When Carl Nordgren was nine he had three ambitions. To be a novelist, a fishing guide, and play shortstop for the Chicago Cubs. He’s two for three.
He started guiding at fifteen, from 1966 to 1971, at a wilderness fishing camp on the English River in Northwestern Ontario and on the White River in the Ozarks. His guests frequently told him to avoid soul sucking nine-to-five jobs; these men were bosses of companies so he believed them. In 1970 the camps in Ontario were closed because of mercury poisoning, stories told in his novels, The 53rd Parallel and Worlds Between; after graduating from Knox College he was a foundry man and factory worker before joining a start up publishing company.
The first time he had an idea that created a new job he was hooked on the creative power of entrepreneurship; he spent thirty years starting companies and helping others start theirs. He was a pioneer in the cellular industry and led two new venture incubators. He’s proud he’s helped create many hundreds of jobs since that first one.
Invited to teach entrepreneurship at Duke in 2002 his course morphed into one that helped students grow their creative capacities and develop their entrepreneurial instincts and behaviors. He taught there for forteen years.
For twenty-five years his calling has been helping us become our most creative selves; he’s the author of Becoming a Creative Genius (again), teaches, and hosts the weekly radio show, Exploring your Creative Genius. His calling now includes helping our nation appreciate the potential of the common ground he’s discovered, common ground proven attractive to the left and right. There we find the most rational and optimistic way to prepare for the future of unknowable unknowns: be the most creative and entrepreneurial people we can be.
This common ground is home to policy ideas and communications strategies for politicians and community leaders to help us accomplish that.
Visit him at http://carlnordgren.com/.
Becoming a Creative Genius {Again}
Becoming a Creative Genius {again} makes the case that we are all born creative and entrepreneurial geniuses, then shows you how to become the most creatively entrepreneurial version of yourself you can be. And is there a part of your life that won’t improve when that happens?
Those attending Nordgren’s workshops comment that his content prepares them to get the most out of:
- Agile software development
- Design thinking
- Lean start-up methodology
- Corporate innovation processes
The 53rd Parallel
In his evocative debut novel Carl Nordgren weaves an ambitious tale about the power of dreams, the hope of new beginnings, and the dangers of ghosts who haunt our past.
Brian Burke emigrates from 1950s West Ireland to the wilderness of Northwest Ontario with his partner Maureen O Toole. He's been exiled from his village, and she is running from her IRA past. The dreams of an Ojibway clan elder bring the Irish to the sacred place on the River, where they build The Great Lodge of Innish Cove.
The dreams tell of a white man who will destroy the River and another who will protect it. While the Ojibway believe Brian and Maureen are the River s guardians, Maureen s IRA connections and the construction of a pulp mill upstream threaten to destroy the newly created Eden before it even begins.
Under the watchful eye of a warrior spirit, the clan and their Irish companions risk all they love to protect the River and the promises it holds for their future. The fates of the two groups will intertwine as both seek to ward off the encroachment of the modern world.
In The 53rd Parallel readers will find a rich tapestry that weaves together the literary influences of such giants as Peter Matthiessen, Ken Kesey, Jack London, and Ernest Hemingway (whose son appears in Book 2 of the River of Lakes series).
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Anung’s Journey
This ancient Ojibway legend predates contact with European settlers, but the drummer boy and the people he meets at the end of his journey couldn’t be more familiar to modern culture.
When the orphaned Anung sets out on his vision quest, he sees clearly that his purpose in life is to find the greatest chief of all and tell him of the many acts of kindness the mothers and fathers of the village have given to Anung.
When the people of his village learn of the vision, they are proud of him. For every man of the village loves Anung as his son. Every woman is his mother. They believe Gitche Manitou, the great creator, has chosen their son for a special journey.
In his quest to find the greatest chief, Anung travels through the 13 tribes of the First Nations, across forests, plains, water, and desert. Along the way, he is accompanied by Turtle, the interpreter of all languages. He finds friends in the most unlikely of places––a squirrel’s nest, a mother bear’s den, and a city filled with people from every tribe. At each stop, Anung and his drum sing of his mothers and fathers and his quest to meet the greatest chief.
What Anung finds at the end of his journey will both surprise and thrill readers of all ages. This ancient legend, told in the beautifully poetic style of Carl Nordgren, begs to be read aloud and savored.
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Worlds Between
Book 2 in the River of Lakes Series
In this evocative series spanning oceans and decades, award-winning author Carl Nordgren weaves a tale about the power of dreams and the dangers of ghosts who haunt our past.
In Worlds Between, book two of the River of Lakes series, readers are immersed in the idyllic setting of the fishing camp Maureen and Brian have built with Joe Loon's clan along the English River. The visit of IRA sympathizers, the building of a hydro-electric dam, and a dangerous accident provide a chilling reminder that old threats still lurk even as new dangers emerge.
Even as she celebrates the extraordinary birth of her child, Maureen continues to battle the ghosts of her IRA past. Brian grasps at the fraying promises of Eden as his world is torn apart. The Ojibway find their land and traditions further curtailed by the encroachment of the modern world. And This Man watches out over all.
"At its heart, Worlds Between is an accessible, engaging and sympathetic tale of families, cultures, and the choices that shape them. It will please fans of historical fiction, family sagas and stories from around the world."
–Foreword Reviews, 5 stars
“[Carl's] writing is remarkably lovely from the first page.”
–Foreword Reviews, 5 stars
Common Ground for US
Carl Nordgren shares powerful insights from his twenty-five years of experience helping thousands of people—entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, and leaders—tap into their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Packed with rationally optimistic ideas, the book offers practical strategies for preparing for an uncertain future, fostering sustainable abundance, and creating a grassroots renaissance based in the shared foundation that unites us all, regardless of political, social, or economic differences.
With a heartfelt message of love and hope on every page, Common Ground for US is a must-read for anyone looking to make a positive impact in their community and beyond. Perfect for leaders, dreamers, and changemakers, this book will leave you inspired, empowered, and ready to thrive.
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