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, July 26, 2011

Zulu Terms

Just thought it might be interesting to share the kind of Zulu words I'm working with in my WIP, the John Dunn story, Heart of a Zulu. So I've listed the ones from my notes and what they mean in English. I'm getting pretty good at pronouncing them, too. Just remember what I've said before, that different books have different spellings for just about every one of these words.

Terms
iziBongi – Praise Singers
amaDlozi – ancestors
amaShoshozelo – loyal supporters
Ubuntu – to share or to be humane
inDaba – meeting with important people
Inceku – house servant
izAnusi – diviner
iNyanga – witchdoctor/diviner
ukuThakatha – to use supernatural forces for evil purposes
umThakathi – a person who uses supernatural forces for evil purposes
inDuna – advisor or an official of the king of chieftain
intangas – female troops or regiment for marrying the male troops
isiCoco – the head ring for mature males
Beka – to proclaim as heir to the king
Bayede – royal salute
uThulwana – Mpande’s regiment which Cetshwayo was in
uSuthu – Cetshwayo’s army
impi – Zulu warriors
Mathambo – the place of bones – the battle site of enDondakusuka
iziGqoza – Mbuyasi’s army
inKozikasi – the Great Wife at center hut behind cattle pen
inKhohlwa – left side of kraal ruled by the First Wife
inGqadi – right side of Kraal ruled by the substitute Great Wife
isiGodlo – king’s harem
isiCholo – wide straw hat warn by mature women
isiDwaba – goatskin skirt worn by women
uhbulahlu – beadwork in headdresses and necklaces
amabheshu – the backward apron worn by men
iziNhloli – advance scouts

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