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, June 27, 2014

Sequels vs. Story Arcs

I've talked about the sequels to Killer of Killers. The second book in the series is the upcoming Killer Eyes. And the third will be The Killers Guild. But those sequels are more than just sequels. They are actually three books that carry the same story line. AKA Story Arcs.

That is different than a plain sequel. For example, the James Bond movies are sequels. Each Bond movie is a separate story unto itself. Sure there is some continuity in them, but they don't carry the same story from one movie (or book) to the next. Meaning they don't pick up where the last one left off. It's a brand new story line.

Lord of the Rings, however, and even the Jason Bourne movies did continue from where the prior story left off. Especially LOR. It's the same story arc.

And so are the three Killer stories. Where book one leaves off, that's where book two picks up, albeit about a year later. And The Killers Guild. That will pick up several years later. But it does tie in with the prior storyline, and can be considered part of the same story arc.

If I write any Killer books after that, I really don't think it will continue that particular story arc. It will have continuity for sure. But it will be a different story arc, and thus be a sequel, not a continuation. It will still qualify as a series, though. After all, even in a series, story arcs end, and new ones begin. We'll see how it happens with the Trent Smith sage. Only time will tell.

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