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 2, 2011

Telling Stories

I just finished telling a story to my nine year old at bedtime. Yeah, it's a little late, but I was working on my WIP, and he was patient enough to wait, bless him, and wait he did.

And for all parents who tell their kids bedtime stories, I was just thinking that it is a talent after all to tell a story. At least a good one.

I remember telling my first son stories, too. He just came up to his room, and I reminded him about the stories I told him. He was fascinated by octopus stories, and every night he just had to hear a story about an octopus. So I made up stories about an octopus.

Interesting creatures, they are, because they can shift their boneless bodies into any shape, and fit into any sized hole, they can change their colors, and they can squirt a black ink. I incorporated all of these talents in my octopus stories.

Right now, I am pretty good at telling stories. KILLER OF KILLERS and its sequel, KILLER EYES are two magnificent and original stories. THE VASE is another fantastic and completely original story.

Oh, I look forward to the day people can read those stories. That's all.

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