Today, I am thrilled to be a guest at Anneli’s Place, blog by the author of Julia’s Violinist & Orion’s Gift, Anneli Purchase.
Read THE EARTH SHIFTER’s new blurb and suspenseful excerpt! It’s CIA, Chinese spy, global secret society, betrayal, mankind’s future… and the earth-shattering secret of the Key!
Thanks to the genius of author Lada Ray, I have been recruited into an army, and an amazing one at that. With this transmission, I present to you the YA Revolution!
THE EARTH SHIFTER Virtual Tour continues! It is my pleasure to reblog author Mark O'Neill's post featuring his 5 Star review of THE EARTH SHIFTER, as well as his thoughts and ideas on our #YARevolution. Mark is an original thinker and a kindred spirit, and this post (as well as his entire blog) is well worth checking out! Incidentally, Mark will soon be releasing Book 2 of his The Ancients and the Angels YA fantasy series, ARCHONS. Check it out! In the past several months, Mark has been a guest on multiple radio shows. Check out these interesting interviews on his blog! Lastly, Mark has been a great contributor and supporter of our new YA Revolution - for literature with message and meaning! By the way, YA Revolution is taking off! Join us! Stay tuned, as more interesting and different features, interviews and posts are coming your way, including Real Russia Video Journey 2: Spectacular Moscow + a very special author interview with author/blogger Jason Sullivan. Jason is one of the best interviewers I've ever met. He makes his subject feel comfortable and asks deep, poignant and revealing questions that no one else dares to ask! His last year's incredible interview became the "Centerpiece" of my Gold Train Blog Tour. This one will be just as special, I promise! Last, but certainly not least, all my ebooks are on huge sale on Amazon: $.99 (or equivalent)! The Earth Shifter, Gold Train and Stepford USA paperbacks are now available and are also on big sale! Check them out! Buy links.
What I love the most about blogging, is the wonderful people I meet in the blogging world. Today I am featuring the author Lada Ray, an extraordinary individual with many talents who stops at nothing to pursue her dreams.
Thanks so much for being a guest on my blog Lada. I am always curious to learn more about other authors.
As part of THE EARTH SHIFTER Launch and Virtual Book Tour, yesterday a was a guest at Darlene Foster's Blog! Darlene is a wonderful author of the international mystery/adventure series for children. Check out this very cool interview and give it thumbs ups! There is also an interesting discussion going on in the comment section. Care to join?
..P.S. Exciting announcement! THE EARTH SHIFTER, GOLD TRAIN and STEPFORD USA paperbacks are now available on Amazon! Also, all my ebooks are now $.99 on Kindle! Download your copy!
1. I am thrilled to announce the official launch of THE EARTH SHIFTER! It has been available as ebook since the beginning of the year, but now the paperback is also out!
2. I’m also releasing 2nd edition Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) paperback, which has been re-edited and substantially improved.
3. I’m also finally releasing Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure) paperback – and it looks spectacular!
The E-publishing revolution has just started, and already digital shelves are full of senseless imitations rehashed over and over again. Some books are just openly negative, violent or meaningless. All you need is an e-reader and a simple click of a button in order to purchase an ebook. No one can possibly police what our teens and young adults are reading. Meanwhile, their minds are still delicate and developing, and perhaps they haven’t yet learned to discern what is good and what is harmful. Much of what our teens may be downloading on their e-readers may not be what they should be reading in order to develop into good human beings and responsible citizens of our planet!
Typically, author organizations and promotional sites do not distinguish books for integrity, quality of message and positive energy. It is up to us, readers, writers, bloggers and reviewers to convey this information to each other. YA Revolution aims to unite all those who are tired of same old, same old and who want to read new, original, inspiring books with message and heart. It’s also for those who want the same for their kids. We intend to give voice and help promote authors who deserve to be heard, whether they write YA or adult literature. The more good books are promoted by us all, the easier both teens and adults will be able to chose the right books to read!
Whether you are a young adult or simply young at heart,
join the YA REVOLUTION!
We are for literature with message and meaning!
What’s in the name: Why YA Revolution? Putting on my trendcaster hat… ahem… This decade will continue seeing unprecedented interest in YA literature. The 20 year period from 2004 till 2024 is called “Period 8, or the period of young man” in the Flying Star System of Feng Shui. Everything that is associated with young people, including the rise of the military, rebellion, education, YA literature, and yes, revolution, is being emphasized. We live at a time when adults gladly read YA and teens read adult literature. This is why our YA Revolution is all-encompassing!
What is YA Revolution?Our objective is to give better visibility and voice to well-written, original books raising important issues and containing a meaningful message and/or positive attitude. This applies to both fiction and non-fiction. While these books deserve to be heard, they may be drowning in a sea of rehashed and meaningless stuff. The idea is to create a directory of GOOD new books to read for adults and teens alike.
Why will the YA Revolution benefit all, authors and readers of all ages alike? Very simple: Indie authors sometimes get a reputation for being less than original; the opinion oftentimes is that the quality of indie literature is subpar. This is because some of the indie books give everyone else a bad name. I met many indie authors who write great books, but they are overshadowed by those who yell the loudest or who have the flashiest covers (or perhaps by those who have deeper pockets, or those who perform various magic tricks). I am offering the recipe for solving all these problems! If we all pull together our resources, our influence, and our enthusiasm, we’ll be able to give bigger voice to authors of good books, and provide better choices for readers! A win-win!
Visit YA Revolution page on top navigation bar. This page’s reply section will become the depository for books with message and meaning recommended by readers, reviewers and authors. I will also post a badge with a link on my side bar.
As we grow, we plan to organize giveaways, contests and other YA Revolution events.
I had smashing fun designing the YA Revolution badges! I think it’s good to have them for every taste and genre, so more people feel they belong with our revolution.
Choose one or more themes that work for you and post them on your blog/site!
Theme FUNKY
Theme BOOKISH
Theme EARTH SHIFTER
Theme STARSEED
Theme CREATION
Theme COOL
And if you are feeling especially rebellious… Theme REBEL
Rules for joining the YA Revolution:
1. Pick the badge that appeals to you and post it on your blog or site (sidebar, a dedicated page or awards page), linking back to this post.
2. Tell as many people as you can so others could also join!
3. Readers/reviewers: post the badge in every post showcasing (interview, book review, spotlight) any author/book that you feel deserves to be awarded this badge! Mention YA Revolution in your post and link up to YA REVOLUTION page. For WordPress blogs, your link will become an automatic pingback (or you can chose to leave a comment with link). For all other blogs and sites, make sure you visit our page and leave a comment with the link to your respective post.
4. If you are an author and feel that you deserve this badge based on our criteria, post it with your book description and link up to this post. Follow above instructions for WordPress and non-wordpress blogs.
5. YA Revolution badge has dual purpose; it works both as a movement banner, and as an award. My future Author Features will include the YA REVOLUTION badge. Consider it my stamp of approval! (Read my post about the new Author Feature.) When someone else awards you this badge, proudly post it on your awards page – you’ve earned it! Remember to link to this post and mention my name!
Note: Post all your links/pingbacks in the YA Revolution page reply section, so that any reader could browse and choose better reads for themselves and their children. The idea is to create a directory of GOOD new books to read for adults and teens alike. However, we cannot police every link and pingback. It is up to the poster and readers to determine whether a specific recommendation will benefit our readers. Please be responsible while posting! Important: one link per book, please! Duplicates will be considered spamming and will result in removal of your links.
It is understood that we grow through adversity, and that inner and outer conflict and struggle is part of any good literature. YA Revolution is not meant to restrict or discriminate by genre. However, YA Revolution is NOT for books that promote or glorify violence of any sort, negative or senseless attitudes and actions, and characters/entities that have no redeeming value. While sexy romantic element as part of plot and character development is fine as long as our above criteria are met, no hard-core erotica allowed. It is advisable to specify what ages your book is appropriate for.
I also want to mention a couple of people who inspired the YA Revolution: 1. Author M.C. O’Neill, who said that my fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER gave “a new definition to YA literature.” 2. Reviewer Michala at BiteMyBook.com, who said in her Amazon review of The Earth Shifter: “In a current age where every story is about wolves and vampires or witches or whatnot, it is nice to read a tale that engages the reader deeply.” For over a year, I had a persistent feeling that I wasn’t quite reaching my reader. Having read the above two reviews, the light went on and I came up with the YA Revolution concept.
About my work:I am the author of several visionary fantasy/adventure books and mystery/thrillers – YA and adult. Soon, I will start a non-fiction series, long in the planning. In addition to highly engaging plots and memorable characters, all my books carry strong and important messages. Incidentally, I am launching THE EARTH SHIFTER, Stepford USA and GOLD TRAIN (2nd edition) paperbacks, and from April 10 to May 5, I’ll be doing virtual book tour. If you are interested in showcasing (and/or reviewing) any of my books, please let me know! You can find all my books here. Or visit my official author site at LadaRay.com.
THE EARTH SHIFTER Book Tour begins on 4/10! Stay tuned!
ANNOUNCEMENT! I always wanted to showcase talented authors that I personally admire as people and artists, along with their new books. Today, I’m thrilled to announce the new Author Feature Series on Lada Ray Blog.
In this series, I’ll give the podium and showcase the new releases of independent authors and publishers in these exciting areas: 1.Fiction: spiritual/visionary/metaphysical, international/world cultures, mystery/thrillers, action/adventure, romantic adventure/suspense, women’s lit, fantasy/sci-fi, YA – (books in all above categories must be engaging, well-written and have a strong, positive and/or important message; if they boast a spiritual/metaphysical/paranormal element, even better). 2.Non-fiction: history, travel & world cultures, alternative history, geopolitics/economics, spiritual/visionary/metaphysical, predictions/forecasting, conspiracies, Earth changes. All books and authors must provide a strong, positive, forward-looking and/or important message through their writing and attitude. Being original helps!
Note: It is understood that we grow through adversity, and that inner and outer conflict and suffering is part of any good literature. However, I will NOT showcase any books that promote or glorify violence of any sort, negative or senseless attitudes and actions, and characters/entities that have no redeeming value.
The Author Feature typically includes: book cover, synopsis/blurb, book stats, brief excerpt, author bio/pic, buy links, author SM links, and book trailer, if available. I’ll say a few nice words – the better I know you, the more I can say; also, the author can briefly present his/her work in own words. If I have reviewed your book, I’ll also include my review.
Also coming: the excitingYA REVOLUTION! E-publishing revolution has just started, and already digital shelves are full of senseless imitations rehashed over and over again. Much of what our teens are downloading on their e-readers may not be what they should be reading in order to develop into good human beings and responsible citizens of our planet!
Typically, author organizations, promotional sites and retailers do not distinguish books by integrity, quality of message and positive energy. Consequently, it’s up to us – readers, writers, bloggers and reviewers – to convey this information to each other. We intend to give voice and help promote authors who deserve to be heard, whether they write YA or adult literature. The more good books are promoted by us all, the easier both teens and adults will be able to chose better books to read!
This is so exciting! Below is one of the badges I’ve developed. There are several more for all tastes, which I’ll post soon, along with the rules of participation in the YA Revolution.
YA Revolution badge – theme: FUNKY
Whether you are a young adult or simply young at heart,
I always wanted to showcase talented authors that I personally admire as people and artists, along with their new books. Today, I’m thrilled to announce the new Author Feature Series on Lada Ray Blog. In this series, I’m planning to give the podium and showcase the new releases by independent authors and publishers.
My first artist to showcase is the dynamic duo of Irish authors/musicians, Rohan and Alex Healy, together with their exciting new release, GYAROS: The Mice Eat Iron! Despite his young years, Rohan Healy boasts lofty credentials as musician and producer; beyond that he is a spiritual seeker, philosopher, and wonderful human being, whom I am privileged to call a friend.
SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to the green districts of Elissa, capital city of the unified corporate planet, Carthage. The year is 0061. For 29 years, husband and father Miles Stanton has followed society’s guidelines. But one day he is pushed too far. Branded a criminal and deemed unfit to live or work on Carthage, Miles is exiled to the harsh prison moon of Gyaros, losing everything that was ever important to him. He struggles to survive as a civilized human being in a lunar wasteland of chaos and brutality. But when surrounded by unspeakable violence and madness, how long can a man hold on to his precious humanity?
They say there’s no way back to Carthage. But if Miles is to survive on Gyaros he has to believe that there is. Follow Miles as he makes friends and enemies, fighting for his life across Carthage and Gyaros, and stumbling upon secrets he was never meant to know!
The debut novel by musicians, authors and brothers, Rohan & Alex Healy; The Mice Eat Iron is the first thrilling part of the epic sci-fi adventure that is the Gyaros trilogy. (The Mice Eat Iron is approximately 120,000 words/450 pages long). WARNING: This book contains adult content including violence, course language and adult themes.
Read EXCERPT:
Chapter 2
Miles slowly opened his heavy eyelids and squinted in pain at the bright light that shone down on him from above. Miles raised his right hand to shield his eyes and in doing so caught a glimpse of the dried blood encrusted on his palm. He turned his hand over to reveal yet more of the, now brown and hard, blood. It looked, Miles thought to himself, as though someone had dipped his hand in a tin of russet hue paint and left it to dry overnight. All at once it hit him, like a bolt of lightning, why his hand was brown, what he had done. ‘Oh my god, I’m a murderer, I’m a God damn murderer, and everyone saw it. I killed Tyler and, and…’ A terrifying realisation suddenly dawned on Miles as he began to understand the true weight of his action. Like all serious crime on Carthage, murder was punishable by a sentence of banishment to the volatile moon world of Gyaros.
‘No, no this can’t happen, I’m a normal guy, I’m a Green Districts guy, I’ve never been outside the Green Districts for God’s sake! They can’t send me to Gyaros, they just can’t!’ Miles sat up abruptly from his previous position of lying flat on his back and in doing so he let out an ear piercing screech. Miles writhed in pain and held his back at the location where The Enforcer had struck him with his rod. Slowly and painfully he managed to sit up on the padded white bench where he had awoken, and his eyes, having adjusted to the light, began to scan the room where he now found himself.
“Where am I?” he said softly to himself as he surveyed the scene. Miles was sitting on the single piece of furniture in what was an otherwise completely empty room. The bench he woke up on, and was now perched upon, protruded directly from the wall. The walls were entirely white, and appeared to be made of the same padded material as the bench. The room was featureless except for the subtle outline of what looked to be a door on the wall to Miles’ right. On the door, at about head height was a small black screen about eight inches wide and six inches high. As well as this a small white camera poked down from the centre of the ceiling, it pointed directly at Miles’ face and a red light blinked just off to the left of its lens. Miles tilted left and watched as the camera mimicked his movements perfectly, never taking its focus off Miles’ face. He then leaned to the right and observed again how the camera would swivel and follow his every move.
‘Oh shit, I know what this is…’ Although Miles had never been in this kind of situation before, having never been in any kind of trouble at all until today, thanks to references in films and on visor vision Miles had a pretty good idea of what was going on. ‘This is a holding cell, I’ve seen these before. This must be The Security Department right? A-and this is where the bad guys get dragged off to when they’ve committed a crime…and, and then they get sent off to fucking Gyaros! Oh God, oh God, oh God, why is this happening to me?!’
Miles buried his face in his hands and began to weep again as his stomach knotted and churned, weakness and shaking once again taking over his entire body. As Miles continued to cry he heard the faint sound of distant footsteps. He froze, his eyes fixed on the screen on the wall to his right, his ears straining to hear. ‘They’re getting closer,’ he thought to himself, ‘and…and it sounds like two people, at least two, there’s no way that’s a single person.’
The footsteps grew louder and louder, drawing nearer and nearer until they stopped suddenly, right outside the cell. Miles daren’t move a muscle as silence pervaded the room, his pounding heart the only sound audible to him. Sweat had been forming on his brow since the footsteps began and one or two beads were now creeping their way down his cold, pale face. Then with a loud crackle the screen flickered to life and the matte black helmet of an Enforcer could be seen on the distorted display.
“*beep*. Miles Stanton, stand before the screen, *beep*,” ordered the distorted voice of The Enforcer. The terrified Miles jumped to his feet, bearing the pain in his back, and made his way to the screen to his right. Miles stood up as straight as he could considering his injuries and, too afraid to speak, awaited further instruction.
“*beep*. The boss wants a word with you, *beep*,” and with that The Enforcer took a step to his left and the familiar face of The Lead Manager of The Energy Department, Candice Demour, took his place. Candice and Miles had always gotten on well, Candice was kind and fair wherever she could be, but had the strength and decisiveness required to oversee the entire workings of The Energy Department. An attractive lady in her late 40’s, Candice had straight light brown hair, dark almond shaped eyes and a thin, but not overly angular face. She possessed a famous smile that could ease just about any situation. Except for this one, Candice was not smiling today, today Candice looked tired and melancholy.
Despite the horrific circumstances he found himself in, Miles couldn’t help but feel a little relieved to see a friendly and familiar face. Candice began to speak, sorrowfully.
“Miles, I’m glad to see you’re ok. I watched the incident via the recorded camera feed, I…I don’t know what to say, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Candice’s voice began to crack but she quickly regained her composure, cleared her voice and continued, “Miles, Tyler is alive…barely.”
Miles’ heart jumped and his eyes widened.
“Tyler is alive!? Oh thank God, you can’t imagine how good that news is, my God Candice, I…I thought I was a murderer,” Miles spluttered shaking with excitement and adrenaline, “I thought that was it for me you know? Shipped off to Gyaros, never be able to see Chet grow up, never get to see Hellen again, to leave my Chet known as the son of a murderer. Oh God Candice, just…I,” Miles once again broke down and rubbed tears from his eyes.
“Yes, about that Miles, the doctors say Tyler will make it but…he won’t be the same. What you did to his face, I can’t even…” Candice trailed off then shook her head and started again, “you won’t be going to Gyaros Miles, because of me,” Miles looked up quizzically.
“Because of you? What do you mean?”
“The Areopagus wanted to shuttle you tonight but I pulled some strings. I’ve known you a long time Miles and you’re not a bad man. You wouldn’t last one second on that rock, it’s as good as a death sentence. No Miles you won’t be banished to Gyaros but…” Candice stopped suddenly and looked to the floor. Miles waited a few seconds before his patience ran out.
“But what?!” he barked.
“Miles, even I can’t keep you here, at The Energy Department. Your contract has been terminated, your benefits have been revoked and your pension credits have been allocated to be used for Tyler’s treatment, reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation. I’m sorry Miles, I know you didn’t mean to do what you did but there’s nothing I can do to keep you here,” Candice tilted her head slightly, a pained expression on her face as she witnessed the destruction of an old friend in real time before her eyes.
Miles stood there silent and motionless, his world falling apart like a train crash in slow motion. And then, while staring at the ground, in a low voice he began to speak.
“Hellen left me today, she’s been seeing Tyler without my knowledge. She messaged me to tell me that divorce proceedings had begun, and that I was no longer welcome in my house, my own damn house Candice. And now my job, Candice I’m nothing without my wife and child, I’m nothing without my work,” Miles looked up and made eye contact, “Candice I’ve built this life, ever since I can remember I’ve been building this life, you can’t take it away, this life is Miles Stanton.” Miles placed his hands either side of the screen, “Candice I don’t know what’s left when you take away my job, my wife, my child, my house. You tell me, what is left!? What the fuck is left of Miles Stanton now!?”
Miles’ still bloody hands slid down the wall lifelessly, he cut the figure of an utterly defeated man.
“I’m sorry Miles. I don’t know what’s left of you, all I know is that while you are alive on Carthage there is hope, I know that you can start again slowly. You’re a good man Miles, of all the things that changed today, that is not one of them. In time you will rise from this. But for tonight you will be escorted to a hotel where you will sleep and get cleaned up. You will be kept under Enforcer supervision to ensure that you do not try to hurt Tyler, Hellen or Chet…”
“But I would never…”
“I know that Miles but it doesn’t matter, the Areopagus’ orders are final. In the morning you will be escorted to The Department of Productivity where you will be allocated a new place of employment. You must understand that after what you did, you will not be granted permission to work in the Green Districts but if you behave, and work hard you may one day make it back up here. I’m sorry Miles, it breaks my heart to see you like this. Just get some rest tonight and take things one day at a time. I believe in you, you’re a good man Miles, a good man.”
The screen flickered and went blank.
WatchBOOK TRAILER (music written and performed by Rohan Healy!)
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AUTHOR BIO:
Rohan Healy, born in Murwillumbah, Australia in 1986 is an author, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, blogger and professional music producer. As of 2013 Rohan has written, recorded, performed, produced and released 10 solo albums as well as performing and recording with artists including David Virgin, Dan Rumour, Cat Power, Billy Bragg, Jimmy Willing, Quiffs N Coffins and Christa Hughes (Machine Gun Fellatio). Rohan has written and published two books, the first “Greeks to Geeks: Practical Stoicism in the 21st Century” in 2010 and in 2012 he published his second book “The 7 Things That Made Me Genuinely & Irreversibly Happy: And How They Can Do The Same For You”. Rohan currently lives in his ancestral home of Dublin, Ireland where he continues to write and record, as well as enjoying his hobby of photography.
Although he turns 18 in June, Alex Healy has managed to co-write his first full length novel before he was technically an adult!
SAYS ROHAN:
“What started as a casual conversation with my brother Alex at the end of January has turned into an epic science fiction trilogy. And today part one of that trilogy can be read. I don’t know where to start *deep breaths*, so excited! Even though it only took us just over 2 months of intense plotting, writing and proofing, writing a full fiction novel has been a dream of mine since I was 8 years old. So this is kinda satisfying.”
This is shaping up to be a great, epic adventure! Rohan promises Book 2 this summer! Way to go, Rohan!
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It is my great pleasure to award Rohan and Alex Healy a YA Revolution award! (Note: Gyaros contains adult themes and may not be for everyone. Read description before deciding if it’s for you!)
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Join the REVOLUTION! More about it and how to join at
Subscribe to my new blog Futurist Trendcast to receive timely updates, analysis and predictions about unfolding world events, and prepare for the changing future!
Cyprus Crisis Explained in 8 Minutes. New post at my new Futurist Trendcast blog! How does the Cyprus banking crisis affect Cyprus, EU and everyone else? What’s next? Click the link above to read my post and to watch full video report.
As some of you know, for quite some time I’ve been making accurate predictions about various global events and trends on this blog and beyond. Many have asked me to expand on my predictions and analysis. However, the predictions part didn’t seem to fold well into the overall theme of the Lada Ray Blog.
This is why today, I am thrilled to introduce my exciting new project, Futurist Trendcast! I designed this breakthrough – written and video – blog for all those who are interested in understanding our past, present and future – beyond the obvious. My written posts will be featured at Futuristrendcast.wordpress.com and my video posts will be posted at Lada Ray channel on Youtube.
I’ve been making successful and accurate predictions about geopolitics, economy, investments and global changes since the early 2000s, and it’s time to share them with my fellow citizens of planet Earth. These are just some of my predictions: the real estate crash, gold/silver boom, George Bush re-election in 2004, both elections of Obama, re-election of Vladimir Putin in Russia in 2012 with the exact percentage of votes he’d received, Nicolas Sarkozy’s loss and Francois Hollande’s win in the French elections 2012. You can check my various predictions at LadaRay.wordpress.com.
A word about me: I was born in Russia, and growing up, I observed the collapse of the Soviet Union. I also lived and traveled to over 26 countries on most continents, including a gig in Cuba, where I interviewed Fidel Castro. By the ripe age of 38, I managed to have 3 successful careers on 3 different continents, first as a linguist and translator, and second as financial consultant with AIG and Smith Barney/Citigroup. I witnessed first hand behind the scenes manipulations at these major financial institutions; I observed how small clients were sacrificed to the interests of large institutional clients, and how derivatives became the buzz word. At some point, I couldn’t stand it any more and quit, and although I felt sorry to leave my clients, I needed to do things that were in line with my spiritual growth and soul development.
I went to Asia, where I studied feng shui, becoming one of the first Internationally Certified Western Feng Shui Masters with successful global practice. I was privileged to study various spiritual and metaphysical disciplines, including evolution of consciousness, kinesiology, Zen/Buddhism, face & aura reading, Chinese & Western astrology, and shamanism, with some of the world’s most prominent teachers & visionaries. I also found out that I was a highly developed empath and intellect shifter, and on top of that, that I possessed a gift of clairvoyance. Coupled with my creative, analytical and observant nature, as well as my background, all these gifts allowed me to make predictions, which usually came true.
Presently, I am writing full time. My books include THE EARTH SHIFTER – a new release, this is a spectacular cosmic fantasy thriller, including a world conspiracy, Russian oligarchs, secret agencies, a NWO secret society, psychic spies, shifters, different realms of existence, and so much more! The ebook is now available on Amazon, B&N, Sony, Apple. Paperback launch – April 10! I also write a companion new series, EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES. In addition, I write mystery/thrillers, most notably GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure). An Amazon/Kindle bestseller, it is a rip-roaring thrill ride across Russia, which is based on true historic events. It’s about the disappearance of the entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire during the 1918 civil war and the present day conspiracy to start a new civil war, while shifting the global balance of power.
In addition to writing and public speaking, I also intend to expand on my predictions, sharing them with the public, and that’s why I’m starting this new blog and expanding my Youtube channel. If you check my 2012 predictions at LadaRay.wordpress.com, you’ll notice that they’ve all come true. My track record speaks for itself, and that’s because I’m a neutral observer and unbiased, detached analyst. This is what allows me to predict with such accuracy. Moreover, I want to emphasize that while we live in crucial times, the times when anything old, outmoded and rotten is being destroyed and the shoots of the new start coming up everywhere, when anything that’s not anchored or solidly built is swept away by the hurricane of change, I’m not given to fear mongering, unlike some others. My predictions and analysis are for those who want to know, and for those who want to see – the truth just as it is. They are to help my fellow earthlings to orient themselves better in the sea of change and to prepare accordingly. Strange and quickly changing times are upon us, but as always, every cloud has its silver lining, if you know where to look.
To support the operational costs and to understand my message deeper, buy and read my books! Find out more about my books, including buy links, on this blog or at my official author site: LadaRay.com.
Thank you very much for your support, and remember to stay positive!
Best from
Lada Ray
Watch the cool video version of this post:
P.S. This is my first video in the series. Please let me know if the sound level is good, or af anyone feels that the volume should be higher. Thank you for your input!
Real Russia Video Blog has been launched in 2012 by “Sergey x 2″ as they are called – Sergey Baklykov and Sergey Pichugin – the two enterprising young men from the city of Ufa, the capital of Russia’s autonomous Republic of Bashkortostan.
Feeling tremendous dissatisfaction with the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Russia in the West, they decided to start a Youtube channel entitled REAL RUSSIA, in which they endeavored to document the true Russian life as is, without any propaganda, embellishments or editing.
Being in complete agreement with Sergey x 2, I also do my best to dispel such misconceptions and enlighten my readers. Read my various articles about Russia on this blog. I also write truthfully and extensively about Russian turbulent history and its ever-changing present in my books GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) and my new release, THE EARTH SHIFTER. Both books can be purchased on Amazon by clicking on above title links.
Back in 2012, I promised my friends at the Real Russia Channel to share their entertaining and educational videos with my friends and followers. However, with all the other events and timely topics, this idea has since been on hold. I’m now taking this opportunity to deliver on my promise.
A word about Russia and Bashkortostan: The Russian Federation is the most multicultural country in the world, consisting of approximately 100 different nationalities and ethnic groups – widely different, large and small! Because of that, there is a number of autonomous regions and small republics, which form part of the federation.
Bashkortostan is one of them. It is located in the Ural Mountains, about 1000 km east of Moscow. The Ural Mountains serve as a perfect vertical divider between Europe and Asia, and this is visible in the composition of the population of that region. As you’ll see from the videos, the population is very mixed, about 50% Russian/Slavic and 50% Bashkir, an Asian ethnicity speaking Bashkir language, which together with Mongolian, Tibetan and Tatar is part of the Turkic family of languages (not to be confused with Turkish language).
A Bashkir woman in traditional costume
Bashkortostan is known for its oil deposits. There are two dominant religions: Russian Orthodox (Christian) and Muslim (Bashkir). The autonomous republic has its own flag, anthem and government. The signs in the republic are in both Russian and Bashkir, as these are the two state languages. The everyday language is primarily Russian, although Bashkir is studied in schools alongside Russian.
One of the things that strike me while watching these real life vids, is how well the two very different ethnicities and religions get along in Bashkortostan! They tend to intermarry, embracing both cultures as their own. This tends to be the way of life in most such Russian regions, where the Russian culture is embraced as the national culture, yet local roots are celebrated equally. If only the rest of the world learned to live like that!
As you see, this small and remote republic is somewhat different from the heart of Russia, and from the image many in the West have of this country, but according to Sergei x 2 team, this is thetrue Russia!
I will certainly agree with our dynamic duo. The Russian culture spiced up with a distinctive multicultural mix, the typical everyday living, common history, and the new and exciting developments, all make Ufa into a charming and fascinating destination.
On map: Chelyabinskaya Oblast (Chelyabinsk region) located to the east of Bashkortostan, in the westernmost part of Siberia.
The vids below show Russian life as is, without smoothing out any rough spots. The presenter speaks pretty decent English and the vids are entertaining, as well as educational at best. This is post one of my new Real Russia video series. Below, I’ve included several of the best videos, courtesy Sergey x 2, in which you can experience the everyday life in this Russian province as well as its Soviet past. Presenting: THE REAL RUSSIA!
Episode 1: Welcome to Real Russia! It includes: Sergey Baklykov’s old Soviet clunker; driving on the Ufa roads; Ufa’s lovely city center, including its main artery, the Lenin Street; a look at the both Sergeys apartments (warning: not for the faint of heart, ahem…ahem… ).
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Episode 2: Russian Parks. This charming episode is a must watch! Growing up in Russia, I loved the local parks, and watching this vid brings back my most cherished childhood memories. Unlike the trendsetting capitals of Moscow and St.Petersburg, in some ways, Ufa still has one foot in its Soviet past, although the new sprouts are visible everywhere.
Note: in the 1990s, most streets, parks and other locations with Soviet names in such large, trendsetting cities as Moscow, St. Petersburg & Odessa have been given back their old historic names. In St. Petersburg’s case, the whole city was renamed from Leningrad back to its original Saint Petersburg. Unlike most large central cities possessing their own old and rich history, Ufa is a relatively young place, built up during Soviet times. Hence, their preservation of the Soviet names, as in Lenin Street & Communist Street. They certainly made peace with their history. The new and the old blended together as one – works for me!
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Episode 5: Russian Public Transport. The Russian public transportation system is very well structured, comprehensive and well-oiled. Ufa, where the guys are from, doesn’t have the famous Russian Metro, which is a preferred method of getting around major cities like Moscow & St. Petersburg. For more on the Russian Metro, complete with awesome pics, see my post, Amazing Russian Metro.
This is an excellent episode in which we can experience the old-world charm of the very affordable Russian trams, trolleybuses and buses, as well as the shared taxi service called “Gazelle” – live! Also, something that’s very traditional in Russia and other former Soviet states, but inconceivable elsewhere: a tram/bus conductor carrying around bagfulls of cash, and amazingly, it doesn’t occur to anyone to steal all that money!
Episode 18: Traditional Soviet Communal Apartment. A communal apartment is a purely Soviet phenomenon, born of housing shortage and a well-intentioned, but misguided, drive to equalize the living standards of the rich and poor by making everyone’s life miserable. Now a relic of the past, it was a shared apartment, where a family occupied one, two or three rooms privately, while sharing all other areas. Typically, there was one shared entrance, kitchen (usually with multiple stoves and tables), bathroom and corridor.
It is ironic and fascinating that communal apartments were only possible on the posh and fashionable streets of the richest and most popular cities, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Odessa. Incidentally, I describe in detail the history and realities of the Moscow communal apartment living in my new fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER. Check it out!
As Sergey x 2 have discovered, there really were no communal apartments in Ufa, since it wasn’t in the category of the most desirable and fashionable cities. Therefore, they had to get creative. They found a way to demonstrate the communal living realities via an episode from the recent Russian musical movie, Stilyagi (1998), which describes the communal life in a 1940s Moscow blue collar apartment.
I’ve never lived in a communal apartment, but some of my friends and relatives did, and I must say, this episode is super-entertaining (a great song too), but generally, communal life I’d observed was much more civilized than shown (of course, I’ve only been to the 1970s-80s communal apartments occupied by intelligentsia). In most cases, there were no more than 2 or 3 families sharing such a place. Oftentimes, these apartments were lavishly decorated and well maintained, with tall ceilings, beautiful details and extra-large rooms and kitchens. So, the view here is sensationalized; still, this is a rather fascinating slice of the Soviet life circa 1940s/WWII and a mesmerizing movie scene, which I highly recommend!
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Check out my new release, THE EARTH SHIFTER, for fascinating, colorful, poetic, shocking and unforgettable episodes from Russian and Siberian history, as well as today’s events! More about the book, including blurb, excerpts, fave themes and characters!
On March 18, 2013, I have been a guest on The Vinny Eastwood Show! After having been on a loooong writing spree and basically in seclusion, which was necessary to produce THE EARTH SHIFTER, it felt great to show my face to the world. My hair usually grows fast (must be all that spiritual growth ), and so, while I was busy writing, it has grown substantially, reaching almost to my waist. It’s especially noticeable on the vid, but don’t you get used to this look, as I intend to cut it! Well…until I again immerse myself into the world of Sasha and the Key while writing THE EARTH SHIFTER 2. At that point, I’ll let it grow again.
It was also great to hear my own voice – I was already beginning to forget what it sounded like! Consider this a warm up. This is my first radio interview in my capacity as an author, but it certainly won’t be last!
And now, back to the show! Vinny and I have touched upon some very controversial and interesting topics, such as the collapse of Empires, including the Soviet Union and USA, my analysis and predictions of how the USA collapse is different from that of the USSR, and how both are similar. We’ve also discussed my spiritual awakening and my personal experiences working for major US financial institutions, including how said financial wirehouses stack the odds in favor of their large investment banking clients at the expense of small private clients. We’ve talked about the Bitcoin phenomenon, Vinny’s problems with Paypal, and my recommendations for resolving them.
A special shout out to Mark O’Neill at royalmanaball.wordpress.com who turned me on to the radio/video interview process! I am starting to dig these cool and casual audio/video chats, and having discovered that I have lots more to say on various topics of interest to many, I’ll continue lining them up.
Anyone interested in interviewing me, just give me a shout! I am presently looking for the new interviews during THE EARTH SHIFTER launch, April 10-30! I’ll also post more interesting segments soon on the Lada Ray Youtube Channel. Stay tuned, everyone!
Incidentally, a few people have asked me how to correctly pronounce my first name and what it rhymes with. Answer: Lada is like the note “la” in the musical scale, but instead of “la-la” you sing “La-da.” Have fun!
P.S. I just found out that after our show, which exposed Paypal practices, Vinny Eastwood has resolved his Paypal problem. That’s just awesome!
We’ll discuss the world events, geopolitics, NWO, my new predictions for this decade and beyond, and of course, my new metaphysical fantasy thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER!
This has been the top post on my blog for the past month or so, which probably means that there is a lot of interest in learning Russian. While it’s an old post, I have just given it a very serious face lift based on the many comments and emails I received. Essentially, this is a brand new article and I highly recommend that you read it if you are interested in learning Russian, or any other language, or if you are interested in the history, theory, philosophy and general knowledge of foreign languages and cultures.
The post now includes my personal experiences and language philosophy; synthetic vs analytical language comparisons; practical, to the point comparative analysis of English, German, Russian, Italian and Spanish grammar; fascinating examples demonstrating the difference in word usage in Russian and English; and the now infamous anecdote about Hillary Clinton and the reset of relations with Russia. Also included is advice on college study and study abroad, as well as important disclaimers and other interesting bits.
“The ancients used to say that as many languages you know, that many times you are a human being. This is a very profound statement, as with every language you learn, you also understand better other cultures and other people’s points of view. I like to think that if everyone on Earth cared to learn at least a few languages, there would be much more peace and friendship on our planet. Generally speaking, learning foreign languages is like opening up new worlds, akin to broadening your tunnel vision and enriching your life. Be your very own, personal Columbus and discover the new world, but don’t forget to have fun along the way!” Lada Ray
Why Happy March 15th? Aw well… because it’s my birthday, and also because it’s a belated 1 year anniversary of my blog.
MORE ABOUT PISCES & MY BIRTHDAY: Being a March baby is fun, as the spring starts awakening at this time of year. The week of March 15th is called the week of “dancers and dreamers.” Many world famous dancers were born during this time… and did I mention, I love to dance! Don’t even get me started on dreaming things up and making them come true! Those who’ve read my books know all about that!
Russian ballet dancer, Rudolf Nouriev. Born March 17th (sharing a birthday with my husband, who’s also a Pisces).
And another famous and inspired Pisces!In addition to inspiration, spirituality, dance, art, photography, dreaming, Pisces also rules film. Not surprisingly, theOscars,Motion Picture Academy Awards Ceremony, traditionally takes place during the Piscean rule, in late February or March. The Oscars 2013 took place on February 24, when this prestigious award has celebrated its 85th birthday.
They say, a Pisces can dream anything into reality, like magic…
As you all know, in the past few months, I’ve been consumed with finishing and publishing my new fantasy/thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER. It’s been a busy time, but also, extremely rewarding! I’ve dreamed it up and it’s currently available as ebook at Amazon, B&N, Smash. I will be releasing paperback in the end of March (pre-launch release).
Official book launch: APRIL 10, 2013!
Meanwhile, I also received a number of awards. I want to acknowledge the lovely bloggers who gave them to me and announce that due to my busy blogging and writing schedule, this is the last post about blog awards. This concerns only awards, so no worries. Lada Ray Blog is not going anywhere, and as a matter of fact, I’m planning a rainbow of wonderful new posts this year.
So, don’t you go away
as so much more is coming your way!
Bowing out gracefully: I want to thank all those who have supported and acknowledged this blog in the past year plus by giving it awards. I love you all, guys! I think awards are a wonderful way to support worthy bloggers and to spread the word about them. Below are the bloggers who have given me the awards recently. There were a couple more, so please forgive me if I have missed anyone (it seems I may have misplaced the links.) But know that I appreciate you all! Due to the severe time constraints, and – well – because it’s my birthday , I’m skipping the steps of passing on the awards and answering the questions (please allow me this indulgence). I’ve already said enough about me, and if you’re interested, please check out my prior awards and my bio page. Instead, I’ll concentrate on acknowledging those bloggers who have thought of me!
LIEBSTER AWARD, which I received from 3 wonderful bloggers. Here they are chronologically!
Jim L. Wright olbigjim.wordpress.com. A wonderful man, blogger, writer, and book reviewer, Jim is and American expat living his dream life in Jordan. How exciting! Please check out his awesome blog!
Jason Collins JJCollinsAuthor.com One of my favorite people and certainly my absolute favorite Irishman living in London! Jason is the author of several non-fiction books, his specialty being history and politics. Check out his terrific site & blog, where he shares book reviews and news about publishing industry. It’s a treasure trove!
Stefan Maxima hillsofherchastity.wordpress.com Spreading the love! Check out Stefan’s lovely and positive blog!
SUPER SWEET AWARDfrom the super-sweet Sofia Siberia - sofiasiberia.com. Yum! Sofia is a blogger, empath and healer, who is originally from Russia and Ukraine, and who presently resides in Lebanon. She is a very loving and giving soul and she has a beautiful blog where she shares her wisdom and her spiritual discoveries with the world. Please check it out!
I’ve also received A BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER AWARD from Sofia Siberia. This award I already have, but I am truly honored that Sofia has thought of me!
VERY INSPIRING BLOG AWARD – again, many thanks to the wonderful man and author, Jim L. Wright @ oldbigjim.wordpress.com for giving me this award! I’m truly honored!
And last, but by no means least, SHINE ON AWARD, which I just received from a truly inspiring blogger and author, Rohan Healy at Rohan7things.wordpress.com. Rohan blogs about many things, but they all have a strong philosophical and spiritual connection. He is a thinker & a beautifully light soul, and I’m privileged to know him! Please check out his popular blog for many inspiring, entertaining and off-beat posts. Incidentally, I was recently interviewed by Rohan. Check out the interview as well.
P.S. I’ve just added this award, which I received from the lovely Ruby @ yourinnerfeathersbyruby.wordpress.com, who is a “spiritual life stylist.” I like Ruby’s blog so much, that I had to add this award if only to link up and promote her blog. Thank you, Ruby, and may you have a terrifically inspiring and spiritually rewarding year!
Also, I want to take this opportunity to wish aHAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY to:
Jason Collins, Rohan Healy, Madeline Walsh(whose recent interview has become an inspiration!), M.C. O’Neill(check out his awesome Lada Ray Spotlight and review!), Jason Sullivan(whose amazing May Day Interview became the centerpiece of my GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour 2012!), as well as my many Irish blogger & author friends!
Here’s to luck and prosperity! Have a wonderful holiday!
Incidentally, my husband was born on March 17. How’s that for a coincidence! Our birthdays are 2 days apart and we usually end up celebrating them as one.
Birthday cake anyone?
Coming next: lada’s exciting READ AND REVIEW PROGRAM! Stay tuned!
Hello everyone! In October 2012 I did a Book Review Fest where I shared my new reviews of several awesome books by fellow indie authors. The Review Fest 1 became so popular that I decided to continue the tradition. As many of you know, my new release, fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER, has received some very nice reviews in the past couple of months. Also, it is coming out as paperback on or after March 18th, which will be a pre-launch release: the official book launch is in April. The paperback will feature excerpts from the best and most interesting reviews The Earth Shifter has received so far.
I’m very grateful to all those who took the time and effort to not only read my book, but also post a thoughtful and honest review. Many of these reviews put a smile on my face and warmed my heart because their authors have captured the very essence of the story. All the reviews were fabulous and rich in material, and I had a hard time choosing which reviews, and which excerpts, to include. But due to space limitations, I had to make some hard choices.
Today, I want to honor all of my first reviewers by posting excerpts from their reviews, the links to their original websites and blogs, as well as other sources, where the full reviews can be found. The excerpts below have been selected for the inclusion in THE EARTH SHIFTER paperback Praise Section, as well as on the back cover. You will notice that one of the review excerpts below is longer than the others. That is because its author, Sofia Siberia, is the very first reviewer of The Earth Shifter, and also, because her review hits on so many great points that resonate deeply with the book’s message and intent.
For those who have missed my recent author interviews and features, I am also including the links below. What I especially love about these pieces is that they are all so different, reflecting varying personalities and interests of my interviewers, while working in concert to lift the veil of secrets, big and small, and complimenting each other quite wonderfully. Check out these one-of-a-kind and cool interviews (and this not an exaggeration!), which will shed additional light on the characters, settings, and the wild, wild ride that was the creation of this “cosmic adventure thriller,” as author J.J. Collins has called it!
Before we begin, a want to share some breaking news:
As you may have noticed from the image above, the front cover of THE EARTH SHIFTER has received a face lift based on my publisher’s guidance. I really like the new cover and I think it will showcase the book even better! This will be the cover we’ll use for both the paperback and ebook editions.
Also, just to mention, my birthday is coming up and to celebrate it, I’m starting a Read and Review Program. Anyone interested in reading and reviewing any of my books, including The Earth Shifter, Gold Train, Stepford USA, Catharsis & Green Desert, will receive respective ebooks for free. See the full list of my books here. The details of the Read and Review will be announced in a couple of days both here and on Goodreads, and it will be accompanied by a new, awesome giveaway, as well as other goodies! Please stay tuned!
Without further ado, The Earth Shifter Review & Feature Fest!
Check out these wonderful recent INTERVIEWS & FEATURES:
Author Spotlight: Lada Ray - A cool piece, where M.C. O’Neill, the Author of The Ancients and the Angels, is discussing The Earth Shifter & Catharsis (Legend of the Lemurians). Includes reviews!
Last, but certainly not least, I’m delighted to announce that I will also be a guest on the Vinny Eastwood Show at 6pm EST on March 18th, all thanks to Mark O’Neill’s glowing introduction, for which I’m eternally grateful! Tune in to listen on the American Freedom Radio or watch it at vinnyeastwoodshow.com and guerillamedia.co.nz. I will also post the show on LadaRay Youtube channel and here, on my blog, a few days after. Please tune in to listen, ask questions and comment! Hope you enjoy it, and please stop by to let me know what you think!
And now, the reviews!
5 Stars - “Lada Ray’s The Earth Shifter is the easiest five star review I’ve done in a long time, I loved and was captivated by the story right from he beginning. The parallels with so much of what is happening in the world today, and so many other detailed aspects give believability to this well crafted, wonderful story. My only complaint is that it is a trilogy and I have to wait till the end of 2013 to find out what happens next.”—Paulette Mahurin, Author – The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap (California)
5 Stars - “The best book I’ve read in two years! Warning: Lada Ray knows more about human nature than Gandhi himself! Read The Earth Shifter and you’ll see a new definition to YA fantasy.” —M.C. O’Neill, Author – The Ancients and the Angels (Chicago, USA)
5 Stars - “Fantastic new young adult fiction! I finished The Earth Shifter 3 nights ago and it has been on my mind since. The characters and plot have stuck with me and I eagerly await the next installment. As I was reading a book set primarily in Russia about comets striking the Earth, what should happen but a comet should strike Russia! That was crazy and gave the book a whole new level of intrigue!” —Rohan Healy, Author, Blogger (Ireland)
5 Stars - “If you could read just one book this year, seriously consider The Earth Shifter! This metaphysical fantasy/thriller is simply one of the most compelling stories you’ll find. Author Lada Ray expertly weaves a tale about the consequences that mankind’s insanity has upon the world. The adventure is all-encompassing and epic in scope, and the author mindfully balances multiple story lines where the characters play a very crucial role in the outcome. It’s a real eye-opening, earth-shifting experience for sure!”—Madeline Walsh, Blogger (New York)
5 Stars - “A cosmic adventure thriller that will take the reader through history and across continents. The plot moves along quickly, introducing each key character and sub-plot with precision timing. An awesome, fast-paced, original storyline with exceptional twists that will leave you breathless and wanting more. The book is outstandingly researched and a marvel of creativity. It contains the perfect mix of history, fact, fiction and creative imagination at its best.”—J.J. Collins, Author – James Madison, The Father of the Constitution (London, UK)
5 Stars - “A hypnotizing novel which moves with deeply ingrained subplots. It serves up juicy portions of a storyline you will be begging to finish reading. A book that is hard to put down…because it is more complex than you can imagine…the next page must be turned… MUST BE… And just when you think you know all the essentials, Lada interrupts your story with an added element, perfectly knitted into the world of Sasha and the Key. I wouldn’t hold this novel to being just a YA because it is perfectly suited for the adults as well. Most all of characters were easy to grab onto and hold close. Final Verdict: 10/10.”—Bite My Book Reviews
5 Stars - “Tolkien, move over, another Russian has hit the deck running. Must read!”—Nanakulikane Reviews (Hawaii) – see this review on Amazon
5 Stars - “The Earth Shifter is a rich cocktail of amazing ingredients with the two core, and most delicious components being, the mystical realm of Lake Baikal in Siberia, as well as the Prophecy of the Key. The author covers a wide range of interests from history and legends, to mysticism, prophecy and origins of humanity. There are elements of a spy thriller set against the glamorous backdrop of modern Moscow and New York.
My family is originally from Siberia, and I was mesmerized by the beautiful descriptions of indigenous Siberia, including shamanism, ancient history, Tunguska Meteorite explosion, local village life. The author Lada Ray is a unique mysterious encyclopedia in herself! Her writing style is inimitable and her esoteric knowledge is impressive. While reading the book, I just couldn’t help but wonder how one person can possibly know all that!
The unexpected twists and turns, amazing flashbacks, stand-out characters and unforgettable settings all fold into an astonishing kaleidoscope of events and a mystically-integrated message. Every new chapter is an escalating suspense, and every new piece of information is an introduction to another, even more gripping revelation. The Earth Shifter will keep you thrilled, intrigued and glued to the next page. You’ll wish you could finish your chores ASAP so you could absorb yourself in reading again. The book brings modern present and ancient past into a fantastic unity, being prophetic, revealing, casting lights on the shadowy preliminaries and the shifting destinies of humankind.
The Earth Shifter will literally “shift” your consciousness, for, after reading it, the world as you see it will never be the same again! I’m endlessly happy I discovered Lada Ray’s books and got to know her as a writer!” —Sofia Siberia, Blogger (Russia/ Ukraine/ Lebanon)
5 Stars - “World-enriching spiritual journey filled with drama and excitement! Another impressive thriller. Ms. Ray artfully puts the pieces in place, building the suspense steadily until the reader is fully encompassed. The Earth Shifter has incredible scope. It combines geopolitics, spirituality, cultural depth and, perhaps most of all, the idea that it is the relationships we form, how we treat each other, that is so important to the healing of the planet.” —Jason Sullivan, Author – Rahala, An Ascension Odyssey (USA)
4.5 Stars - ”A complex tale with a great cast of characters. A great YA thriller that is sure to please. I think adult readers will enjoy it as much.” Kate Farrell - The Kindle Book Review & katesreads.com (USA)
A retro Russian poster: March 8, International Women’s Day! On banners: words “Peace” and “Friendship” in different languages
Happy March 8! Happy Women’s Day! This is an almost forgotten phrase I grew up with and loved so much. On this day, March 8th, men in Russia would bring colorful tulips and daffodils, as well as lily-of-the-valley and mimosa flowers to their women – mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters and daughters. Many companies and organizations would host parties to honor their female employees and give them gifts. My parents worked for the Russian Railroads, a rich organization by any measure, and my mom used to bring fab gifts from work on this holiday. My personal favorite was a set of filigree gilded silver coffee spoons she once received from her administration.
March 8 is a national holiday in Russia. All the women would usually be treated like pampered goddesses, being showered with flowers, kicking back and relaxing, as men of the house would take over all the cleaning, cooking and other chores, while their better halves would enjoy a fabulous day off. This, by the way, is a very strictly and solemnly observed Russian tradition. Even if a man is not a domestic type, or a high profile tycoon or political leader, he will show his humility and try his rusty domestic skills on this day. Following the Russian example, celebrating March 8 like this has become a tradition in many other countries, including those where women are normally treated as inferior, like the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan.
This post card reads: Happy March 8!
I love March, as it’s my birthday month and as it’s also the beginning of Spring. I remember our warm and joyful March 8 celebrations back in the old country, those huge bunches of fragrant tulips and mimosa – my mom’s favorite flowers we always had in our house, the open windows to let in the scents and sounds of spring….
At this time, we are still buried in the snow up to your ears here, in Upstate NY. Spring in the USA comes very late, and when it does, it hardly lasts for a couple of days, and all of sudden, it’s hot summer. I miss that wonderful, incomparable springtime, when all of nature awakens slowly and luxuriously, when the first flowers appear and snow slowly melts, feeding the earth and allowing the new growth to start in abundance.
By March 8, spring already awakens in Russia, and its essence, filled with the sounds of birds and fragrance of the spring flowers, permeates the air. Women’s Day is about that wonderful spring celebration and it’s also about honoring the Sacred Feminine, the Mother Earth and nature.
This holiday is also traditionally celebrated as a day of peace and unity around the world, hence the name: International Women’s Day. It started 102 years ago in Russia as a revolutionary celebration of women’s rights, and it also has its roots in the anti-war movement. Today, March 8 is a beloved and widely celebrated holiday not only in Russia, but in most other countries of the world.
A retro Russian poster: March 8 – Happy Holiday to our moms!
What a terrible pity that for political reasons such wonderful celebration is ignored by the mainstream USA!
This post is inspired by a comment and a Happy Women’s Day wish from my follower luv2sex.info. Love and March 8 go hand in hand, don’t they?
Exciting news! Mark your calendar:THE EARTH SHIFTER paperback pre-launch release will be in the second part of March, and the official launch is in April! The exact date will be announced here – look for the book on Amazon, with subsequent release on Barnes&Noble, after March 18, 2013.
This is a 394 page book, trim size 6×9 inches, retail price $18.99. The good news: it will be available for a limited time for $16.88! Signed copies at a very competitive price will also be available through LadaRay.com Book Store. More info is coming soon, but for the time being, here’s a sneak peek at what the paperback looks like.
The Earth Shifter cover
Front Cover
Back cover, including bio, new book blurb, and praise
An inside look – the Title Page:
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I am also very pleased to announce the second, deluxe edition of GOLD TRAIN! It has been additionally edited, beautifully re-designed & re-formatted, and it includes a new blurb, new back matter, plus a blurb & excerpt from the next Accidental Spy Asia Adventure, DRAGON GATE. This is a 280 page book, trim size 6×9 inches, on cream paper, retail price $16.99. The good news: it will be available for a limited time for $14.99! Signed copies at a very competitive price will also be available through LadaRay.com Book Store. Look for the new edition on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and various online retailers in the second part of March! Here’s a sneak peek.
Gold Train – book cover
Front Cover
Back cover, with the new blurb, updated bio, and praise
An inside look – the Title Page
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In April, I’ll also be releasing the STEPFORD USA paperback!
Stepford USA front cover
Also coming soon: EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES: ORIGINS
Feng Shui, Fidel Castro & Fascinating Predictions! An Interview with Lada Ray! The title says it all! A truly awesome and off-beat author interview. I’m being interviewed by Rohan Healy of the Rohan7thingsblog! Read a fun chat about my writing style and what was it like to create THE EARTH SHIFTER and other books. In addition to feng shui, Western/Chinese Astrology predictions and my travel musings, this interview includes advice for new and aspiring authors, plus, Rohan has added some spectacular pics too! Check it out!
Interview with Author Lada Ray. A very cool and spunky conversation conducted by spiritual blogger, Maddy Walsh, in which we discuss my new metaphysical YA fantasy thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER, its many fascinating characters and the book’s Multiverse, the spiritual way of handling a conflict, the issue of bullying, whether Kristen Stuart would be right for the role of Sasha, would that Bond girl be a perfect “Red,” and what’s next in the series!
Today, I’m continuing my series on the Chinese New Year of the Snake celebration. As you start the new year, so shall it go. That’s why the Chinese pay so much attention to having a very prosperous and bountiful holiday table. The New Year is similarly celebrated in Russia and many other cultures around the globe, therefore, for me, a beautiful and prosperous holiday table is a norm, as I’d had enough experience as a child helping my mother prepare and decorate our Russian New Year spreads. This year, I started my Chinese New Year celebration in the Catskills, and then, continued it in New York City, including a visit to New York Chinatown and a Buddhist temple. The Chinatown posts are to follow, complete with lots of great pics and a fascinating and educational exchange I had with a Chinatown merchant. But today, I want to share my Chinese New Year prosperity celebration.
The table should be bountiful and include dishes like auspicious fish, rice, lots of colorful and healthy vegetables, fruits & cake, and some high quality tea!
The centerpiece on my table: auspicious pink salmon, a wonderful symbol of prosperity.
Salmon is garnished with green peas for health, growth and money, as well as colorful fresh red peppers for energy.
My two rice dishes: white jasmine and mahogany, both garnished with fresh veggies.
Mahogany vegetable rice, my favorite!Jasmine vegetable rice.
Cabbage and scallion salad (in a large bowl after grapefruit). Due to green color, many leaves or shoots, and excellent nutritional value, both cabbage and scallions are the beloved symbols of prosperity.
Finally, to satisfy my sweet tooth: tea and cake!
My very healthy cake, stuffed with high quality dry fruits and red walnuts and garnished with jumbo dates. It was very moist and delicious. Yum!
Jasmine Dragon Pearl green tea, brewed especially for the New Year of the Snake, in a Tetsubin Snake tea pot, and served in Japanese tea cups.
An appetizing platter of red walnuts, jumbo raisins, and roasted seeds & red peanuts, also symbolizing bounty and abundance.
And of course, chocolate raisins, so the year is extra-sweet & extra-smooth.
Prosperity is said to double, if the bounty on the table is reflected in a large mirror.
Persimmons – another welcome symbol of prosperity.
My persimmon branches decorated for the holiday with auspicious birds, Chinese coins and Laughing Buddha.
The name of the plant below says it all: this is the famous Chinese money tree!
And of course, no self-respecting Chinese would celebrate the New Year without oranges! A huge bowl of oranges and other fruit on my dining table. Oranges are the ultimate symbol of prosperity and abundance, but other fruits are great, too.
Let the feast begin! Happy Chinese New Year of the Snake!
This decade will continue seeing unprecedented interest in 
Jasmine vegetable rice.
My persimmon branches decorated for the holiday with auspicious birds, Chinese coins and Laughing Buddha.
