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, April 18, 2014

What Do Readers Want in a Story?

Why do readers read? For entertainment, obviously. Everyone loves a great story. It's always been a favorite source of entertainment. And how do you present a great story to an audience? In ancient times, there were plays. And of course, there was oral tradition. But once the printing press was invented about five hundred years ago or so, books took over as the main way to reach an audience in terms of getting stories told. That is, until movies and TV came around.

But some people actually prefer to read books than watch TV or movies. Unfortunately, I would say the majority of people prefer movies or TV to books. And that's because reading takes more of an effort than watching a movie or TV. I would say people who prefer to read exhibit a more cerebral side. That's not to say they are more intelligent, or they have a higher IQ. They just exhibit their cerebral side more than those people who don't read. And reading does have some advantages. For one, you can take a book or an eReader anywhere you go. Books are great when you find yourself having to wait in a doctor's office or fly in an airplane or something.

So what do readers want to read? That depends on the readers. It is evident that most women prefer Romance novels. There seems to be no shortage of them. Of course, young people like the MG or YA books. Those stories are appropriate for them. My books wouldn't be appropriate for kids, seeing as how I targeted an adult audience. And speaking of my books, who would want to read them?

Well, anyone who loves an exciting, action-packed story is who. Readers want to read about someone who has something about them that is interesting. In Killer of Killers, the main character just happens to be the world's greatest martial artist. That means in any fight, with anyone, Trent Smith would emerge victorious. He's like the modern day Bruce Lee. So anyone who liked the Bruce Lee stories would enjoy my Killer of Killers story.

The Vase is for adults, too, but that doesn't mean it can't be read by youngsters. There is no "adult content" in that one. (Unlike Killer of Killers.) But still, I wrote it for an adult audience. And anyone who has an interest in the events in the Middle East, Israel, the Palestinian conflict, and even paranormal events, like ghost hunting, and thrilling intrigue, like assassination plots, would love the story line in The Vase.

Buy your copies today. See for yourself.


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