PERFECTLY SQUARE: A Fantasy Fable for All Ages

By Dolly Haik-Adams Berthelot

This amusing little multigenerational storybook uses geometric shape characters and colorful art to deal with timely, yet timeless, human issues: diversity, change, creativity, and teamwork.

Squareland enjoys a simple, uniform, conflict-free life of “perfect squares”—until expectations are stunningly upended by change. Suddenly Squares must deal with foreign creatures: Triangles, Rectangles, Circles, Ellipses, Parallelograms, Trapezoids, “Gons,” and such weirdoes. Each shape has its own natural personality and proclivities, so complications, cliques, tensions, and conflict threaten the easy and predictable status quo.

As the culture deteriorates, ironically, it also thrives. Playful creativity flourishes. Soon, the gifts of each contribute to a more exciting, clearly more productive whole. Eventually, a miraculous transformation evolves.

The verbal and visual wit, imaginative story and simple art, sprightly writing, and layers of meaning, and multiple applications appeal to the adults for whom it was written, as well as to children and teens who may not grasp more subtle allusions, but love it anyway! As with literary classics such as The Little Prince and Alice in Wonderland, and allegories such as The Goal and The Celestine Prophecy, people of all ages and types are amused, uplifted, and inspired.

Readers naturally identify with the inherent personality traits described in particular shapes and want to compare with others. This tendency led the author to develop an original self-test and related workshops SELFSHAPESTM and RELATIONSHAPESTM, as well as a unique musical theater script that premiered in Pensacola using various instruments to represent each shape through sound.

Author Dr. Dolly Berthelot says a dream originally offered the premise, “a gift from my right brain,” as creative leaps often come. She benefitted from a lifelong love of art, writing, and innovative thinking, and a multi-faceted career as newspaper and magazine writer and editor, journalism and writing professor and English teacher of grades 7-12 as well as seminar leader and coach to numerous adults. At the time, she was providing communication consulting to corporations and businesses, grappling with perennial workplace and organizational challenges in human relations, interpersonal communication, diversity, conflict, change, and teambuilding, striving to address these issues in fresh and fun ways and stimulate creative strategies. Teachers then assured her that the book benefitted even their elementary students, teaching basic geometric shapes along with cooperation and creativity.

The delightful story plus author’s questions related to each of the themes spur thought and discussion for educators, corporations, businesses, psychological settings, religious institutions, non-profit and other organizations, plus book clubs and individuals who simply enjoy a good read and a catalyst for worthwhile interaction.

In our own ever-changing world, there’s never a time we don’t need gentle reminding of the messages underlying this tale. But could there be ANY time more relevant than right now?

Enthusiasts tend to keep PERFECTLY SQUARE near bed or toilet to enjoy often, and to give copies as small gifts to people of various ages and backgrounds in their personal and professional lives.

This unusually original and thought-provoking gift, ideal for any occasion, is inexpensive and value-packed.

And, it will never go out of style.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Energion Publications
• Release date: Jul 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781631992308

Dolly Haik-Adams Berthelot

Dr Dolly Haik-Adams Berthelot is a lifelong learner, writer, editor, teacher, creative communicator, private consultant using words, often stories (fiction or true) to reveal lives and cultures, promote positive relationships, build bridges, foster “unity in diversity,” and deepen community. Since earning her combo Communication and Education grad degrees from the U of TN, Knoxville, she is known professionally as “Dr Dolly.” Her English BA with sociology minor is from Southeastern LA College (now U), Hammond. In her classic PERFECTLY SQUARE, A Fantasy Fable for All Ages, Squareland’s geometric “characters” deal with human issues of change, diversity, creativity, and teamwork. The latest version includes upgraded color art and provocative questions for each theme. This amusing, uplifting story emerged from a dream that also led her to develop SELFSHAPES™, an innovative, intuitive system used to understand people and benefit from natural gifts, whether in education, business, religious institutions, organizations, or simply among families and friends. Older children, teens, and adults enjoy the quirky book and SELFSHAPES™ techniques. Dr Dolly’s meandering professional path includes award-winning daily newspaper editor; journalism teacher, Loyola U Communication professor, and student advisor winning highest awards; travel, circus, and human interest magazine freelancer; art photographer; private consultant, trainer, seminar leader. Her other books include PIONEER Spirit 76, the BicenTENNial Anthology of the Smoky Mountains Area, and TAKING CONTROL--Creek Roots, Airman Wings, Family Heart. Now, happily in her Pensacola Bayfront condo, newly obsessed with ever-changing clouds, Dr. Dolly concentrates on publishing her memoirs and several more unclassifiable multi-level story books and also helping select clients achieve their best communication and writing. Though now limited in travel, she is considering resuming public seminars through the wonders of technology. The author’s roots are in Bogalusa, LA, oldest child of seven with first-generation American Lebanese and German parents, a merchant and an electrician. She cherishes having lived in E TN, Turkey, Germany, Sarasota, New Orleans, Plattsburgh, NY, and briefly, Asheville, but (with her late husband Dr. Ron Berthelot and beyond) has chosen to live most of her life in Pensacola, FL, always in view of water. Ron and Dolly have one son, Destin.

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