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 5, 2016

Arrow Drives Off Into the Sunset

Just finished the last episode of season three of Arrow, and yeah, off he drives into the sunset with Felicity. And I like Felicity. I'm glad the writers made their romance happen. But you know what? I'm not glad they killed off Sara Lance, AKA the Black Canary. She was a better match for the Arrow, and she was the better Black Canary. I completely disagreed with the reasons why, and how, they killed her off. And I disagree with her sisterly replacement. Why? Because her sister, Laurel Lance, taking Sara's place, is a very weak Black Canary. Very weak, indeed. As the Black Canary, Laurel is not convincing at all. She looks no tougher as the Black Canary than a real canary, even with the black outfit. And seeing her beat up dozens of ninjas was laughable.

Oh, well. At least Felicity finally got Arrow, AKA Oliver Queen. Emily Bett Rickards has played the part of Felicity to perfection. I mean this young actress is a better actress than most of the A list actresses in Hollywood right now. I expect some great things from her in the near future. She's only twenty-five right now, so she's got at least a solid decade ahead of her.

As for Stephen Amell who plays the Arrow... Yeah, he's been great. He makes a terrific leading man. He's 34, so he too has at least a decade ahead of him in like parts. For now, the Arrow character, or the Green Arrow, as he's better known, is a great role. He's perfect for it.

Don't know if I'd cast him as Trent Smith, though. Maybe. My first choice remains Dustin Clare. Then Stephen Amell. Both make great fighters, and both would fit the part of a lady's man. Those would be the requirements. Don't have to worry about it now. I'm interested in how the Arrow returns in season four. I think it's safe to say he returns as the Green Arrow. It's been a long time in the development. But it worked. We'll see.


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