Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Monday, July 26, 2010

Trent Smith, the Killer of Killers

He was the world’s greatest martial artist – a master of the world’s deadliest art. Once revered, he became feared, and for that he blamed his homeland. America was no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave. It had become the land of murder and the home of corruption. But for a man like Trent Smith – it was the perfect hunting ground.

That might be the jacket copy of my debut novel, Killer of Killers, repped by Ange Tysdal of AKA Literary. I haven't talked too much about it in this blog, as I have mostly discussed the sequel, Killer Eyes, which is my WIP.

Even though Trent Smith is an American, he lived and trained in Japan for over twenty years. During that time, American chemists invented a drug that would revolutionize the medical field. But the side effects were murder - literally, which led to repeated acquittals, and the aforementioned corruption. Trent runs into trouble in Japan, and he decides to take it out on the perceived source - walking killers.

Trent spent a decade as an undefeated martial arts champion, so he figures no one can match him in a head to head fight. With that in mind, he goes home and becomes a vigilante. Everything goes as he expected until he meets two special women. Ah, but love has got a lot to do with it. So does sex...and so do drugs.

Although Trent begins his path of Justice in a somewhat naive manner, he quickly learns the ropes on American streets. He changes by the end of the story, but in two ways he doesn't.

1-No one can match him in a fight
2-Justice remains his top priority

Here's hoping you can read about Trent Smith and his amazing journey that takes place across America and in Japan.

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