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.




Wednesday, August 3, 2011

It's not just about writing

No one will get any writing done unless they sit down and write. And that is the bottom line. But take heed. It's not just about writing. Because if you think about it, anyone can write. But if you want anyone to appreciate your writing, you really have to write well.

And there are so many different ways to do that. You can take classes on it, you can read books about it, and you can dedicate your life to it. Like most things, the more you write, the better you get.

Which leads me to this next point. REVISING! The one thing I learned about writing that I think is the most important thing, is to REVISE, REVISE, REVISE, and keep on revising, don't stop.

Like I said, anyone can write. But not everyone can write well. Sure some people can put down an initial draft, and it might be pretty good, but it doesn't end there. Not if you want to be a real good writer. You have to reread what you wrote. You have to make it better. Improve the prose. It's got to have some rhythm. It has to flow. And it's the revising that makes it happen.

I've even found that revising has improved my storytelling, too. Whenever I reread my manuscripts, I always improve the prose. But I also have found great opportunities to improve the storyline, too. With both KILLER OF KILLERS and THE VASE. I've put in certain elements and subplots that improved the story dramatically during the revision stage.

So keep revising. Yeah, get that first draft down. But then the fun begins. REVISE!

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