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.




Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Feeling Good about WIP

Just hit page 301, and surpassed 83,000 words. The third climax is finished. That was my solution to tie all the loose ends. It was how I answered the question of how can I bring all these subplots together. I needed three separate climaxes. Is that even allowed? Are stories allowed to have more than one climax? Is having three climaxes going overboard?

I hope not. Because it's the only way I was able to make all my subplots and side stories work. I was thinking I had too many characters, and too many subplots...how was I going to tie them together? But I did. At least, I think I did. I'm still wrapping up the denouement, and after that, I still have a final chapter to write. It's the conclusion to the story of Trent Smith, the world's greatest martial artist.

I know a lot of heroes have books that number in the megazoids, like Tarzan...sheesh, how many Tarzan books did Burroughs write? Over twenty for sure. But Trent Smith...I think will end at two. Doesn't have to be. I mean, after I write this conclusion, I'm sure I might find a way to get another story told in there somehow. But I'm not going to write it until the first one gets published. Hopefully, my agent can make it happen. So until then, the story will stay at two, and the conclusion will be written now.

(Well, not right now. I got to get to bed. When school starts, I can't be in the habit of going to sleep this late anymore. Tomorrow sounds good.)

2 comments:

  1. Actually I love the idea of three climaxes! Don't know if it's done but why not?

    Glad you worked it all out and in such an original way:)

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  2. Thanks Terry!

    Say, today's Tuesday. Got to get over to your blog. See if Gardener West is on.

    Love those Nylons, btw!!

    ReplyDelete