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 27, 2011

How to Write When the Sky is Falling

I don't know how many writers have to write when everything around them is in utter chaos. I have a wonderful wife and two magnificent sons still in the house, aged 15 and 9, and it is not uncommon for them to be louder than one of my middle school classrooms!

My brother who is writing his first novel now, has only the wife to contend with. And he emails me complaining about the constant interruptions. I know what he means. I told him imagine how it would be if he had the kids on top of that.

So what do I do? I don't ignore the wife, that's for sure. I do want to stay married after all. And I most certainly don't ignore my sons. I have been there for them virtually every day of their lives. I must say that if there is anything I did right in my life, it was being a good dad.

But I do know when I can focus on my writing. And it takes focus. I am fortunate to have the ability to block out the distractions and concentrate on what I am doing. I think I developed that skill during my years as an artist. And now that I'm into writing books, that skill has carried over.

So if anyone out there has a problem with distractions, practice blocking everything else out. Pretend you have tunnel vision. And then one day you will see that light at the end of the tunnel!
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