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, May 15, 2015

Second Chance over 81,000 words...

...and counting. I'm at the climax of the story right now--and then there's the denouement to go. Not sure, really how it's all going to be resolved. I have a vague idea how it ends, but getting there will be the challenge. But for sure I'm on the home stretch of the story.

One thing I know is that I'm not worried about the length of the novel. There was a point I was worried  the total word count would be lacking, but now that it's over 81,000 that worry is put to rest. Still, it will be my shortest novel. But it's not going to be too short. I'm guessing now that it will be about 85,000 words. The Vase checked in at 88,000, Killer of Killers 89,000, Killer Eyes 96,000, and John Dunn 123,000. So those are the numbers.

Can't wait to finish the first draft of Second Chance. Because it's writing the revisions which is the phase of book writing that, for me at least, is the most fun. Almost there.
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