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, July 20, 2010

Curve Ball

So I'm following this outline, which as I said earlier, was the process I used when I wrote THE VASE. It worked like a charm for THE VASE. Sure I added a few new elements and plot twists, but generally, the story stayed true to the outline.

But in KILLER EYES, which is at the midpoint of the story right now, I am finding that this story is taking me somewhere else. It's like I'm on a roller coaster, and the tracks are being laid only moments before the ride takes me there.

What I'm saying is that this outline is NOT what's happening now. The first half of this book was pretty true to the outline. But now the second half has veered from it, and I don't even know how I will get to the climax from where I'm at now. It's like the story is writing itself, which really doesn't surprise me. It's exactly what happened in KILLER OF KILLERS. I used no outline for that one. The story wrote itself. I love that story, but figured an outline was the safer route. I didn't want to tempt providence a second time. (Anyone recognize that line? The black fisherman from the movie Dr. No said that.)

Anyway, an outline got me halfway through, but I'm not going to be rigid. So much more is going on in the story now than what is in that outline. My advice to anyone listening, (or reading) is to let your own instincts prevail. Be flexible. I think the story that's happening now is a hundred times better than the one I had in the outline. Now I can't wait until tomorrow, to keep this thing going. Too bad we have to sleep. I would very much like to keep writing. But then I won't be able to cook breakfast for my kids tomorrow morning. My wife will be at work, and it's just me and my two sons.

Now you know why I get most of my writing done at night. The wife's asleep...the boys are asleep, and FINALLY I have peace and quiet and NOBODY calling me for this or for that. Ah, yes...it's just me and my writing. That's a wonderful feeling. Into the wee hours of the night. Been at it for almost four hours now. Better get some sleep.
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