2013: Year of the Thriller~ Dan Brown, Lada Ray, Joshua Lisec, and More!

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ebooks, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Inferno by Dan Brown, James Rollins, Joshua Lisec, Lada Ray, mystery, new release books, paperbakcs, Phoenix Reich, Ray House, The Earth Shifter, The Earth Shifter book launch, thriller, visionary fantasy thriller, Year of the Thriller

First a few important announcements:

1. Wow! Due to the veritable avalanche of super-exciting features, interviews and posts that are still waiting in line, I am happy to announce that I’m extending THE EARTH SHIFTER Virtual Tour into May. Still to come: Real Russia Video Journey 2: Spectacular Moscow, new dramatic video/audio excerpts, new reviews & features! And of course, don’t miss our Mega-giveaway grand finale on May 31! There’s still time to enter!

2. In the excitement of the launch, I somehow forgot to mention that I have started my own brand & publishing house dedicated to publishing and promoting literature with conscience, message and meaning. After a lot of deliberations, I’ve decided to call it RAY HOUSE. Going forward, all my books will carry the Ray House logo and designation.

3. YA Revolution is gaining momentum and I hope to have more activities going on soon. It is a grassroots movement, and all authors interested in literature with message & meaning are encouraged to join and network! Read more here.

And now, today’s feature:

Exciting and notable 2013 thriller releases for all ages! This is an article generously shared by author Joshua Lisec. Featured on his blog and syndicated to his publisher’s website, it includes the new releases by Dan Brown, Josh Lisec and yours truly. Article link

2013: Year of the Thriller ~ Dan Brown, Lada Ray, Joshua Lisec, and More!

Thriller readers of all ages and tastes have plenty to look forward to this year. Veteran blockbuster authors James Rollins and Dan Brown are cranking out guaranteed hits, and up-and-comer’s of the genre Lada Ray and Joshua Lisec are making a splash of their own.

Without further ado, here are the authors who are making 2013 the Year of the Thriller…

• The Blood Gospel
• James Rollins & Rebecca Cantrell
• William Morrow and Company
• January 8

2013 started off with a descent into an arcane underworld of ancient vampires with James Rollins’ and Rebecca Cantrell’s The Blood Gospel. The first of the their Order of the Sanguines series, The Blood Gospel treats readers to both the scientific breakthroughs and unveiled treasures that pepper Rollins’ SIGMA Force series as well as the gothic horror style of Cantrell.

Here’s the scoop on the novel from the official book trailer…

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity. Some books should never be found, never opened—until now.

Check out the authors websites: www.jamesrollins.com and www.rebeccacantrell.com. Get your copy of The Blood Gospel from Amazon.com today!

• The Phoenix Reich & The Compass
  
• Joshua Lisec
• DonnaInk Publications
• March 30

Spring ushers in the emergence of debut novelist Joshua Lisec’s first title in the Max Meyers Adventure series, The Phoenix Reich. A fast-paced thriller set against the backdrop of World War II mysteries and the reality of modern-day Nazi conspiracies, The Phoenix Reich introduces adventure hero-in-the-making Max Meyers.

Lisec is the Featured Author of publishing house DonnaInk Publications, a rising star in the 21^st century’s publishing industry. Here’s a taste of the novel for interested readers…

 Find the killer, restore your father’s legacy, save the world…all before finals week.

When underachieving college student Max Meyers learns that the death of his father, a popular United States Senator, has been prematurely ruled a suicide, he sets out on a mission to learn the truth—a mission that leads him to uncover an international conspiracy dating back to the final days of Nazi Germany.

You can download The Compass, a Short Story Prequel to The Phoenix Reich, for FREE just by e-mailing a request to thecompass@donnaink.org. To get your copy of The Phoenix Reich at an exclusive discounted price from the publisher, click here.

You can follow Joshua’s journey as a wunderkind of thrillers at www.joshualisec.wordpress.com,www.goodreads.com/JoshuaLisec, and www.twitter.com/JoshuaLisec. Feel free to check out the assortment of DonnaInk Publications’ other talented authors at http://www.donnaink.org.

• The Earth Shifter & Gold Train
• Lada Ray
• Ray House
• Apil 10

Lada Ray’s The Earth Shifter is a top-rated visionary fantasy/thriller set on Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia, in Moscow and New York. Immerse yourself in global conspiracy and remote viewing, visit fantastic realms of Heaven and Earth, rub shoulders with shamans, shifters, psychic spies and Russian oligarchs. Grab onto and hold close the endearing and spectacular characters, and root for Time and Mind Shifter, Sasha, in her quest to find her destiny!

From the true story of Grigory Rasputin and Tunguska Meteorite explosion to secret Russian and US psychic spy programs, The Earth Shifter is a fantasy cleverly intertwined with true history and modern world events. Don’t look for sword fights or deadly lightning bolts; the powers described here are much more subtle, and therefore, infinitely more Earth Shifting!

You can get a hold of The Earth Shifter from Amazon (Amazon US & UK) or Barnes & Noble, (B&N)!

Begin your love affair with Russia! Lada Ray’s second 2013 novel, Gold Train,  is a gripping mystery/thriller based on true historic events.

1918: Civil War in Russia. The entire gold reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. But what if it’s about to resurface? And what if it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power?

Today: Jade Snow, international journalist and sexy super-sleuth turned spy extraordinaire, travels to Russia to reconnect with her heritage and investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train. Instead, she lands in the middle of a deadly conspiracy threatening to change the fate of one of the world’s most powerful nations. Refusing to be a pawn in a struggle of forces beyond her control, she must choose between her worst friends and best enemies. She can trust only her exceptional wit, quick thinking, unwavering determination, and a generous dollop of psychic abilities to accomplish her impossible task and fulfill her destiny!

You can get a hold of Gold Train from Amazon (Amazon US & UK) or Barnes & Noble (B&N)!

Born in Russia, Lada Ray is a world traveler, linguist, financial consultant, Feng Shui Master, shaman, futurist, and metaphysics/spirituality researcher. Lada holds a Master’s Degree in comparative linguistics, is fluent in several languages and has traveled to over twenty six countries on most continents. She is the author of the Accidental Spy Adventure Series, including Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure), and Green Desert (Prequel). Lada has just released a visionary fantasy/thriller, The Earth Shifter. Coming soon: Earth Keepers Chronicles: Origins (Catharsis, Lemurian Crystal, Atlantis).

You can meet up with Lada on her official author site (LadaRay.com), her author blog (LadaRay.wordpress.com), her geopolitcs & predictions blog (futuristrendcast.wordpress.com), on Twitter (@LadaTweets), and on Goodreadsand Youtube.

• Inferno
• Dan Brown
• Transworld Publishers
• May 14

Four words. Dan Brown is back.

That says it all. Nearly three years after Dan Brown’s last novel, The Lost Symbol, the fourth adventure of symbologist Robert Langdon has arrived. The world’s greatest thriller author is taking readers back to Europe for an incredible mystery of Italian artwork, medieval puzzles, and ominous conspiracy, all based on Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. Check out the deets from www.danbrown.com…

In Inferno, we have the added excitement of following Robert Langdon back to the heart of Europe, where he becomes entwined in a mystery that has global ramifications…tied to the ominous and truly mesmerizing details of Dante’s masterful work.

You can pre-order a hardcover or eBook version of Dan Brown’s Inferno from Amazon.com here.

Related articles

• The Young Adult Revolution Is Here! Self-Publishing Just Found Its Conscience. (rohan7things.wordpress.com)

Interview with Author Lada Ray

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author interview, Author Lada Ray, bullying, fantasy, Literature, Red, Red's Underworld castle, Sasha, spirituality, Tengis, The Earth Shifter, The Earth Shifter Multiverse, thriller, visionary & metaphysical, Young adult fiction

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!

NaNoWriMo 2012 is here!

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Author Lada Ray, dystopian, metaphysical fantasy, NaNoWriMo 2012, National Novel Writing Month, The Earth Shifter, thriller, writing and publishing, writing at a coffee house, YA fantasy

Ah, it’s that time of the year again. My favorite season plus the mega-popular NaNoWriMo is here! Come November 1, 300,000 writers – seasoned, aspiring and anywhere in-between, will be pulling college-style all-nighters in order to accomplish the admirable goal of finishing that dream of a novel, or at least enough of it (namely, 50k words) to paste the coveted “NaNoWriMo 2012 Winner!” badge on their website, blog, or Facebook page.

This year, I decided to join, too. As many of you know, I am working on my big project: THE EARTH SHIFTER, new metaphysical YA fantasy/thriller – anticipated release: December, 2012. Full-size cover, blurb and more here.

LadaRay.com

I will not be using NaNoWriMo to write my novel from scratch, but rather to finish it, polish it up and make it as absorbing and delightful to read as possible. THE EARTH SHIFTER is substantially longer than 50k words, so I have my work cut out for me.

I went ahead and joined the Upstate New York chapter of NaNoWriMo. Writing is a lonely endeavor, therefore write-ins are a great way to break up the monotony and to meet fellow writers and kindred spirits (and potential readers, too). Write-ins can be done at participating library or book store, but for the real ambiance, a coffee house with wi-fi and all the writer’s best friends, namely coffee, tea and lots of chocolate, is highly preferred.

Image courtesy Latte Lounge, Oneonta, NY

I am looking for write-in buddies to meet at one of the following 2 places:

1. Latte Lounge, 196 Main St, Oneonta. http://www.the-latte-lounge.com/ If you are nearby and would like to join, I am planning on being there on Thursday, 11/1 3-7 pm. A couple of people expressed an interest in this write-in. We may make it a regular, if all goes well.

2. Daly’s Coffee Bar, 5410 Main St/Rt 23, Windham. http://dalyscoffeebar.com/ Time and date TBD. Possibly Saturday or Monday. One other person expressed an interest so far. Please let me know if you’d like to join our cozy gathering. Note, we may switch to Higher Grounds Coffee instead. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Higher-Grounds-Coffee-Co/302891989763169

If you live in Upstate New York and would like to join us, please let me know!

Cheers, and happy and productive NaNoWriMo 2012 to all!

NaNoWriMo website

Revealing THE EARTH SHIFTER: Upcoming YA Fantasy Thriller

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Author Lada Ray, Comet of Karma, dystopian, Earth Keepers Chronicles, ebook, fantasy/scifi, Lake Baikal, Moscow, New York, Siberia, spiritual/metaphysical, The Earth Shifter, thriller, writing and publishing, YA fiction

Cover Copyright Lada Ray 2012

A highly anticipated YA fantasy/thriller set in Moscow, Sacred Lake Baikal (Siberia), New York, Princeton, and mystical realms of Heaven & Earth. 

Category: novel, YA fantasy/scifi, thriller, dystopian, visionary/metaphysical

Anticipated release: mid-December 2012

BLURB

From the Earth Keepers Chronicles

Mankind would never know how close it came to annihilation on June 30, 1908. Somewhere in the murky depths of the Cosmos, a Comet of Karma is born. When all hope fades, it is sent to planet Earth, its sole mission to wipe out a failing civilization. It has happened before, and it can happen again. Except this time, the Earth Keepers would not interfere.

TODAY

The Comet of Karma tasked with destroying a failing civilization…

The Earth Keepers endowed with supreme powers over the planet and agonizing over the ultimate decision…

The Protectors risking their lives to keep the world intact…

A beautiful brunette with hidden agenda, who is infinitely more than anyone knows…

Two ambitious and unscrupulous men, who’ll stop at nothing…

Global secret society bent on usurping power on Earth…

A woman, ready to betray in order to save her son…

Old spy organization with a secret human weapon…

The Shifters, with power over mind, matter, time and space…

And three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become mankind’s salvation—the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY. They will open a new era for humanity, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late…

..THE EARTH SHIFTER page @ official author site: LadaRay.com. 

..You can now read the first 2 chapters of The Earth Shifter FREE!

Here’s how: CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians (prequel and companion to The Earth Shifter), includes it as a bonus. Ebook is available on:

Amazon US for only $.99; for £0.77 on Amazon UK; EUR 0,89 on Amazon DE and other European countries.

Finally, it is presently FREE on Smashwords!

(Coming to B&N, Sony, Kobo and Apple very soon)

To download, please click on links above.

Additional buy links : Lada Ray Book Store

Dear readers, thank you for stopping by and happy reading!

Please let me know what you think – comments and likes are always greatly appreciated!

Update: THE EARTH SHIFTER, New YA Fantasy/Thriller

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book, BOOK: Stepford USA, Catskill Mountains, EARTH SHIFTER, Gold Train, Green Desert, hiking, Moscow, my updates, mystery thriller, nature photography, New York, Rail Trail, Siberia, thriller, WordPress, writing, YA fantasy

The GOLD TRAIN blog tour, Stepford USA and Green Desert free promos, and life in general, have somewhat delayed the completion of THE EARTH SHIFTER, my new YA fantasy thriller. But I am getting back on track and have every intention of writing through the summer. THE EARTH SHIFTER release is scheduled for mid-September. So if I am MIA, you’ll know where to find me, namely, at my desk, typing away.

Note: This is only the preliminary cover

THE EARTH SHIFTER is set in Moscow, sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia, New York, China, as well as other mystical realms of this surreal Blue Planet. I will be posting updates of my progress, as well as the book’s synopsis and excerpts throughout the summer. To find out more about THE EARTH SHIFTER, please visit my author website http://www.LadaRay.com/the-earth-shifter.

I am also working on DRAGON GATE, the new Jade Snow Adventure set in Asia. It is currently set for release during the Holiday Season 2012.

The weather has been very nice, and I hope to also find the time to enjoy the great outdoors. We have pretty fabulous nature here, in the Catskill Mountains. I enjoy hiking on the local Rail Trail, a defunct rail road turned nature trail, looking for inspiration.

I’ve taken some fabulous photos, but since WordPress has been pretty uncooperative lately, it’s been difficult to post a lot of pics in one post, evidently, due to WordPress’ servers being overwhelmed. My husband’s verdict: they need more bandwidth. He should know, this is right up his alley. Perhaps, one day I’ll share as many great pics as possible. But today, here are just a few as a sampler. I think you are gonna love them!

Spring in the Catskills:

GREEN DESERT, A Jade Snow Novella, FREE on Amazon 5/24-5/28!

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Amazon Kindle, Amazon.com, Baghdad, ebook, humor, Iraq, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Jade Snow Novella, Lada Ray, mystery thriller, Russia, smart bomb, suicide bomber, thriller, United States, US Army, US Military

5/31 quick update: STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon & Goodreads reviews!

This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com

Read all about the FREE PROMO below:

Exciting news!

Memorial Day Promotion:

GREEN DESERT is FREE on Amazon Kindle 5/24-5/28. Download today!

Here are the links:

Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O0QJKQ

Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005O0QJKQ

Also FREE at Amazon: DE   FR   ES   IT 

Set in Iraq, this riveting short novella takes place prior to the start of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series.

 FIVE STARS:

“Riveting story with powerful message!” Meredith Carvin

FIVE STARS:

“This story will rock your world.”  Bill Tillman

International journalist Jade Snow travels to Iraq to shoot a documentary about the Iraqi insurgency. In Baghdad she, as usual, finds herself in the wrong place at just the right time. After witnessing a dramatic suicide bombing, and as two unlikely letters from the opposite sides of the conflict drop in her lap, Jade must trace the shocking connection between the suicide bomber, a young Iraqi girl and American sergeant killed in the attack.

A Jade Snow Prequel. Category: suspense, mystery/thriller

So far, GREEN DESERT has reached the following highest rankings on Kindle:

US: #1780 Free on Kindle; #26 in Mystery/thrillers/ women sleuths

UK: #760 Free on Kindle; #16 in Mystery/thrillers/ women sleuths

DE: #1283 on Kindle; #25 Krimis (Mystery); #31 Thriller

ES: #700 on Kindle; #9 Policiaca, negra y suspense (Mystery/thriller/suspense)

IT: #811 on Kindle; #11 Gialli e Thriller (Mystery & Thriller)

Also by Lada Ray:

GOLD TRAIN, rip roaring thrill-ride mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller (Jade Snow #1, US Adventure)
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the plot twists and character development.

For more about Lada Ray’s books visit LadaRay.com

RUSSIAN TREASURES

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action adventure, Bolshoi Theatre, Gold Reserve, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Moscow, mystery, romantic suspense, Russia, Russian culture, Russian Empire, Saint Petersburg, thriller

Welcome to today’s stop along the GOLD TRAIN BLOG TOUR - not your usual blog tour! Check out other awesome stops and giveaways here.

My new mystery thriller set in Russia, GOLD TRAIN, is about a missing treasure: the entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, which vanished during the 1918 Civil War. But it’s about to resurface… and it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power.

The exciting and rip-roaring race for gold is set against the magnificent backdrop of historic Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where our heroine, Jade Snow, travels to reconnect with the country of her ancestors and to investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train.

However, Jade gets much more than she bargained for, and amongst palaces and golden domes of Russia she finds not only the non-stop thrill ride, intrigue and deception, but also her fair share of the world’s most important treasures – not just the planet’s largest pile of gold and friendship, but also otherworldly love.

In this post I wanted to share the treasures of Russia, the country I love. Its riches are many. And I am not just talking about its gold reserve and Imperial jewels, although granted, these are quite impressive. Through its long and turbulent history the country produced lots of other equally magnificent treasures, be it in the area of art, science, literature, sport or architecture. I realize that today I can only scratch the surface of what is Russian culture and heritage. But even if I just succeed in giving you the flavor of Russia’s Treasures, I’ve already accomplished a lot.

Today, I’ll share a compilation of beautiful photos representing various facets of the Russian culture.

Without further ado,

RUSSIAN TREASURES

Enjoy the ride!

The Great Russian Imperial Crown

The Minor Russian Imperial Crown

The Russian Imperial Orb

Moscow: Bolshoi Theatre at night

Above and below: legendary Bolshoi Ballet

Monument to the Russian writer, Alexander Pushkin, Tverskaya Street, Moscow

Krasnaya Ploshad – Red Square  (In Russian “krasnaya” means both the color and “beautiful”)

Another view of Red Square

Manezhnaya Square, Moscow

Above and below: The golden domed Kremlin cathedrals

Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin Wall. In the pond are sculptures of characters from the Russian fairy tales

Russian Tsars’ crowns, hats and scepters. With precious jewels, gold and rare sobel furs. The Kremlin exhibit.

The Savior Cathedral, Moscow. Seat of the Russian Patriarch.

Above and below: Magnificent Novodevichy Convent, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Above and below: images of the sumptuous Moscow Metro

Above and below: Famous bronze sculptures, Moscow Metro

Above: Russian porcelain exhibit in Moscow Metro

Moscow University, main building. One of the famous Stalin’s Seven Sisters – seven buildings constructed at strategic points throughout the city, and forming a ring around the Kremlin

Winter Palace, former residence of the Russian Tsars. Now The Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg

The Throne Room, The Hermitage

Beautiful Saint Petersburg

Neva Embankment, Saint Petersburg

“The Bronze Horseman,” Monument to Peter the Great, founder of Saint Petersburg

Magnificent Gold Singing Fountains of Peterhof

Above and below: The newly restored Amber Room, Catherine Palace, located in the town of Pushkin, near Saint Petersburg. Considered by some the Eighth Wonder of the World. The original Amber Room was stolen by the Nazis and had never been found

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

In conclusion:

Enjoy the post I wrote for World Adventurers Blog by author M.G. Edwards with more beautiful photos of Moscow and Saint Petersburg! I am inviting you to explore it here as well! See original post here.

RUSSIA and I

Guest post by Lada Ray

The Ancient Greeks would have you believe that one cannot step into the same river twice. Me — I dedicated my whole life to proving this dusty philosophical maxim.

When I was leaving Russia — very reluctantly — in 1991, the country was still called the Soviet Union, and if anyone at that time told me that the USSR’s days were numbered, I would’ve laughed in his face.

Above: St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin. The entire Kremlin/Red Square complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Below: Victory Day Parade, May 9, Red Square.

By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union broke up, quietly and amicably. I watched in disbelief from afar as, for the second time in a single century, Russia went through a revolution; thankfully, this time peacefully.

Next time I visited Russia during the turbulent 1990s, it was a completely different country, where safety nets and societal structures so solidly built and proudly maintained during Soviet times crumbled and ceased to exist. The new world emerged in birthing pains, while those who couldn’t adjust were mercilessly swept along the wayside. Crime was rampant and fortunes were built overnight, many by openly illegal means. A new class of Russian oligarchs emerged, while the needs of simple people were neglected.

It was an eye-opening and very sad visit. The country I remembered, the country where I spent some of the happiest days of my life, and the one so many took for granted, was gone. And I was hardly the only one who felt this way.

Above: Novodevichy Convent, Moscow. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Although people in the West (due to biased media coverage and stereotypes they grew up with) would probably never understand this, many of us have fond memories growing up in the Soviet Union. Since the space in this post is limited, I won’t go into details (well, may be some other time). Suffice it to say that fond memories don’t happen out of the blue. They usually happen for a good reason, especially if such memories are shared by entire generations.

Food for thought…

But the situation in Russia started changing dramatically once Vladimir Putin came to power in the year 2000. The Russian economy, which was almost obliterated during the 1990s, came back strongly and has been growing by leaps and bounds for the past decade. The ongoing economic, financial, political, legal, military, police and social reforms completely changed Russia’s landscape.

Above: Fireworks on Red Square, Moscow.

A couple years back, I stumbled upon a documentary about the Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, which vanished during the 1918 Russian Civil War. I immediately knew it was my book to write. But it took me two years to actually sit down and put the story on paper. I started writing GOLD TRAIN in July 2011. By August, I had a desperate urge to go and visit Russia.

So off I went. I spent three glorious weeks in Russia, stepping again into a completely different country and proving once more that the Ancient Greeks knew their philosophy.

Russia has changed, but at the same time managed to preserve its heritage. The new and the old learned to co-exist and complemented each other. Starbucks and McDonalds, Gucci and Armani, Mercedes and BMWs shared streets with the long-standing Russian tradition.

The new Russia clearly emerged, molded out of past suffering and lessons learned. And although there is still plenty that needs to be done, one definitely gets the feeling that there is stability, that the country is on the right track and looking forward to its future.

I was so inspired by my trip that the story of GOLD TRAIN and Jade Snow’s Russian Adventure materialized on my computer as if by magic. I hope that I was able to convey in my book the complex feelings and impressions about Russia’s past, present…and future.

GOLD TRAIN was released as an eBook on December 19, 2011. The print version is scheduled for release on April 25, 2012. This year I will also release my new fantasy thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER, which takes place in Moscow and Siberia.

During my research trip, I concentrated on Russia’s two capitals, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, which are part of GOLD TRAIN‘s spectacular setting.

Below are some of the images and impressions from my trip.

Moscow:

Above: The Friendship Fountain at the All Russia Exhibit, Moscow. This is a huge and rather picturesque park with pavilions housing various exhibits, which I loved to visit as a child (during Soviet times called VDNKh).

Above: The famed Bolshoi Theatre just re-opened after a massive renovation.

Above: The iconic St. Basil’s Cathedral, one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Lenin’s Mausoleum (right) on Red Square — featured in GOLD TRAIN.

Above: Arbat, Moscow’s historic pedestrian artist district — featured in GOLD TRAIN (notice the Starbucks on the corner).

Above: Alexander Gardens, named after the Russian Emperor Alexander I.

Above: Dancing in Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin Wall.

Above: Art on display on Arbat.

Above: On Moscow Street.

Above: Modern Moscow echoing the look and feel of the Kremlin and historic Russian architecture.

Above: Moskva City (Moscow City) under construction.

Above: The giant main building of The Moscow University. One of the so-called Seven Sisters, seven similar buildings, form a ring around the Kremlin and were built during Stalin’s time. It will be featured in THE EARTH SHIFTER.

Above and below: Some of the stations of the spectacular Moscow Metro resembling underground palaces. The Moscow Metro is the second busiest in the world after Tokyo’s. And it carries 7-8 million passengers a day in grand style.

Below: One Moscow’s historic metro stations: Komsomolskaya Station.

Above: The Kremlin Guards.

Above: A golden-domed Kremlin cathedral.

Above: High-speed train Sapsan between Moscow and Saint Petersburg — featured in GOLD TRAIN.

Saint Petersburg:

Above: Bank Bridge, one of Saint Petersburg’s spectacular pedestrian bridges.

Above: The Hermitage and the Neva River — featured in GOLD TRAIN. The entire historic center of Saint Petersburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Above: The Hermitage, Grand Stairs.

Above: Peterhof, Peter the Great’s summer residence with its famous golden singing fountains. One of the most spectacular sights in Saint Petersburg, UNESCO World Heritage Site…and my personal favorite.

Above: Anichkov Bridge on Nevsky Prospekt with its famous horse tamers’ statues.

Above: Catherine Palace, summer residence of Catherine the Great — UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Above: The gorgeous Amber Room (Yantarnaya Komnata), Catherine Palace. Considered by some to be the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ it was stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Starting in the 1970s, it was painstakingly recreated from the original drawings and reopened to the public several years ago.

Above: One of the famous Imperial Faberge eggs at Catherine Palace.

Above: Monument to the Russian writer, Alexander Pushkin (little birdies like him).

Saint Pete Metro is the fifth busiest underground transportation system in the world, carrying 3.5 million passengers a day, and the world’s deepest. Above: one of the many palatial Saint Pete Metro stations, rivaling the beautiful Moscow Metro.

Above: Saint Pete Metro. Sportivnaya Station with its Ancient Greek Olympics theme — featured in GOLD TRAIN.

Above: Forward-looking Saint Petersburg. The new giant Gazprom Tower project, conceptual design.

For more about Moscow, Saint Petersburg and the beautiful Russian Metro, read my posts:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

Tsars, Oligarchs and Imperial Treasure: ST.PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

The World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

Born in Russia, Lada Ray is a writer, internationally certified feng shui master practitioner, world traveler, linguist, investor, nature/animal lover and spirituality and metaphysics researcher.

She is the author of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series, includingGOLD TRAIN, a mystery thriller, set in Russia and based on true historic events; Stepford USA, a psychological mystery thriller; Green Desert, a Jade Snow novella. The upcoming books include Dragon Gate, the next Jade Snow adventure, set in Asia, and The Earth Shifter, exciting YA fantasy thriller.

Visit Lada’s website: http://www.LadaRay.com

Bookstore: http://www.ladaray.com/book-store.html

Copyright 2012 Lada Ray. All rights reserved.

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

JADE SNOW: Savior or Seductress

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action adventure, Author Lada Ray, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, Jade Snow, Jason Bourne, Moscow, mystery, romance, Russia, Russian Empire, Saint Petersburg mystery, suspense, thriller, United States

GOLD TRAIN BLOG TOUR

SheNow.org BooksNow Featured Article:

Jade Snow: Savior or Seductress

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

Jade Snow is the protagonist of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series and of GOLD TRAIN, a gripping mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events.

At 30, Jade is a seasoned international journalist, who sacrificed her career for marriage and to raise her thirteen-month old daughter Lara. But this is all about to change as her life takes an unexpectedly dramatic turn.

When Jade learns about the old mystery surrounding the missing Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, she jumps at the chance to restart her journalistic career which ground to a screeching halt after she got pregnant. She also hopes to reconnect with the country of her ancestors. Barely 24 hours after her arrival to Moscow, Jade’s only Russian friend gets brutally murdered, while Jade finds herself embroiled in a web of lies, intrigue, glamour and alien ideals. As she lands in the midst of a conspiracy threatening to overthrow the Russian government, she must stay ahead of her adversaries, knowing that one mistake may cause a civil war and upset the delicate balance of power in the world. And along the way, she meets a mysterious stranger who will change her own world forever.

Several years back, when I was flying to Asia via Dubai, I met some international journalists returning from Afghanistan, who told me stories of their adventures. As I was boarding my plane, the image of Jade Snow, complete with her flaming hair and unusual blue-green eyes, appeared before me. It occurred to me that this young, smart, fearless and beautiful journalist, who had mastered to perfection the art of being in the wrong place at the right time, would make an amazing heroine for the international adventure series.

I soon started writing my first novel, STEPFORD, USA, prequel to the Jade Snow International Adventure Series. In it, Jade, 28, gets stuck in an idyllic town in the Berkshires, MA, where she is supposed to take it easy before the birth of her child. But this little sheltered paradise is hiding a terrible secret which Jade must uncover, risking her own and her unborn baby’s lives.

Next, I wrote a short novella, GREEN DESERT, describing Jade’s riveting experience in Iraq before the start of the series. And when I stumbled upon the story of the lost Russian Imperial gold, I knew – this was to be Jade’s next adventure!

Jade Snow could have any man for the asking. But she is not content with easy happiness she could have as wife and mom. The role of a little woman is not for her, and she must find adventure wherever she goes.

In each book of the series, Jade will encounter a mystery to solve, a devastating conspiracy to uncover and someone to save, be it a wrongfully convicted man, a small Asian village, or the world entire. And in each story, she is faced with excruciatingly dramatic choices about her own love and happiness.

I’d like to give a few examples of what various reviewers say about Jade in order to illustrate a certain controversial subject. And before you decide that it’s boring… Trust me, I am trying to make a point here, so just bear with me!

“Jade… is the real treat. She does not have super powers, nor even any formal training in the spy business, but she is daring, and clever, and her heart is always in the right place.”

“Jade Snow is to journalism, what Jason Bourne is to action and espionage. The author has managed to develop a character with a fascinating thoughtful purpose… [she] goes beyond the obvious and whisks us along into the heart-stopping world of Jade Snow with breath-taking appeal for the next paragraph and page.”

“I was love struck with the interaction between the characters, how well they work together, complimenting one another to solve the mystery. Jade Snow is a very intuitive, resourceful, quick thinking, witty heroine…”

“The protagonist, Jade Snow is a strong, independent journalist with international appeal. Her intuition, ability to reason and deductive prowess rivals the great Sherlock Holmes.”

The above are all examples of five star reviews, two from male and two from female reviewers. I’ve been blessed with a number of five star reviews, which all bring up excellent points and for which I am immensely grateful.

Another reviewer, who gives GOLD TRAIN four stars, says this:

“Jade is a bright likeable character. She is educated and good at connecting the dots. While she has no training as a detective, her inquisitive mind and investigative reporting skills find her entwined in the mystery. I loved Jade the detective, but struggled to like Jade the person. While on this adventure she strays and breaks her marriage vows. [!] Call me old fashioned, but this doesn’t sit well with me; even though the romance was passionate and Jade felt he was her soul mate. I realize this won’t affect everyone, so do not let this deter you from a great adventure.”

I thank this reviewer for her frank opinion and for a thorough, generally positive review. About Jade “straying, while in Russia.” I am old fashioned too, at least on this count, but my character doesn’t have to be. And I have just one question. What if she were a male? Do we still have double standards when it comes to these issues? If you read the book, dear reader, you’ll know exactly why I ask this question.

And then, there is this:

“I however, did not like the fact that Jade jumps into bed with Alexei immediately, without a second thought to the loving husband and her daughter waiting for her back home.” [?] This is from a three star review by a male reviewer from Mumbai, India.

Ha? Jade jumps into bed immediately? Of course, all her hesitations and feelings of guilt throughout the whole book don’t count, right? And I don’t know about you, but I don’t know too many people who would think about their children right before making passionate love. In fact, this is usually the last thing on someone’s mind in such circumstances.

“If Jade was a real person, I wouldn’t like her. I wouldn’t care what happened to her.” [!] This is from a three star review by Mark Lee, Masquerade Crew (Alabama, USA). This reviewer also confesses in his review that he’s never been outside of North America.

Hmmm… I don’t even know what to say here except this.

Imagine… Jade is freezing to death on a cold, wind swept night street in St. Petersburg, Russia with nowhere to go. Her only Russian friend has just been murdered. She also just found out that the only other two people she knows in Russia are not at all what they seem. She’s been betrayed by the very people she used to trust, people who want to use her as a pawn in their twisted high stakes games. And that’s when she gets rescued by a handsome stranger. She is offered lots of wine and vodka, which she gladly accepts, both to warm up and to numb her mind after the terrible shocks she’d experienced. And the stranger she is with is handsome and sexy beyond imagination. What follows is not a one-night stand, but a relationship literally made in heaven – the kind both men and women dream about their entire lives! Yet, it is a relationship that’s not meant to be, or at least the one that is not going to be easy.

I realize, it is very hard to imagine the freezing cold, drama and betrayal, all the loneliness and confusion of a woman alone in the unfamiliar country, if you are a male leisurely reading this book on a warm couch in Alabama, or in the tropical heat of Mumbai – but try! Make an effort! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see what I see.

So, who is Jade Snow? Is she a savior or seductress?

Jade is not your usual female character. She is strong, smart, quick thinking and witty, with broad international appeal. Fully at home in the brave, new globalized world, she is also human and there is a certain vulnerability about her, as she searches for her personal happiness. Blessed with exceptional good looks and plenty of sex appeal, she can sweep any man off his feet. But she is absolutely and brutally honest. “Crystally honest,” as they would say in Russia. Not just with the others, but also with herself, which is a much more difficult thing to do.

She would only be with the man who is her soul mate, even if it means breaking her marriage vows. She will never lie to herself, but she can sacrifice her own happiness, if to achieve it, she has to break other people’s hearts.

As they would say in the old country, “The girl likes her happiness the hard way.”

I have to confess: I adore Jade, not only as one of my characters – my creation – but also as a person. And I am very proud of how she acts in the most crucial moments of her life. Sometimes she even manages to surprise me – very pleasantly so. Her dramatic life has thrown her more than her share of loss and curveballs, and she’s been known to pass her heart-wrenching tests with flying colors, while at the same time managing to preserve her witty sense of humor. And because of her attitudes and lessons learned, somewhere along the way, she finds the rainbow… when she least expects it.

I can’t emphasize enough how much our contemporary literature needs the smart and strong female characters and role models who are also real, genuine people. And how much we need more people with intelligence, courage and heart in our everyday lives! In the new world of the 21 century, we have to learn to live and work together, regardless of prejudices and borders, to understand each other and help those in need, whether it is by saving a stranger’s life, averting global disaster, or by a simple act of random kindness.

The next Jade Snow adventure will take place in Asia. There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover, and yes, happiness to find!

Dear readers, see you on pages of my books, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrilling ride with heart!

What do you think? 

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

GOLD TRAIN stats and useful info:

Genre: Spy thriller, historic mystery, action, adventure, suspense with an element of otherworldly romance.

Pages: 230  Print size: 9×6 in.

Release: eBook – 12/18/11. Paperback – 4/25/12

 

PROMOTIONS

All Lada Ray’s books will be on sale on Amazon for a very limited time!

Gold Train Ebook: $0.99

Stepford USA Ebook: $0.99

Green Desert Ebook: $0.99

GOLD TRAIN Paperback is coming to Amazon on 4/25/12!

Early purchase price: $9.99 (reg.$14.95) Stay tuned!

GOLD TRAIN Giveaway on Lada Ray Blog 4/25 – 5/6: Giving away 1 author signed paperback and 3 ebooks! 

More information about these Promotions, as well as Giveaways and the Gold Train Blog Tour: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

Check out other cool stops along the Gold Train Paperback Launch Blog Tour – not your usual tour! It includes lots of interesting interviews, reviews, and special features, including: Fact and Fiction in Gold Train; Russia and I; as well as a rare, candid conversation with Jason Sullivan of Different Outcomes Blog about the Russian royalty and 1918 Civil War, Soviet and Russian literature and film, my childhood memories riding Russian trains, May Day celebration in the USSR, and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union. There will also be some rare and exclusive pictures. Don’t miss these very special events!

 

WHERE TO BUY GOLD TRAIN:

Amazon US  (Paperback and eBook)

Amazon UK   DE   FR   ES   IT  (Paperback and eBook)

Barnes & Noble  (eBook)

Smashwords   (eBook)

Kobo  (eBook)

Sony  (eBook)

USEFUL LINKS:

Blog Tour and Giveaway info: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

All about Gold Train and other books: http://www.ladaray.com/

GOLD TRAIN Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTek8E23rg

Blog: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @LadaTweets

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LadaRay

YouTube: Lada Ray Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay/videos

Facebook @ Lada Ray

I am inviting you to check out the entertaining posts with lots of great pics about Jade Snow and Gold Train on Lada Ray Blog:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

GOLD TRAIN: the World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series

GOLD TRAIN: Who is this mysterious Alexei?

Tsars, Oligarchs and Imperial Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia

BIO:

I’ve loved all the varied and exotic things I’ve done in life, but writing is by far my biggest love affair and most exciting adventure. Can’t wait to share it… See you on pages of my books!

Lada Ray is a writer, internationally certified feng shui master practitioner, world traveler, linguist, financial consultant & investor, nature/animal lover and spirituality & metaphysics researcher.

Born in Russia, Lada always wanted to write cool stories, which she’d been imagining in her head ever since she can remember. Instead, she listened to her well-meaning parents and started her life in a more traditional way (for her, that is.)

Lada holds a Master’s Degree in comparative linguistics (graduated summa cum laude,) is fluent in several languages and has traveled to over twenty six countries (she stopped counting after 26) in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as Africa. She had worked in Havana, Cuba as an interpreter for the Russian educational exchange delegations, including a couple of interviews with the man himself – Fidel Castro.

In the USA, she published articles in the Hartford Courant & taught Russian on cable TV. Then, something inexplicable possessed her to work as a financial consultant for AIG and Smith Barney/Citigroup.

But later, she came back to her senses and quit the corporate world to pursue her dreams. She traveled to Asia to study with the revered Hong Kong Masters of Feng Shui and obtained her International Master’s Certification (graduated first in class) with Lillian Too, world-renowned feng shui author and teacher. For years, Lada operated an extensive feng shui website and blog – a hit with both local and worldwide fans – and authored over thirty articles on feng shui and spirituality for her own website, as well as for the World of Feng Shui and other international publications. At the same time, she taught her proprietary feng shui courses and did public speaking.

Lada imagines her stories in bustling New York City and beautifully serene Catskill Mountains, where she lives with her family and gorgeous calico cat Lily.

Lada Ray is the author of:

~GOLD TRAIN, gripping mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow Russia Adventure)

~STEPFORD USA, a small town psychological mystery/thriller (Jade Snow Prequel)

~Green Desert, a riveting story set in Iraq (A Jade Snow Novella)

Coming in 2012:

~The Earth Shifter, new YA fantasy/thriller, set in Russia (Moscow & Siberia,) US, China and other mythical locales of this surreal Blue Planet

~Dragon Gate, next Jade Snow Adventure, set in Asia

GOLD TRAIN BLOG TOUR Starts Today!

Tags

action adventure, blog tour, book giveaway, E-book, Gold Train, Jade Snow, Moscow, mystery, paperback, romance, Russia, Russian Civil War, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union, spy thriller, thriller

GOLD TRAIN Paperback Launch Blog Tour starts today

NOT YOUR USUAL BLOG TOUR!

It is jampacked with cool and one-of-a-kind events! Don’t miss them!

GOLD TRAIN Giveaway on Lada Ray Blog 4/25 – 5/6: Giving away 1 author signed paperback and 3 ebooks! 

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

April 25 (Wd)  SheNow.org BooksNow Feature Article: JADE SNOW: SAVIOR OR SEDUCTRESS   

April 25 (Wd)  The Plot Thickens - Author interview: We discuss Gold Train’s plot

April 26 (Th)   City Girl Who Loves to Read - Author interview: We discuss Gold Train’s magical setting

April 27 (Fr)    The Manicheans - Author Interview – review to follow

April 28 (Sat)   Kate’s Reads Blog - Author Interview and Five Star review

April 29 (Sun)  My Love of Reading Blog - Author Interview and Five Star review (includes book giveaway: 2 Gold Train ebooks – for terms see My Love of Reading Blog)

April 30 (Mon)  Lada Ray Blog - Feature article: RUSSIAN TREASURES. Includes gorgeous videos and beautiful & rare photos of Moscow and Saint Petersburg! 

May 01 (Tu)    Different Outcomes - Author Jason Sullivan of Different Outcomes Blog and I are preparing a rare and candid interview. In it we’ll discuss the Russian Civil War; history and current state of the Russian royalty; Soviet and Russian literature and film; May Day celebration in the USSR; and the unique character of Jade Snow. In addition, we’ll talk about my childhood experiences riding Russian trains and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union. I will include some rare and exclusive photos. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event! Five Star review included.

May 03 (Th)    Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer - Interview and review (includes book giveaway: 1 author signed paperback copy and 1 ebook – for terms see Kimba the Caffeinated Blog)

May 04 (Fr)    Lada Ray Blog - the Best of GOLD TRAIN reviews and interviews

May 6 (Sun)   Lada Ray Blog - Feature Article: Fact and Fiction in GOLD TRAIN. Includes lots of cool and rare pics!

All Lada Ray’s books will be on sale on Amazon for a very limited time!

Gold Train Ebook: $0.99

Stepford USA Ebook: $0.99

Green Desert Ebook: $0.99

GOLD TRAIN Paperback is coming to Amazon today!

Early purchase price: $9.99 (reg.$14.95) Stay tuned!

Don’t miss these very special interviews, reviews, feature articles, giveaways and promotions!

For more visit: http://LadaRay.wordpress.com/blog-tours

Related articles

• My Updates: New Gold Train Description and Paperback Launch (ladaray.wordpress.com)
• New GOLD TRAIN Paperback Cover and Other Updates (ladaray.wordpress.com)
• Announcing: GOLD TRAIN, Exciting Second Edition (ladaray.wordpress.com)
• Featured in GOLD TRAIN: High-Speed Sapsan and Other Russian Trains (ladaray.wordpress.com)
• GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro (ladaray.wordpress.com)

New GOLD TRAIN Paperback Cover and Other Updates

Tags

action adventure, Asia, blog tour, E-book, Gold Train, historic mystery, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Jade Snow Russia Adventure, List of Russian rulers, May Day, paperback, Russia, Russian Civil War, Soviet Union, thriller

Hello, dear friends!

As promised, below is a preview of the new GOLD TRAIN paperback cover. The front cover is slightly modified compared to the ebook version.

Paperback Cover Spread:

Front cover:

Spine:

Back Cover:

This is a large paperback – 9X6 inches, 232 pages, printed on quality cream paper. Nice, large text, easy to read. This edition includes a sneak peek synopsis and exclusive excerpt from DRAGON GATE, the next Jade Snow Adventure set in Asia.

During the paperback launch and Gold Train Blog Tour all my books will be on sale.

For a limited time, paperback will be $9.99 on Amazon (4/23-5/6). 

Gold Train ebook will also be on sale on Amazon for $0.99. Stepford, USA ebook will be $0.99 as well. Green Desert will be FREE. Own all 3 Jade Snow Adventures for only $1.98!

During the blog tour we are also planning 3 exciting  giveaways of both Gold Train paperback and ebook editions. In total, 8 copies will be given away.

Don’t forget to check out the exciting blog stops and features of this unusual blog tour, including: JADE SNOW: SAVIOR OR SEDUCTRESS; FACT AND FICTION IN GOLD TRAIN; and exclusive discussion with Jason Sullivan of DIFFERENT OUTCOMES about  the implications of the Russian Civil War, what happened to the Russian royalty, how May 1 (May Day) was celebrated in the USSR, and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union (with rare photos).

Check out all up-to-date info about the GOLD TRAIN launch, blog tour, promos and giveaways here: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/