LENOIR, N.C. – Tony Deal, a musician, writer, teacher and mediator from Caldwell County, N.C., has written a new book – “But that’s not true!” – that is a “modern parable” about the current state of U.S. politics. It is both a fable and allegory for young and old alike. It is Deal’s third book. It is illustrated by Tonja Smith of Morganton, N.C.

Deal describes the book as a “A modern fairy-tale when a brave young girl speaks truth to a king.” In the Preface, he shares, “Echoing Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes,’ this contemporary parable centers on a young girl whose simple, honest words spark a resistance against tyranny. It explores the timeless reality of how power corrupts – spreading through fear and favoritism until the people are silenced.”

He explains, “At its core, this is the story of an unscrupulous leader using falsehoods to dismantle the twin pillars of society: truth and trust. While readers may find striking parallels in today’s headlines, the message remains non-partisan and clear: our political landscape is starving for integrity. As a mediator, I have seen firsthand the consequences when truth becomes inconvenient. I hope this book will spark a vital conversation… a reminder that in our personal, professional, and political lives, we must speak the truth and be brave enough to say, ‘but that’s not true.’”

Deal shares that the protagonist, the young girl Ruth, is raised “in a prosperous land built on truth and trust, where children are taught about an invisible cloak bestowed at birth – a promise that honesty and integrity lead to happiness and security. For generations, a Council of Sages governs wisely, until an ambitious newcomer convinces them to make him King.

“The King rules through lies and manipulation, spinning elaborate falsehoods so repeatedly that citizens can no longer distinguish fact from fiction. He mocks the vulnerable, stokes fear of outsiders, and demands to be the sole authority on truth. Most leaders, fearing his retribution, remain silent.

“When the King rides through Brookcroft Village and falsely claims he was elected unanimously, nine-year-old Ruth – small, fearless, and raised to always tell the truth – shouts, ‘But that’s not true!’ The crowd freezes. Enraged and humiliated, the King bans those four words, launches a campaign of retribution against Ruth’s village, and eventually has her imprisoned in his castle tower.

“Her courage ignites a movement. ‘But that’s not true!’ spreads from village to village. Citizens defy the King’s decrees, burn his plaques, and demand the return of the sages. At his own birthday celebration, thousands shout him down mid-speech. Indeed, ‘But that’s not true’ became the unifying chant of the land.” Shortly after, the King slips out of his castle in the dead of night and vanishes.

The Spark that Ignited the Fable

Asked what sparked the notion to write the book, Deal reveals, “The coalition of my training in mediation and conflict resolution and seeing the consequences of people not telling the truth.” He explains, “When I grew up, truth was important in Sunday School and Boy Scouts. Everywhere we were taught this. Lawyers told the truth. Doctors told the truth. We had more community service organizations. Somewhere along the line, we’ve slipped into when truth doesn’t matter.” He says he believes this occurred following World War II and the prosperity that accompanied the post-war decades.

Pointing to current politicians, Deal observes, “There’s no shame. The don’t ‘lie,’ they ‘misspoke.’ What frustrates me is the people who won’t stand up and say ‘That’s not true.’ We need politicians to say ‘but that’s not true.’ They can learn from Ruth, he argues. “At nine-years-old, using power and truth, (she) ends up taking down a king.”

In short says Deal, “Truth and trust are the very foundations of cooperation between people. If there is not truth and trust you have no unity. If we’d all be truthful, trust one another and live by the Golden Rules, we’d eliminate many of our problems. There are 200 references to telling the truth in the King James version of the Bible!”

Asked how the King in his tale is able to convince people that truth-telling isn’t required, that only blind loyalty to him is required, Deal explains, “When the king starts lying so much, nobody knows the truth. They create their own truths. Yet, God created you with truth in your heart. They were debating truths.”

How people could turn from truths that have guided them for millennia, Deal offers, “Blind loyalty. You just won’t admit what you see.” He explains, “It is because of what I term fear or favor. People know it’s not true at some deep biological level. But because of fear or losing favor, some people want to keep that sort of person in power.”

He adds, “They are good people but they are afraid. Believing that your party is right comes from a desire for deeper relationships. It shows people want to belong.” He acknowledges, however, that some people will simply deny their senses in deference to party or cultist loyalty. Referring to the Jan. 6 2021 Insurrection, he says you have to ask, “What did you see with your eyes? Did you hear people screaming? What did you smell? Did you see blood?”

He muses, “It reminds me of honor codes in college, especially in small Christian colleges. If you violated it, you were suspended. It was the power of the honor code.”

These changing values in just a matter of decades are the result of Americans abandoning truth-telling, trust and the Golden Rule – from multiple traditions, Deal observes. “Religious texts of five major religions teach the importance of truth, trust and Golden Rule that are 3,000-years-old.”

“Look at our political world today. Politicians are less trusted than used car salesmen. Yet they are suppose to be our leaders, set examples, be the guiding light. But nobody trusts them. It’s both parties, it’s not one or the other.”

Two books in one

On the back cover, Deal writes, “For young readers: A fable about the virtues of trust and truth.” and “For adults readers: An accurate satire of today’s decisive politics.” In a recent interview, Deal elaborated on the concept of “But that’s not true!” being two books in one. He says, “For young people, if you read this as a fairy tale and didn’t know one dime about politics, you would find it an interesting storytelling story. Her bravery was punished by a king and led to a national movement and the king moving. For young people it’s a story about being truthful, being trustworthy. ‘But that’s not true’ would be a national rallying cry. Plain and simple, a children’s story.” He continues, “But for adults, the book is a satire of today’s politics.” He also characterized it as “art against tyranny.”

It’s a hopeful tale says Deal. Before the King, the county had been run by sages. In the end, a surprising person ends up being one of the sages after the King flees. Yet, notes Deal, “In the closing pages, the wise elder Ebeneezer offers a sobering reminder: the King’s corruption left traces in everyone. Rebuilding a culture of honesty must be intentional and ongoing.”

Purchase the book

“But that’s not true!” is available online at SeedbedPress beginning Tuesday, June 9. It will also be available on Amazon. Check back to learn of opportunities to purchase the book locally. The price is $15.

Take Action

In the Afterword Deal writes, “Our political leaders—sworn to inspire, guide, and lead by example—are now trusted less than used car salesmen. In the hierarchy of public honesty, only paid lobbyists rank lower. Yet, whether paralyzed by fear or bought by favor, many leaders remain silent.” He continues that according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), “faith in our federal government has plummeted to 31%. This is well below the 50% threshold required to sustain a healthy society.” He explains, that as trust levels drop below 50%, cultures exhibit a sharp rise in:

• Preference for authoritarian leaders
• Intolerance for social and religious diversity
• Blind partisanship (party over country)
• Hostility toward competing political views
• Extreme cultural ethnocentrism is

He concludes, “Truth is not a social nicety; it’s the bedrock of civilization—a matter of national survival!”

Consequently, he asks his fellow citizens to take action, including suggesting four organizations that folks can work with and support. They are:

• Indivisible: Website: indivisible.org, 
• No Kings Coalition: Website: nokings.org
• 50501 (FiftyFiftyOne): Website: fiftyfifty.one
• Repairers of the Breach: Website: breachrepairers.org

© Michael M. Barrick, 2026.