying our son around somewhere, people never approach me. Apparently, when she's out by herself with him, people approach her all the time, usually women wanting to hold him. She said people need to be reminded that a lot of these criminal types use women to do the child abducting because people let their guard down around ladies.... so, even though you book is for 4 year olds, I learned something.

 

[Vigilante]

I flipped through it before I read it with my wife, and I gotta be honest, I wasn't sure she'd be down with it (what with all the kicking, biting, and eye gauging), but she was nodding her head the whole time. She actually loved the idea of training the kid to "fight dirty", and she, like @MidwestLandlord loved that there was a woman villain. She spends all day every day with our kid, so she had quite a different perspective. When I'm carrying our son around somewhere, people never approach me. Apparently, when she's out by herself with him, people approach her all the time, usually women wanting to hold him. She said people need to be reminded that a lot of these criminal types use women to do the child abducting because people let their guard down around ladies.... so, even though you book is for 4 year olds, I learned something.

Worth reading : Mom Approached By Stranger, Then Something Odd Happens

 

[Vigilante]

My wife apparently had something similar happen that I just learned about: a very old lady (not sure from where), kept trying to hold my son. My wife was trying to be more polite than she normally would have been (the lady was very old, so you feel like you have to be gentle and respectful to her, plus she thought maybe this was just an incidence of different cultural expectations about personal distance). She didn't give the lady the baby, but didn't walk away either, trying to be polite. At this point, she notices a a man standing a ways away that's clearly watching them, so she leaves, and goes about her shopping. Coming out of the store and walking into another area of the mall she notices this older lady having the same awkward interaction with another young mother, and sure enough, when she scans around that dude is close by. She at that point got very rude.....

Clearly the world has changed since the 80s when I was a kid. Who knew you had to look out for sweet little old ladies

EDIT: removed an indicator of where the lady was from so the thread doesn't go flame war... sorry Vig.

Scary stuff when you put it together with the same model playing out in that article.

I have NO ISSUES teaching kids how to come home safely. There was one several months back where a guy grabbed a kid in a dollar store and carried her out the front door.

Parents would fight tooth and nail for their kids. Parents would fight TO THE DEATH for their kids. Kids should do the same thing.

 

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[MidwestLandlord]

It is a challenge, and I think after reading the book, my daughter definitely understood when to FOR SURE hit,kick,bite,scream,run away. When a bad person is trying to take you away. She will get it right, in the situation that matters the most.

We just told them which adults are OK to go with (Me, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, 2 Aunts, 2 Uncles)

Anybody else tries to take them away from school, home, Grandma's, whatever...and they don't have Mom or Dad's DIRECT permission, it's a NO.

I also told them that if anyone say's "your Mom/Dad said it was OK to go with me" they are LYING and to RUN AWAY IMMEDIATELY without talking to them further.

And for fights at school. I've told both my kids that they never start a fight, but they are always welcome to finish it. My oldest has done it too. Knocked a girl on her butt after the girl shoved her into a corner and slapped her face. School didn't like that at all haha

But, she hasn't been bullied since.

 

[Vigilante]

I received my copy. Really liked it.

It's brief but to the point, and the language is simple for children to understand. Illustrations are good and colorful, which children like.

I think the challenge will be in trying to explain to small kids how it's not nice to bite someone in most circumstances, but it's ok to bite someone in "certain" circumstances. (or kick, hit, etc) This book is a good way for parents to explain the difference.

Human Sex trafficking and child pedophilia are both causes I feel strongly about / know a good bit about / and support, so I'm so glad you thought of doing this.

I'd like for Navy Seal Craig Sawyer to see your book. He has developed an elite group of veterans to go after these type of sick perpetrators, and is also working on funding a documentary exposing the prevalence of trafficking and kidnapping of kids. Naturally he is receiving major pushback from "invisible sources".

Vig, it wouldn't surprise me if you ran up against someone/s who don't like what you are doing with this book because it goes against their sick agenda. More power to you.

One of my goals for 2017 is to fund a mission from a similar organization, called Operation Underground Railroad (OUR Rescue). They send in a team of former Special Forces guys to rescue kids that are enslaved in child sex trafficking. I am hoping to have the funds available sometime late this year to sponsor a mission (but you will never read about it in the news).

As for opposition to the book, I welcome it (because organized opposition is actually good for national media attention). I anticipate it, and welcome the debate. There is one consistent factor amongst nearly every parent that is universal... they all want their kids to come home safely. If someone wants to go on Fox News with me and advocate otherwise, I welcome the discussion. So... the opposition won't be organized, it will likely be anonymous and faceless and subterfuge. Meanwhile, we will just continue to concentrate on the message, and keeping kids safe one at a time. The book is edgy and will be controversial. It's never been written before.

Most educational materials in this genre teach kids to use the buddy system, "find a police officer" and other unrealistic psychobabble. I want my kid to fight to the death if necessary, because the fight itself will usually produce freedom, but the alternative may be worse than death. So, I'm not afraid of critics and maybe their children will learn a thing or two during the discussion.

 

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[Scot]

I'm going to grab a book even though I don't have kids. But I'm definitely going to share it on FB! Awesome idea Vig!

 

[Jamie T]

Don't wait though as I need to get some buzz started now in advance of the June launch.

You helped change my life. It's the least I can do.

I'll order a copy on Amazon today!

I'm excited to learn more about the process in your AMA and how the June launch turns out.

UPDATE: Just placed the order.

 

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[Vigilante]

Thanks all. I put a placeholder for the progress thread here :

Vigilante's Book "Vigilant Kids" Step by Step

 

[Iwokeup]

Thanks Doc

Anytime man. You've provided so much value and inspiration for us that it's the least we can do.

Plus it's something that we talk about around here frequently.

I would highly recommend targeting veterans with any marketing you do, they will definitely appreciate this book.

Completely agree with this. Former Marine here and vets aren't likely to entertain too much in the way of "Snowflake" ideologies.

 

[Vigilante]

Follow us on Facebook as we will be posting a lot of content there as we get closer to the launch in June.

Vigilant Kids

 

[G-Man]

Finally got the book and posted a review. Wife and I love it. Great book, Vig.

 

[corius]

Read it, loved it, definitely one of the ones that will be a bedtime story for my little ones and birthday present for all the niece's and nephews.

Thank you again not only has your wisdom help guide me, now it is also guiding my family.