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, July 29, 2020

Volume 6 - Rockin' Every Nation


So once Volume 5 was completed, one might think writer's block would set in. After all, I've read about it happening to many big-name musicians and composers. I've heard of it happening after volume 4, to many, and after volume 3, for others, and even after Volume 2. Some bands only put out one great album, and that's it.

But for me, after five albums of great songs, the music just wouldn't stop. Meaning original tunes were still pouring out of me so I kept writing more music.

Volume 6, I might even say, contained some of my best music yet. I mean every single song on there is simply great. It starts with a great song, There's a Way, and it ends with a great song, Fool, and every song in between is great. Sure, I wrote them. And sure I'm biased, but whenever I listen to this album, I can't help but think to myself what great songs these are. They are all intricate compositions of interwoven melodies and instrumental solos that demonstrate music writing at its best.

Song #3, Every Nation, is so good that I ended up naming the album after it. But by no means does that suggest it's the best song. I mean this album is one example of every song being just as good as every other song. I remember appreciating that when I used to buy albums when I was young. And not too many albums actually did that.  But some did.

The playlist is as follows:

There's a Way
Eye Upon You
Every Nation
I Like It
Good Ol' USA
Another Day
Wind It Up
Put That Away
Change
Fool

The ONLY problem I had with this album is that Wind it Up is another one of those songs that was very difficult to sing. I mean the vocal track on that song was so difficult it took me over fifty takes to finally get a cut that was at least satisfactory. I still might want to re-sing it, like I'm doing for some of the other songs on other albums. I probably will for that one too. I hope it doesn't take me another fifty takes. It would be nice if I had a producer and a real studio. It would probably make it a lot easier. No, better yet, it would be nice if I had a real singer. Yeah. Oh, well.

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