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, August 23, 2013

School Back in Session, So is The Vase

I've had no time the past two weeks, because I'm back to work as a teacher and school is back in session, and THE VASE is back in session, too. I'm not talking about the blog. I'm talking about my second novel, The Vase, which has been returned with the fifth round of edits. I went over them and sent it back with just a few corrections, and it's good to go. Penumbra said that they're working on a cover next, and as soon as one is completed, you  can bet I'll be posting it on the blog.

I am so thrilled with the completion, finally, of the manuscript of The Vase. It was a long time coming, and it is flawless, thanks to the hard work of the editor, Grayson at Penumbra, and of course, my own hard work, too.

Now back to work on still some more hard work, and I'm referring to the second edition of Killer of Killers. I told Melange I'd have it back to them by last week, but there really is no rush. I'm not being held to any deadlines, so I will send it to them when I am damn sure it is just as perfect as The Vase.

And here's why. I really expect The Vase to attract a large audience. And that audience may well want to read something else I wrote, which will be, of course, Killer of Killers. But The Vase really is a different type of book than the martial arts action thriller that is Killer of Killers. It could be considered a religious type of story and yet, it's not really a religious book at all. It might be viewed as a political one, but then again, not really. It could be considered fantasy, paranormal, or even historical, but then again, not really.

I don't really know how to categorize it, but I had always promoted it as a suspense novel, yet Penumbra didn't categorize it that way on their website. They are putting it up as paranormal, historical and fantasy.

But whatever, I suppose it does stretch over many different genres, and all of the above could qualify. Meanwhile, my son's senior high school football season is approaching, the kids in my classes at my school are awesome this year, and I am optimistic about The Vase and Killer of Killers being fantastic novels. That's an awful lot to look forward to for me this year.

So you'll be  hearing more from me, that's for sure.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)