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, October 1, 2014

The Vase-Crisis in the Middle East

I'm very sorry to see so many problems in the Middle East. It's as if the problems over there will never be solved. The problems seem to only get worse. In fact, the problems seem to be spreading--to Africa, to Europe, and even to America.

I remember when Islamic terrorists captured Russian children at a Russian school a few years ago. I also remember that the Russians killed all the terrorists and buried their bodies in pig skins. I see Islamic terrorists capturing American journalists and cutting their heads off. I heard that when terrorists captured Russian diplomats, the Russian response was so quick and so effective that their diplomats were released unharmed and returned safely to Russia. It seems that the Russians have more effective means of dealing with those terrorists than Americans do, since their people didn't get their heads cut off.

But this is not a political blog. It's a writing blog. And I only mention those problems because my book, The Vase, deals with some of those types of problems. Islamic terrorist problems, that is. The Vase takes place in Israel, and the Israelis are dealing with it. That means the Israel Security Agency, AKA Shin Bet, is dealing with it. Captain Benny Mathias is the head of Kidon. Kidon works for Shin Bet, Mossad, and even Aman. Those are the Israeli institutions that deal with terrorism.

At the center of the story is a humble Palestinian potter. And his vase is the catalyst. It's a very special vase. How special? Well, it has ancient images recorded into its grooves, which are projected when he spins it. Check out the first couple of chapters in a sample on the publisher's website or on Amazon. I think you'll be intrigued enough to buy an eBook. It's only $2.99. Thanks.

No comments:

Post a Comment