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.




Thursday, June 14, 2012

Agents, Anyone?

Nathan was talking about literary agents yesterday, whether they will stick around. It was interesting that he brought that up, because, as one commenter pointed out, he didn't stick around. Not as an agent, anyway.

Well, finding an agent, if you're a new author, is not easy. I found one for KILLER OF KILLERS, and it wasn't a good experience for me. And not just because my "agents" didn't find me a publisher.

First of all, my agents didn't stick around. Imagine that. The one who signed me retired shortly thereafter. The second one didn't stick around, either, having quit to go back to college. The third one, well.... it's been documented in detail on this blog.

Pointedly, I've found publishers without an agent. Sure, it wasn't a smooth ride, and that has also been documented in detail here on this blog.

Ultimately, I think agents do have a significant role to play in the world of publishing. But it takes a good agent, meaning one who is committed to the client. But that's the way it is in just about everything. Yeah.

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