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.




Thursday, May 10, 2012

Publishers-Does it really Matter?

So in the search for a publisher, does it really matter who publishes your book? In a word, YES. And make that a resounding YES.

First of all, different publishers offer different contracts. And some of those contracts are just plain bad. And that goes for other things besides royalties. Some publishers want first right of refusal for your next book, too. Some want a chunk of movie royalties if you're lucky enough to get a movie offer for the book.

And besides contracts, some publishers, I have found, are just plain rude. And very unprofessional. I've read about it, and I've even blogged about my own experience in that regard.

Some publishers may be great and sincere people, but then they fold, for whatever reason, and if you are one of their authors with several books published by them, you are like a suddenly orphaned child.

So, yeah, it really does matter. Don't be quick to sign a contract. Check out that publisher. And one of the best ways you can do that is by checking in with Absolute Write, or Writer Beware. Another good site is Preditors and Editors. (And no, that's not a typo.) Any one of those websites can help an author avoid a bad publisher. Don't wait until after you sign. Do it before. You'll be glad you did.
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