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.




Sunday, March 8, 2026

Time to Get Back to Writing

I've spent so much time writing music the last couple years, I regret having spent less time writing my novels. I am regularly revising by five prior published novels with the aspiration of having them published again. But to my dismay, I have two unfinished novels at this time. One of which is the third installment of my Killer series. I had started it and maybe it's about one quarter through the storyline. It's supposed to be the final story of Trent Smith, the world's greatest martial artist. It will be a wrap in that series. And I still intend to complete it. But the other one is a middle grade novel. I was inspired to write that one, well, because I'm a middle grade teacher. For thirty years I've been teaching middle school level kids and now I'm actually teaching K - 8 kids. It's a blast really. So I figured a book about kids that age might be something fun to write. And I'm about one quarter through that one, too. I will get back to them and finish both. But I will also continue with my music. I have found that of all the things I do, whether it is art, drawing, painting, or sculpture, writing books, sports, or whatever, it is composing music that provides me with the most satisfaction. I suppose it's because I write the music, I also write the lyrics, and I record it and then I produce it like a producer would. My full discograghy (Volumes 1 - 14) is on SoundCloud at this time. And Volumes 1 - 6 are on other platforms as well. It's the full deal with my music, and that is fully satisfying as far as being creative is concerned.

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