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.




Thursday, August 26, 2010

Is There a Story Here?

It was suggested that this school setting would be a possible inspiration for writing. You would think that with a student body of near 1,000 students between the ages of 10 and 15 there would be some juicy plot to exploit. Well, one thing for sure is that there is plenty of conflict to be found. Sometimes, it seems that way, anyway.

I have toyed with the idea of writing some kind of story with a school setting or backdrop. Maybe focus on a teacher or a student, or a group of students. However, I have read very few MG/YA novels that I am not sure if I should do it. I know I can do it if I put my mind to it, though. I've proven that to myself over the years. Maybe I should. We'll see. I'll use this school year to revise KILLER EYES. But I will keep my eyes open for a good story during the course of this year, and when Summer comes, it could be that I'll be ready to write it.

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