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.




Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentine's Day

Romance, as I was saying yesterday, is a fundamental part of a story, because it is a fundamental part of life. It makes a story interesting, and there is an entire genre of books and movies dedicated to Romance, into and unto itself.

But to me, if a story is only based on romance, then, well, how boring is that? Pretty boring if that is all there is to it. Nevertheless, there must be plenty of people who do buy in to that, since the genres of Romance in books and movies are going strong.

But I say there is more to life, and to stories than romance. I mean, really, a story only about romance? Sheesh, I would think that would get old pretty fast. There is so much more to a story than who gets to fall in love with whom, and who's jealous about whom, and who breaks up with whom. Come on.

No, I've never read a romance book, but I've seen some of the movies. Definitely not for me. I like action, drama, grit, adventure, yes, even violence, if appropriate to the story line and plot, and death, again if appropriate to the story line and plot.

Of course, I'm not talking about stories for kids. They don't need to see that, even though they see it on their video games every day. I like stories for adults, and those are the stories I write. Killer of Killers and The Vase, and soon, Killer Eyes are about adults, for adults, with action, adventure, violence, death, and yes, even ROMANCE. They are the complete packages of everything you'd want in a story.

Happy Valentine's Day.

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