Is this book based on a true story?

Yes! But for legal and narrative reasons, it’s a “work of fiction” with an extensive legal disclaimer.

How accurate is the book?

I guesstimate that about 90% of the content reflects reality. In other words, it’s more accurate than The Wolf of Wall Street, but less accurate than Oppenheimer.

This book was originally meant to be 98% accurate, but I had to tweak certain aspects to avoid legal issues.

Grad school is hard. Are you just complaining?

Normal grad school problems (e.g. long hours, low pay, hard classes) aren’t worth writing about.

My “fictional” story involves exposing illegal activities.

What legal issues does your book expose?

1) OSHA violations

2) Breach of contracts

3) Conflicts of interest

4) Misuse of taxpayer dollars

5) Others

How do I know this story isn’t made up?

1) The events are far too specific to fabricate

2) Texts, emails, photos, lab procedures, and presentation slides that I plan on releasing after consulting a lawyer

3) There are no car chases, shootouts, uranium heists, secret government missions, or other typical Hollywood scenes

The subtitle includes the “U.S. Government.” Are you exposing specific agencies? Or just the funding aspect?

1) The Lakewood Federal Center (based on the Denver Federal Center)

2) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

3) A specific agency within the Department of Energy

What content diverges from reality?

1) Certain side characters have cosmetic changes like modified gender, nationality, height, and hair color.

2) All supporting characters have codenames like Bottom-Heavy, Gloom Queen, Genius Beavis, Natural Thor, Robot Voice, and Confidential Crush

3) The name of the grad school: Colorado School of Memes

4) Some dates

5) Other minor details

How can I tell what parts are “accurate?”

Aside from the evidence (to be released pending legal review), the protagonist often breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience, like Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove. Those moments may contain hints about reality.

Is there a cohesive plot? Or just a string of jokes?

This book is a work of comedy, but it has a cohesive plot that escalates as the corruption compounds. Also, as the story unfolds, the main protagonist—and his perception of the environment—evolves. 

Do I need a background in science and engineering to understand the plot?

No. Like Breaking Bad, science drives the plot, but the story is written so anyone can follow along.

I added footnotes with additional technical information and references for anyone who wants to go deeper.

Do I need a legal background to understand the plot?

No. Like Better Call Saul, legal matters drive the plot, but the story is written so anyone can follow along. 

I added footnotes with additional legal information for anyone who wants to go deeper.

Whistleblowers face significant risks. If something drastic happens to you, will this book still be released?

I have contingency plans. The following will be released on launch date(s), regardless of my availability:

1) The Free PDF tab on this website

2) The Purchase PDF tab on this website

3) The Amazon Kindle version

In other words, I will not be silenced.

Will You Love or Hate It:

How long is the book?

At around 100,000 words, it’s about the same length as the original Hunger Games book.

What genre(s) is this book?

It blends psychological thriller, dark comedy, and realistic romantic comedy.

Who is the intended audience?

1) Readers who enjoy comedies and antihero-driven stories (e.g. South Park, Family Guy, Sausage Party, Deadpool, Ted, The Dictator), but want a story that’s heavily based on reality

2) People that are curious about government corruption and wasted taxpayer dollars, even though the disclaimer (that almost no one will read) says that the book isn’t educational

Who would dislike this book?

1) Anyone who gets offended easily

2) Fans of government waste

3) The individuals and institutions this novel is legally lampooning; some have already reached out to me. 

What could offend people about this book?

Plenty: wasted taxpayer dollars, misconduct in scientific research, illegal activities, unethical activities, politics, religion, psychological abuse, addiction, portrayals of minority groups, transactional relationships, age-gap dynamics, and strong language, among other things.

Since this book incorporates romantic comedy, is it like a standard rom-com?

No. There are loads of differences between my book and films like 50 First Dates and Crazy Rich Asians, including but not limited to:

1) The characters don’t have loads of free time

2) The protagonist met the main “romantic” interests online 

3) No scenes like getting on an airplane to confess love

One of the only standard rom-com tropes in my book is the “love” triangle, but that’s because I experienced that in real life.

Did you just include rom-com elements because they’re funny? Or are they relevant to the plot?

Both of the main “romantic” interests, along with other women, (unintentionally) help the male lead collect and document evidence.

Are there any similar books?

The closest I can think of is The Firm by John Grisham, where a lawyer blows the whistle on a corrupt law firm. However, my book is far more satirical, offensive, and “real.”

Free Content:

Will you ever release free content?

Yes! Starting Friday, May 15, 2026, I plan on releasing around 10–20 pages per week here on this site for free. If you’d rather not wait week by week, you can grab the full story anytime (digital or physical) starting that same day.

Why would you release free content?

Because people pirate PDFs all the time. I’d rather be proactive, look altruistic, and stay true to the whistleblower mission. Plus, I know many readers are financially strapped, so I want them to have a convenient way to read and share this story.

I can’t wait for May or September 2026. Is there a way to read the book sooner for free?

Yes. I’m looking for beta readers to provide early feedback and reviews before the official launch. If you’re interested, reach out through the contact information at the bottom of this page or on the contact page.

Paid Content:

Why should I pay if I can read it for free?

1) Early access to the full story

2) Formats beyond PDF

3) The satisfaction from supporting a small business and helping us fund future creative projects

How will I be able to obtain paid content?

On Friday, May 15, 2026, you will be able to buy:

1) A PDF of the book through the Purchase PDF tab

2) The Amazon Kindle version

Why that specific date?

Because it falls two Fridays before Memorial Day weekend. I’m hoping the timing helps the book circulate more widely heading into the holiday.

How I Used (and Didn’t Use) AI:

Did AI write this book for you?

No. This book is based on my real experiences. The details are far too specific for artificial intelligence to have fabricated. That said, I used ChatGPT as an editing tool.

As wonderful and powerful as ChatGPT is, it is not perfect. I have revised and disregarded many of its suggestions. I also plan on hiring a professional human editor to ensure the final version is fully polished.

Did AI create the cover?

I commissioned Taike Wen, an artist from Fiverr, to design the cover and other artwork. He incorporated AI into his creative process.

Is the anime-style art an accurate visual depiction of your real-life experiences?

Although the story is heavily based on reality, the artwork is not meant to be literal. I cared far more about creating visually striking imagery for promotional purposes than about achieving strict realism.

Under the hood:

What is BTW Media LLC?

The company that is publishing Blowing the Whistle. It is a small but legitimate business, registered with the state of Colorado.

How are you funding this project?

Primarily through income from my jobs, supplemented by withdrawals from my retirement accounts.

How long have you been working on this book?

I began in July 2024, about two months after leaving my former graduate program.

Given the content, was this psychologically difficult for you to write?

Not as much as I originally expected. For the most part, writing this has been fun! That said, the sections titled Dominance and Bait and Switch were especially rough to write (and edit).

Are you concerned that releasing this book will make it harder for you to get jobs in the future?

Vaguely. But I’m more focused on building my book company and hoping it takes off.

LEGAL MATTERS:

Is everything that you’re doing legal?

To the best of my knowledge, everything I am doing complies with applicable laws. If you have a specific legal concern, please use the contact information at the bottom of this page or visit our contact page.

Is your book’s legal disclaimer legit? Or just a formality?

The disclaimer is meant to be completely serious, legally binding, and not disingenuous. I plan on hiring a lawyer to make sure it’s solid before release. For now, ChatGPT has been serving as my wonderful pseudo-legal counsel.

What was your main legal concern?

My primary concern was accidentally engaging in defamation: the spreading of false statements that could damage someone’s reputation. However, since this book is “fictional,” potential defamation claims shouldn’t apply.

Would defamation apply for spreading truth?

No. By definition, defamation only applies to false statements. And since this book is “fictional,” I am not officially making claims about any real-life institutions or individuals.

Does the First Amendment protect your book?

Yes, it should. Satire and parody receive strong First Amendment protection. If a real-life entity tried to sue me over this book, I could likely move to dismiss the case or even pursue a countersuit.

Are the fourth-wall breaks legally problematic?

No. My legal disclaimer covers them, which means even the “hints about reality” remain firmly in the realm of fiction.

Did you have any other legal concerns?

I have been falsely accused of misusing information and other matters by individuals who haven’t even read my book yet.

To be clear, my book contains no confidential material, including but not limited to: patentable ideas, trade secrets, and unpublished research data.

Have you been involved in litigation or court battles regarding the book or retaliation?

As of the last update, no. But that could always change, and if it does, it might provide material for the sequel.

Should anything you say here or in the book be construed as legal advice?

No. I am not an attorney. I’m simply a small business owner who learned about legal matters in order to protect myself.

Future Development:

Do you plan on releasing any other books?

Yes. I plan to release a prequel in 2027, a sequel in 2028, and a collection of short stories between major releases.

Can you please tell me about the prequel?

The prequel is tentatively titled Exploiting the System and takes place two years before the events of Blowing the Whistle.

While the main book focuses on government corruption, the prequel follows the protagonist as he exposes fraud in corporate America. Like the main book, it’s heavily rooted in my real experiences.

Can you please tell me about the sequel?

Blowing the Whistle covers events from January through May 2024, with an epilogue set in September 2024. The sequel picks up immediately after that epilogue.

Can you please tell me about the short stories?

One of them may or may not involve getting locked out of a hostel the night before swimming with sharks.

Do you plan on working with a larger publisher?

If a larger publisher expresses interest, I’d consider it, as long as the story isn’t compromised.

Is there going to be a movie or TV show based on this book?

I’d love to pursue those opportunities if they arise. Given the mature themes and controversial content, any adaptation would almost certainly be rated “R.”

Remaining Questions:

Most people don’t blow the whistle against four different public institutions and multiple private companies. Especially within just a few years. What led you to this?

I never set out to become a whistleblower. I was just a guy who did his jobs in a legal and ethical manner. That bothered certain people. When I began noticing recurring patterns of misconduct, I started documenting them.

Over time, I realized that traditional whistleblower channels were ineffective. I also realized that I could entertain and inform the public through my stories. So, I started writing.

Where can I ask more questions?

1) Business Instagram: @btw_media_llc

2) Author Instagram: @kupaaikekaiao

3) Email: btwmediallcdenver@gmail.com