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.




Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Trilogies

I've noticed that it's not unusual for movies or books to be trilogies. The Lord of the Rings is a perfect example of a book trilogy that became a movie trilogy. The Bourne movies/books are a more recent example of a trilogy. The Transporter, too. And the Godfather, unfortunately became a trilogy, but that should have just remained a two movie deal, since the third one sucked.

The thing is, however, if said trilogy became a money maker, the producers will want to extend the trilogy to more sequels or movies. That's why a fourth Bourne movie was made, albeit with another actor in the role, and even the Transporter is coming out with a fourth movie, and again with another actor in the role. The bottom line is money, so if the movies make money, they'll keep making movies. It's why there's twenty-plus James Bond movies, with a bevy of different actors in the role.

As for my book, Killer of Killers? It does need one more book. Which will make it a trilogy. Should I extend it to more books? Probably won't happen. I left the story open for a second book, which is why I wrote Killer Eyes, and even a third, but beyond that? Well, nothing is certain. I suppose it could go beyond a trilogy, and maybe I would like to see it happen, but realistically, I would not count on it.

I will write a third Trent Smith martial arts thriller, a book three in the Killer Series, and only the right circumstances will pave the way for a fourth book and/or more. Only time will tell.

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