Bartholomew Makes Another Decision - Published Today!!

This morning, Bartholomew Makes Another Decision, the fourteenth story of The Book of Bartholomew was published.  This story about a New Years Eve party is illustrated by Justin Terlecki.

Bartholomew goes to a party at Topping and Charlotte's place.  This is the first social event with his new friends.  Bartholomew wonders if they will still be his friends after they really get to know him.  But his fears are quelled by an old friend - a Dionne Warwick song.

This story marks the end of what is considered the first volume of stories in The Book of Bartholomew.  It has been a fun project so far.  I have met some amazing artists and have had a great time writing about these characters who I am still getting to know.

I want to thank so many people who have made the past year a rousing success for this project.
The first is Mary Swalla Holmes whose initial response to the idea and the first couple of stories encouraged me to continue.  I can't really be a writer, can I? 
I also want to thank Beth Waterhouse for being a supportive editor and a believer in art and expression.
I want to thank all of the artists who have been involved: Matt Wells, Martha Iserman, Tim Jennen, Mary Esch, Raighne Hogan, Krista Walsh, Mary Sandberg, and Justin Terlecki.

Thanks to all the people who have read my stories.

The Book of Bartholomew will be taking a little reprieve to update some software, make some illustrations and get ready for a story reading on February 15 at Dreamland Arts.  There will be some announcements and postings on the blog and at the Facebook Page, but the regularly published stories will return February 1, 2013 with the story Lost.

I am looking forward to what is ahead in the world of Bartholomew.  I will share with you soon what is going to happen this following year.

Take care,
Mark Granluind

Bartholomew Makes Another Decision - The Music

This week's story is a party story, so there is a partying song from JR and B3DH3D, who are part of Last Triumph Collective.  This song really rocks!  It is a remix of Above and Beyond's You Got To Go.  Sit back, or get up and dance, and enjoy it.

The second song for this week's story is so fresh it is not yet recorded!  Whoa!  Patrick Larkin, of Miami Dolphins, is hopefully be recording Then Came You, originally by the Spinners and Dionne Warwick.  So, I hope by next weekend I will have a dynamite second song for you.  Until then, you will have to wait.

Bartholomew Makes Another Decision - Illustrations

The story Bartholomew Makes Another Decision, the 14th story in The Book of Bartholomew, is illustrated by the illustrious Justin Terlecki.  Some of you might know Justin from his daytime gig at Wet Paint art store, the greatest art store in the country with the finest staff this side of Alpha Centauri.  Justin is a fine print maker and painter.  He creates detailed narratives inspired by memory and personal experiences. Technology and human relationships are consistent themes throughout his work.

For The Book of Bartholomew, Justin captured the excitement and energy of a New Years Eve party at Topping and Charlotte's apartment.  At this point in time, these are the only images of Topping.  I think Justin did a wonderful job of representing what I think of Topping. He is outgoing, uncensored and a bit loud, but friendly and welcoming.  When I wrote in the story that Topping had a Happy New Years hat on, it was kind of a throw away image.  As I continued writing, in my mind, I forgot all about the hat.  BUT in Justin's illustrations the hat is Topping and gorgeously energetic and frenetic and spastic and... friendly.

I also enjoy the energy of the group scene with Dionne Warwick singing in the ethereal background.  Can you say "Party Atmosphere?"  

Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Terlecki moved to the Twin Cities after earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Youngstown State University. His paintings and prints have been exhibited at The Soap Factory, Minnesota Museum of American Art, Gallery 13, Central Lakes College, and Highpoint Center for Printmaking. In 2009, Justin received a Jerome Foundation Emerging Printmaking grant, funding a series of prints based on his travels to India and Spain. He is currently working on a series of acrylic paintings exploring ideas of communication.

Justin will be illustrating another story in the future.

You can see the final story and illustrations for Bartholomew Makes Another Decision this Friday at bookofbartholomew.blogspot.com.

Bartholomew Makes Another Decision - Story

If I may continue on my previous track...

Making friends is a funny and mysterious process.  How much do you share with people before you really know them well?  Do you share your dreams?  There are times when it is perfectly normal to share your dreams and hopes with total strangers.  Like at a New Years Party when everyone starts talking about resolutions.  This is what happens with Bartholomew in Bartholomew Makes A Decision, the fourteenth story in The Book of Bartholomew.

Have you ever blurted something out, something that was the truth and embarrassing?  Bartholomew is so excited about his possible new friends that he shares more than he is comfortable with - but somehow he is comfortable with sharing a little too much.  He wants these people to know who he is and what is important to him.  He is happy to laugh at himself a little bit if it means he is actually getting closer to others.  Besides, sometimes laughing at yourself helps relieve the sense that you're a nerd.

This story is titled similar to the very first story in The Book of Bartholomew, Bartholomew Makes A Decision.  In that story, Bartholomew makes the decision that he needs friends in his life to help him make good decisions, so he doesn't get taken advantage of by people like Gerald.  In this story, he makes another decision - what he wants to do with his new friends.

Here is an excerpt from Bartholomew Makes Another Decision. 

             Topping stood in the doorway with a New Year’s hat on his head and a beer in his hand.

“Bartholomew, come in!” he yelled above the din of music and conversation while handing him the beer.

             Bartholomew entered the small, warm apartment that was packed wall-to-wall with people. He had not been around this many people in a long time and felt a momentary sense of dread. But then he saw Ned standing in the kitchen by a table full of food. Ned waved a Donkey Burger at him. Topping and Bartholomew made their way through the crowd.

“Hey, Bartholomew. How’s it going? You have a nice Christh-muth?” asks Ned as he stuffed a pig-in-a-blanket in his mouth.

“Yeah, it was okay,” Bartholomew lied. Bartholomew had not enjoyed the holidays since his parents died. Was this really the third Christmas he celebrated without them? Could their deaths be that far away already?

             “What’d you do?” Ned asked as he grabbed another pig.

             “I went to Aunt Josephine and Uncle Jeffrey’s house and had brunch and exchanged presents. And exchanged presents with Oliver.”

             “Who’s Oliver?” asked Topping.

             “Oh, he’s my cat.”

             Topping snickered, “What did Oliver give you?”

             Bartholomew blushed a little. “My Aunt Josephine and Uncle Jeffrey buy me a present from Oliver every year…and three presents from Santa.” Bartholomew wasn’t sure why he shared that last part.

             Topping and Ned laughed.

             Wanting to change the subject, Bartholomew asked, “What did you guys do?”

             “I just went to my parent’s house,” said Ned after he finished laughing. “Nothing special.” He surveyed the cookie tray.

“Charlotte and I went to my parent’s house and then her mom’s house,” said Topping. “My parent’s dog gave me a Christmas present,” he said looking mischievously at Bartholomew. “He took a whizz on my shoes.” They all laughed together.

Bartholomew, feeling hungry, glanced at the table. It was the usual party fare: store bought foods and a few homemade dishes that were of questionable origin but whose creators insisted they were the most delicious things they ever made. Bartholomew did not doubt these assertions, but chose to pass on the food for now.