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, June 7, 2011

The Writing Community

The writing community, I have noticed for a long time, is one of the nicest communities you'll ever come to know. I began writing seriously about three, four years ago, when I started my first novel, KILLER OF KILLERS. I used the internet to look up everything I could about writing and the publishing world. I read Donald Maass's book and discovered Nathan Bransford's blog, as well as several others. And I am astonished at how selfless people in this business really are. They're so giving and generous in their willingness to share their knowledge. And wow, has that knowledge helped me as I've soaked it up over the years.

Make no mistake, the teaching community is a great one, too, especially at Monroe where I've been teaching for the past eleven years, but you know what? It's not the same at every school. I have taught at some schools where the sense of belonging, or plain old good will just wasn't there. And I just haven't seen that happen with writers. It's like we're all in this together and we empathize with each other every step of the way.

I am so glad I decided to write. It's the best thing in the world, and the people are the best. Hands down.

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