It took over 30 years to breath life into my childhood hero, Michelangelo. He was the greatest of Renaissance artists who created the masterpiece painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. By the way it is celebrating its 500th Annversary of completion in 2012 and is why I wrote the book. Then of course his first love, his sculptures such as the Pieta of St. Peters in Rome and the Giant david of Florence, Italy. Now I present to you my Historical though fictional account of how Michelangelo life and the times he lived in come to impact the life of Arthur Colonna and his two teen sons in present day Chicago.
How I came up with this idea for a book is in itself a story. After over 30 years in education, raising five kids with my wife and now with four grandchildren I present to the world, a legendary tale based on the authentic and actual events in the life of my hero, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
To weave this epic tale into a story about a present day teacher who seeks only to teach about the life and time of Miechelangelo and yet finds himself and his two teen sons embroiled in a centuries old feud is a tale in itself. It begins with my post graduate studies in Rome at the Loyola University. Walking in the footsteps of the Master Artist and first viewing the statue of the David planted the seed. Later when I took a group of my former students and our two yungest sons on a Tour of Italy, much of the personal experiences of the characters began to reflect those actual events on that journey as I developed them.
Now I am working with a Hollywood writer in adapting my story into a screenplay version.
I'd love to hear what you think about the Book Trailer video. And if you're around Milwaukee July 21-24 come to Festa Italiana and say Hi. Or in Washington D.C.Festa Italiana on Oct. 9 or the AIHA Conference in Tampa, FL from Oct. 20-22 or IBAM Chicago from Nov. 12-13.
Arthur Cola