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.




Friday, April 15, 2011

I'm a Teacher, after all...

So now that it’s all about waiting for news on THE VASE, I’m back to work on KILLER EYES. I have to say Trent Smith is a real hero. I mean a really great hero. And not just because he’s the main character of both KILLER OF KILLERS and KILLER EYES. No, he is truly a quality guy. He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t do drugs, and he never has. He actually hates drugs, and he can’t stand anyone who does drugs. Which makes the stories all the more interesting because the plots of both KOK and KE revolve around a drug. A wonder drug. And he can’t seem to get away from it. Such is conflict, eh?

In case you’re new to this blog, Trent Smith is the world’s greatest martial artist. He was trained in Japan in the world’s deadliest art. Budo Ju Jitsu, or Bu Jitsu for short. And he is quite the athlete – a real acrobat, even, because the stunts he performs in these two books are quite phenomenal.

Yeah, he's moody, but who isn't?

And although he’s a killer, he will never hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it. Yes, there are so many mean people in this world, unfortunately, and outright evil people. I'm talking about murderers who think they are above the law. And life seems to mostly favor the bad guys. It seems that the good guys die young, and bad guys live on. Well when Trent Smith is around, things even out, and I can dig it.

Why?

Because that’s the kind of story I like to read. And it’s the kind of story I like to write. I'm a teacher, after all, and I hope the world can learn a thing or two from my stories.

In my KILLERS series, you learn about karma. You know – what comes around goes around. And in THE VASE it’s coexistence. PEACEFUL coexistence, that is. Like why can’t we all just get along, right? And hopefully, after reading my books, people might start believing it’s something we can do.

If we try.

That's all.

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