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, May 30, 2012

Back to Revisions

So the weekend passed, and I did get some revisions done on KILLER EYES, but not nearly as much as I wanted to get done.

One of the things I've noticed in that story is that it really has a different tone than its predecessor, KILLER OF KILLERS. In KOK, Trent Smith never uses any weapons. Other than his bare hands, that is. It could be said that his bare hands are deadly weapons unto themselves. It is made clear in the story that he is an expert killer with his bare hands, but it also makes it clear that he is rated as an expert with many weapons.

But in the story, Trent Smith makes it clear what he thinks of weapons. Specifically guns and knives. He called them, "...weapons of cowards..." and expresses an obvious disdain for them.

And in KILLER EYES, although he continues to use his bare hands lethally, he is finding himself having to use swords a lot. That's because the Killers Guild employs countless ninja-like killers, and they use swords, like, well, ninjas. And when you're confronted with dozens of sword-wielding "ninjas" then you might take up a sword to defend yourself. It might be an improvement over bare hands, at least in that circumstance.

But if I ever do get any fans of the book, or of Trent Smith, I'm hoping they don't take exception to the fact that he does use weapons in the sequel. I think, given the circumstances, they will understand that Trent is not committed to "bare hands" to the point of stupidity. He's a survivor and will proceed as the situation warrants. Like anyone.

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