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.




Friday, May 24, 2013

Killer of Killers, the Movie starring...

Dustin Clare as martial arts champion Trent Smith, whose quest for justice leads him into the hearts of two beautiful women, but also into the bowels of a secret society of immortal supermen.

Amber Heard as Samantha Jones, the beautiful blond police detective who investigates the rogue vigilante and falls in love with him while she's at it.

Estella Daniels as Susie Quinn, the beautiful exotic dancer who saves Trent's life at the Flip Flop Club in New York City after his knock down drag out fight with a giant Samoan bodyguard.

Max Von Sydow as Abraham Soriah, the aged, reclusive billionaire who funds the research of the wonder drug Eternity, which cures all disease, heals injuries at an incredibly fast pace, and even stops the aging process. But his plan for the drug is less than altruistic.







Eugene Levy as Karl Manoukian, the millionaire businessman, and Abraham Soriah's disgruntled partner who opposes Soriah's plan for the drug.












 

Dennis Haysbert as Charles Morgan, Sorirah's right hand man and second in command of Soriah's multi-billion dollar empire.












Dolph Lundgren as Josh Jones, Samantha's older brother and former football star who quits Soriah's inner circle to band with his sister and Karl Manoukian in an effort to foil Soriah's plan.



Okay, so it's all just wishful thinking at this point. But so was getting the book published once upon a time. And now that it is, the movie version is next. All I need is a movie director like Cory Yuen to decide to do it. Or any well regarded movie director who's looking for a new and original plot around which a martial arts movie can be based. And if that happens, then these are the actors I would recommend for the parts. And if it doesn't happen, then readers can envision these actors in the roles as they read the story for themselves. Or not. One of the great things about books is the reader can envision any face they want that fits the descriptions of the characters. And as the author, (and as a reader,) these are the actors and actresses I would choose. It doesn't mean no one else could fit the parts. But for now, anyway, these actors and actresses get the nod.

Of course, there are many other characters in the story -- supporting characters with smaller roles, and bit parts. There's Shoji Wada, the aged martial arts master who heads the Tokyo Dojo where Trent trained for twenty years. There's Yoshiko Wada, Shoji's granddaughter, and Trent's first love. And there's Jiro Honda, Trent's best friend from the dojo, who leaves the dojo for a career in espionage. And several more minor characters whose roles are integral to the story line.  I would love for any readers to offer their own suggestions for the roles. In the meantime, stay tuned.

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