Circle Books

What are Circle Books?

Crockett's Circle Books is my new venture to publish "recipes" for building new kinds of community.   Research identifies the number one key to thriving, especially in challenging times like these, is access to healthy communities, local groups with which we can play, have meaningful engagement and socialize.  Crockett's Circle Books plans to publish two series of easy to read, practical and inspiring books that show how to enrich and empower local communities with creativity, spirit and fun. 

How often are we told it is time to “think outside of the box” and yet how rarely are we given guidance as to how to actually do so?  These books show how, with practicality, creativity and a sense of connection to a larger whole. 

Not only do these groups experience fun, connection, engagement, a sense of purpose and stress reduction, but the new dynamics of social interaction and creative problem solving which are offered in these books can potentially lead to entrepreneurship and job creation on a local level.

The Circle Books series are based on the real world cases of the Creativity Club of Cambria and Arroyo Grande's Circles of Empowerment, and offer specific tools and hands on experience to help everybody and anybody build communities that support personal enrichment and positive social bonding. 

Excitingly, fiscal sponsorship for the Circle Books series has been offered by the non-profit organization Circles of Empowerment, which means that sponsors can donate tax-deductible funds which cover the expenses of writing, illustrating, producing and marketing the books in advance.  This makes a huge difference in getting this much needed information out to the public where it can do some actual good!

Who is the audience and how will these books serve them? 

Faced with some of the toughest economic times in many decades, Americans are seeking new inspiration. As noted coach, consultant and entrepreneur Hutt Bush notes in his book, “How To Thrive in Challenging Times,” belonging to support groups, building social capital, and honing our creative brainstorming tools are three of the best means available of tapping into the rich resources that can help us transition to a better life.  Similarly, social capital expert Peter Block writes in his book “Community: The Structure of Belonging” that some of the most satisfying communication in any community is expressed through shared culture, ritual, and ceremony.  Many experts offer this kind of insight, but where or how exactly is one to find a community that supports these efforts?

Art clubs exist to serve the needs of professional artists, but the idea of a “creativity club” intended for non-arts professionals to explore and develop their skills, confidence and social connections are not yet common place. Ritual and ceremony are very helpful, but many Americans prefer a non-denominational, more informal approach to spirituality than what they can find at their local church.  Where do these people find the groups they are looking for?  The proposed Circle Books offer the “recipes” for how to create supportive circles, build social capital, sharpen our creative and play skills and establish community space for spiritual expression. 

There is an intimacy that comes from sharing in a circle that adds directly to the emotional well being of all those present.  Participants choose projects, work together and share successes equally; they build strong bonds to one another.  My co-authors and I explain how to accomplish these goals in a fun, safe, expressive and meaningful way, with lots of real life examples and hands on pointers that cover every detail from materials to monthly meetings to membership development.  Readers will learn how to build clubs, community organizations and circles of empowered participants in their own neighborhoods.  The results generate positive change and grassroots engagement in a non-denominational, non-bureaucratic way that appeals to those looking for new ways to nurture their communities with creative 'soul food'. 


Plans for E-Publishing

I have been a marketing and public relations consultant to numerous businesses and individuals over the past thirty years and this background allows me to chart a detailed marketing course without having to hire an outside professional.  My plan is to create websites for each product, and to drive traffic to them via traditional print pathways, and electronically through a wide variety of targeted virtual approaches and search engine optimization.