• Cosmic Sound
  • Interviews
  • About
    • Awards
  • Russia
    • Legendary Soviet Music Hits
    • Contemporary Russian Music
    • Russian Dance
    • Russian Resources and Articles
  • Animals & Mother Earth

Lada Ray Blog

Lada Ray Blog

Tag Archives: Accidental Spy Adventure Series

Princess Lila and I

09 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by Lada Ray in Author Feature, Earth/ Nature/ Animals, Lilechka, Love/ Kindness/ Inspiration, My Updates

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

#LightForPets, Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, animals, Author Lada Ray, books by Lada Ray, cat, divine cosmos, Earth, Enchanted Halloween, Gold Train, Halloween Cat, Lilechka, Lily Cat, mystery, nature, psychic, Stepford USA, Tiger Lily

LADA and LILY edited7

This and the following week’s posts are dedicated to my beloved friend and companion of almost 20 years, Princess Lila, known affectionately at home as Lilechka. Today, on August 9, 2015, Lilechka would have turned 21. She passed just a few months short of her 20th birthday, last year.

Lilechka looked young, was active and sharp till almost the very last week. I was stunned and completely unprepared to her passing, and it took me a long time to get over it. I didn’t see it coming – I didn’t want to see… Meanwhile, Lilechka made it as easy for me as possible on so many amazing and unbelievable levels! Throughout my life I have experienced so many of Princess Lila’s gifts, all unique and precious in their own way.

Lila cropped

Princess Lila (Lilechka) August 9, 1994 — April 29, 2014

But the biggest of them all was the gift she left when she knew she was about to leave us. The love and beauty she poured out those last weeks of her life were incredible. Her practically heroic behavior the last two days before her passing to make it easier for me, is something I will never forget. And the gift she left behind… is the stuff of legends.

It took me a long time to be able to sit down and start putting all this in writing, and it’s still hard. But deep down, I have been thinking about it since last year. The idea of the book was born almost immediately after she passed. I am starting to write this book, whose working title is Princess Lila’s Last Gift. I hope I will be able to release it next year.

Between this and the posts I plan to publish in the following weeks, I am offering you a glimpse of Lilechka’s story.

Princess Lila and I

When Lilechka was about 17, my hubby and I did a Psychic Q&A. This is a session in which I go into Alpha/Theta state and he asks me questions about the future. Psychic Q&A is my invention, and it capitalizes well on my gift of claircognizance, which means ‘clear knowing.’ Responses simply pop up in my head as knowledge. In some ways it’s clearer than clairvoyance, although it includes the elements of clairvoyance and clairaudience.

In that session one of the questions my hubby asked was whether Lilechka would be with us past her 20th birthday. Lilechka was still going strong at the time, but she was getting on with age and sometimes we both secretly wondered how long we had left with our beloved familiar. The three of us were so close that we sometimes jokingly referred to ourselves as the Holy Trinity.

Question: ‘Will Lilechka be with us past her 20th birthday?’

I heard my voice answering: ‘No, she will pass just short of her 20th.’

‘No?’ replied my hubby, taken aback.

‘No,’ I repeated sadly. ‘She won’t live past her 20th.’

This made us both sad and we wrapped up our Psychic Q&A. I thought a few times about that episode, but life went on, Lilechka kept healthy and strong, and with everything else that was happening in life, we forgot all about my prediction.

We only remembered it after Lilechka was no longer with us.

We had a good, long life together, Lilechka and I. We met well before I met my husband.

Lilechka is a Russian American kitty, born August 9, 1994; her striking tortoiseshell, lily flower-like fur caused her at birth to be named Tiger Lily. Her mommy, a Russian kitty called Diana, lived in Massachusetts and had a litter from the local tomcat. All kittens were adorable, but Lilechka was the cutest. Everyone who came to adopt the kittens wanted her. Soon, the hostess was forced to hang the sign:

Sorry!

Tiger Lily is spoken for

(she is a gift for a little girl’s birthday) 

Like myself, Lilechka was a traveler, adventurer and explorer. When she was only 3 months old, she was riding a bus. My neighbor, that same nine-year-old girl to whom Lily was promised as a birthday gift, was taking her home in a small holed box lined with a towel. In the middle of a 3-hour trip, Lily got out of the box and decided to explore the bus. When the tearful girl discovered Lily was gone, the whole bus frantically searched for her in every nook and cranny.

The girl’s parents were away and they asked me to meet their daughter and her nanny, who accompanied her on the trip. When I met them at the New York Bus Terminal, the little girl was still shaken and in tears, but Lily was safely back in her box.

Soon after, the family moved away and the little girl quickly forgot the kitty over whom she once cried. And the kitty… became one of the biggest gifts of my life.

It happens sometimes that certain people enter our lives to deliver precious gifts, and after they do, they leave forever. More than once such a thing happened in my life.

The original Tiger Lily name somehow fell by the wayside. I called her Lily Cat, or affectionately, Lilechka. Lilechka always was a small and dainty kitty. Till old age she always kept her model-like girlish figure and excellent health. She weighed on average only 8-9 pounds. But as she grew and developed, behind that small frame, I saw a great spirit emerge.

Lilechka helping me work

Lilechka’s favorite place: on my desk, helping me with my work!

Lilechka loves to sleep on my desk

Lila’s favorite place – mommy’s desk next to plants and sunshine; beloved pastime – meditating on her favorite pillow

Agatha Christie fan

Lila, the Agatha Christie fan: Having worked hard, we both relax to watch 4:50 from Paddington. Well… I watch, while Lilechka enjoys her well-deserved nap on her favorite pillow, on top of her favorite desk, close to her favorite human 😉

Lila, the Cosmic Panther

As Lilechka grew older and wiser, her spirit started manifesting as that of a giant Cosmic Black Panther – the great protectress of the Universe, who travels stealthily and benevolently across the stars. Lila, the Cosmic Panther has a beautiful sparkling crown made of stars, and huge, strikingly shimmering green eyes.

As I started clearly seeing Lily as the Cosmic Panther, her name naturally morphed into Princess Lila. Lila means Divine Cosmos (Divine Creation) in Sanscrit, so it’s very fitting.

After she passed, Lila started appearing to me as the Cosmic Panther that she really was. It’s amazing that such a small, 8-pound kitty could embody such great spirit and leave such an indelible trace in one’s life.

In memoriam: Celebrating her life!

in memoriam 1

4/30/2014, one day after Lilechka left us. My desk. Lights and computer off. Her favorite pillows where she loved to sleep; flowers and golden orgone pyramid in her honor…

in memoriam 2

4/30/2014. Flowers for Lilechka, overlooking the blossoming garden where she loved to be in the last days of her life

I wish I took more pictures and did more videos of Lilechka.

Still, she did star as the Halloween Cat, in my video

ENCHANTED HALLOWEEN, starring The Halloween Cat!

The video isn’t spooky at all. It’s humorous and funny. Check it out!

.

She also appeared in the role of a sassy, smart and heroic cat Princess Lily in my first mystery STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure) – ebook now happens to be on big sale on Amazon for only $1.49. It’s an easy read, great for cat and dog lovers, and lovers of light mysteries with happy endings and humor.

STEPFORD USA ebook NEW

Princess Lily later returned as a cameo character, psychically connected to the heroine Jade Snow, in GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure).GOLD GT COVER ebook

We had many adventures together, Lilechka and I. The story above is one of the stories I plan to include in my future book, Princess Lila’s Last Gift (I hope to finish and publish it next year).

Coming in September to Lada Ray Blog: the incredible story of Lilechka’s precious last gift.

#LightForPets #cat

~~~~

Much more about Animal & Mother Earth Protection

More posts about Lilechka:

  • It’s a beautiful thing… Adorably Unusual Animal Friendships and Animals as Protectors (uplifting pics and vids)

  • August 9, 2015: Beautiful Cornell Plantations (in memoriam)

  • Meet My Wonderful Lily Cat

~~~~~~

 Co-create your future with Lada Ray READINGS & CONSULTATIONS: 

Quantum Calibrations, Earth & Personal Shift, Predictions, Feng Shui

EARTH SHIFT REPORTS              BOOKS             

Follow:   Lada Ray Channel    FuturisTrendcast    Twitter @LadaTweets     G+
.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

And the Oscar For the Funniest Book Review Goes To…

09 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Green Desert, BOOK: Stepford USA, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, Writing and Publishing

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

#freebiefriday, Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, book reviews, Books by author Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, donating book profits, E-book, free ebook, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Green Desert (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel), Kindle, Kobo, no-kill animal shelter, Siberian Tiger rescue, Smashwords, Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure), The Earth Shifter

I recently received this 4 star review for GREEN DESERT (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel) on Barnes & Noble.

fernweh428 Posted September 28, 2013

I don’t quite know what to make of this book, and I mean that in the best sense. It captures my attention and I will re-read it soon.

This review made me giggle, but it certainly was a giggle meant in the best sense! 😉

I guess I should be flattered that Green Desert captured someone’s attention and made them think. This was my intention you know. So, a funny review – yes; but I’ll take it! Perhaps my ideas and thoughts will be mainstream one day. Like with the 100 Monkeys Theory, it takes only a small percentage of people to shift to a new way of thinking – and acting (!) – in order to create a massive paradigm shift for humanity. 

Till then, I’ll keep dreaming, writing and speaking out…

GREEN DESERT COVER ebookAs Jade Snow, the heroine of Accidental Spy Adventures, said in conclusion of Green Desert, “One day, desert will be a garden again…”

Our beautiful Earth is a garden, not a military battleground! This is the message of Green Desert, and of my other books.

From GREEN DESERT description on Amazon: “The Butterfly Effect with an unexpected twist, this short, but full of action and drama read explores how interconnected we really are in this world.” Ebook is currently available #FREE from Barnes & Noble #Nook, Amazon #Kindle, as well as from other retailers. See all buy links here!

All my books (both paperbacks and ebooks) can now be purchased from multiple sources, including Barnes&Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, Apple, etc. Profits from my book sales go to no-kill animal shelter in Upstate NY, USA: Tompkins County SPCA; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!

Click on book cover images for all buy links!

GOLD GT COVER ebook

STEPFORD USA ebook NEW

ES COVER ebook 2

CATHARSIS

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

The Earth Shifter Giveaway Results

27 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Green Desert, BOOK: Stepford USA, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon Kindle, Books by author Lada Ray, ebooks, Gold Train, Green Desert, Kindle formatting, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter, THe Earth Shifter mega-giveaway

We have winners!

Congrats to all who won and many thanks to all who participated in the giveaway! Archos Tablet Super Giveaway is still underway and a new awesome giveaway for my biggest supporters and reviewers is coming soon! Check my blog for more, updates coming very soon.

But back to our results! The Earth Shifter giveaway for Kindle or Smash ebook formatting / manuscript editing / 3 sets of Accidental Spy ebooks (Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert) has ended on 1/26/13.

EARTH SHIFTER MASTER

Winners:

Ebook formatting with my formatter, Mike of DWD http://dynamicwebdesign.net84.net/: 

Entry #125 Allen

Professional Editing  with my editor, Beth Lynne of BZ Hercules: 

Entry #49 Paul H.

3 sets of Accidental Spy ebooks (Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert):

Entry #24 Wil  

Entry #10 Mary E.

Entry #71 Sherry F.

See full results here: LadaRay.com/TheEarthShifterGiveaway

Congrats, winners!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Accidental Spy Mega-Giveaway Results: Congrats, Winners!

02 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Green Desert, BOOK: Stepford USA, Writing and Publishing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon Kindle, book giveaway, book giveaway winners, E-book, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, Green Desert, paperback, publishing, Rafflecopter, reading, Smashwords, Stepford USA, writing

GOLD TRAIN COVER BLOG 2012

Accidental Spy Mega-Giveaway is over and the winners have been chosen by Rafflecopter. They are:

Kelly Osgood – Premium ebook formatting for both Kindle and Smashwords by DWD!

Mary Ellis – Signed GOLD TRAIN paperback with personalized author message!

Anna Tan – Complete set of 3 Accidental Spy Ebooks!

Joleen Naylor – Writers’ Pack: Complete Handbook of Novel Writing + Guide to Queries, Pitches & Proposals!

See full results here!

CONGRATULATIONS, WINNERS!

Many thanks to all my fans and readers for their support!

All about the ACCIDENTAL SPY SERIES

Check out BOOKS by LADA RAY

Below: GOLD TRAIN, signed premium paperback edition, with personilized message by author – winner, Mary Ellis

GT COVER MASTER

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Award Party on Lada Ray Blog + Beautiful New Photos of Russia!

22 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Stepford USA, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, CULTURE: Russia, My Updates

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Author Lada Ray, Beautiful Blogger Award, Blog awards, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, Golden Ring of Russia, Kremlin, Moscow, nature photography, Palekh, photos of Russia, Reader Appreciation Award, Sergiev Posad, The Earth Shifter, World Heritage Site

Welcome to my Award Party! Celebrating two new awards!

Wow! I am very honored and touched to receive Reader Appreciation Award from a fabulous guy and fellow author, Jim L. Wright. Thank you very much, Jim!

Here is the link to Jim’s post about the award. http://jimlwright.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/301/

Please check out Jim’s blog, The Left Wright Brain – it’s really great!

The rules for this award are:

  • Post seven interesting things about yourself,
  • Nominate 5 people who in turn will post on their page the award with the link to the giver,
  • Let them know about the nomination
  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog
  • Post the award logo

I already mentioned various interesting things about myself in my “acceptance speeches” for previous awards. 😉

You are invited to check them out here:

1. Sunshine Award 

2. Versatile Blogger Award

3. One Lovely Blog Award

This time, I decided to do something a bit different, something I think my readers will enjoy. In keeping with the theme of this particular award, here are…

SEVEN THINGS I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO WRITE ABOUT!

1. Awesome adventures, mysteries and thrillers. My adventure/thriller series with a touch of romance and paranormal, Accidental Spy Adventures, is well underway. So far, I’ve released Green Desert (Prequel, short novella), STEPFORD USA (US Adventure, full size novel) and GOLD TRAIN (Russia Adventure, full size novel). Coming next year: DRAGON GATE (Asia Adventure).

2. Fantasy and scifi. On September 13 I released my first fantasy/scifi short entitled CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians (Earth Keepers Chronicles: Book 1). In December I’ll be releasing the highly anticipated THE EARTH SHIFTER, my new YA fantasy/thriller novel.

3. Wisdom and Spirituality

4. Futurism, or put another way, predictive analysis of future events

5. Nature and animals

6. Feng Shui, beauty, and Oriental art. (I regularly write about all of the above on my blog and I invite you to check out my posts!)

7. Last but not least! My travels and world cultures. In addition to writing about those, I love photography and try to post great pics of my favorite places to make it visual.

The new series of posts I am starting this fall is entitled “Beautiful Russia.” In this series I will be posting about various beautiful gems of Russian architecture, art, nature and culture. The first 2 posts will be about the Golden Ring of Russia, a ring of beautiful ancient towns north-east of Moscow. Most of these towns are at least 1000 years old and all of them are a feast for the senses, boasting beautiful art, architecture and nature. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites abound here. I will have tons of gorgeous pics soon, but for now, enjoy a sneak peek:

The ancient Kremlin, town of Suzdal, the Golden Ring of Russia

Suzdal monastery

The town of Sergiev Posad, the famous Sergiev Monastery, the Golden Ring of Russia

The town of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, the Golden Ring of Russia

The artisans of the Golden Ring produce exquisite traditional Russian art. The town of Palekh is where the famous Palekh boxes come from. Each tiny box is hand-painted in the secret Palekh technique of feather-light stroke and goes for hundreds and thousands of dollars. And the town of Sergiev Posad is the birth place of the famous Russian Matryoshka (above).

I love this award! Once more, many thanks to Jim L. Wright for nominating me for the Reader Appreciation Award!

In turn, here are five (+ one) of my favorite bloggers whom I want to nominate for this great award. I love reading their blogs and highly recommend them to my readers!

1. Russel Ray is a San Diego photographer and a very outspoken, fun blogger – I love this guy! (purely platonically, Russel ;)) http://russelrayphotos2.com/

2. M. G. Edwards blogs about his world travels – lots of great pics! http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/

3. Francis writes lovely poetry and does lovely photography http://niltsi.com/

4. Elisa Cashiola – blogs about feng shui http://elisacashiola.com/

5. Lesley Fletcher – lovely blog http://inspirationimport.wordpress.com/

6. Holly Michael blogs about Christian values, her world travels, writing and family http://writingstraight.com/. I know she has already received this award, but I love her blog and want to honor her here. Holly, let’s consider this an honorary award. 🙂

How awesome is that! Another beautiful award!

I received The Beautiful Blogger Award from a fellow Indie author and wonderful blogger, Cassandra Giovanni. http://cgiovanniwrites.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/holy-cannoli/ Thank you so much, Cassandra! It is a true honor!

Cassandra is the author of the novel, Walking in the Shadows, to be released on October 31, 2012. Check out her blog http://cgiovanniwrites.wordpress.com for more about her and her books!

These are the rules for accepting The Beautiful Blogger Award:

  1. Write a little something about the Beautiful Blogger who nominated you. See above and don’t forget to go and check her out too.
  2.  Share 7 things about yourself.
  3. Nominate for this award 7 worthy beautiful bloggers.

Here are the 7 things I’d like to share:

1. I love my collection of Oriental art.

2. …And my writing retreat in the Catskills, NY

3. In 2011 I published two novels and one short novella in the Accidental Spy Adventure Series: GOLD TRAIN (Russia Adventure), STEPFORD USA (US Adventure) and Green Desert (Iraq Prequel). DRAGON GATE (Accidental Spy Asia Adventure) coming in 2013!

4. I love designing my own book covers! I find it to be a very creative, uplifting and meditative experience. I always feel better having designed a new cover–the more beautiful the better!

5. GOLD TRAIN and STEPFORD USA just got a face lift, with new cool covers and updated blurbs. Check them out!

6.  I have just released my first fantasy/scifi short CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians (Earth Keepers Chronicles: Book 1), prequel to the upcoming fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER. If you haven’t yet, check it out! It’s only $.99 on Kindle and FREE for a limited time on Smashwords. You can also enter the Catharsis Contest.

7. In December, 2012 I will be releasing my new YA fantasy thriller novel, THE EARTH SHIFTER. Earth Keepers Chronicles (see above) serve as companion for the upcoming EARTH SHIFTER trilogy. Incidentally, CATHARSIS includes an exclusive sneak peek excerpt from THE EARTH SHIFTER (first 2 chapters). More about The Earth Shifter.

There are so many beautiful blogs and it’s so hard to choose just 7! These are the bloggers I’ve decided to nominate:

1. Rick Braveheart – beautiful American nature photography http://thegreatamericanlandscape.wordpress.com/

2. http://imaginecontinua.wordpress.com/ Historic photos of Romania and nature

3. http://astronomybythecosmos.com/ Awesome posts about Cosmos, astronomy and Outer Space – I just love it!

4. Carl Pettit, columnist, journalist, author http://carlpettit.wordpress.com/. Cool illustrations.

5. Ash, beautiful poetry http://momentsofclarityandotherthings.wordpress.com/

6. Lovely Christian blog, poetry, devotional and more http://watmattersmost.wordpress.com/

7. Fascinating photography by a Spanish artist http://manolirizofotografia.com/

Once more, many thanks to Cassandra Giovanni!

Congratulations, winners! Enjoy!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

This is Harvest time all over the world and the time of October Fest in Germany. As a total non-drinker, but lover of harvest and the idea of abundant October Fest,

I will host the INDIE BOOK REVIEW FEST on my blog on 10/2. It will include my recent reviews of various great books by fellow authors + the best and most recent reviews by readers of my own books! You are invited to stop by, and I promise a feast for the reader’s soul!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Celebrating 1 Year Anniversary: GOLD TRAIN and STEPFORD USA Got New Covers!

01 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Stepford USA, My Updates, Writing and Publishing

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon Kindle, Author Lada Ray, Book covers, cover design, ebook, Gold Train, Green Desert, Jade Snow, Kindle, paperback, Stepford USA

I am celebrating my first Anniversary of publishing with Amazon Kindle, and I have exciting news!

One year ago, on September 2, 2011 to be exact, I published STEPFORD USA, Book 1 of the Accidental Spy Adventure Series (formerly Jade Snow Adventure Series), on Amazon Kindle. Later the same month, I published Green Desert (Accidental Spy Prequel). On December 19, 2011 GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) came out.

To celebrate my first Anniversary on Kindle, I decided to give both GOLD TRAIN and STEPFORD USA a face lift. I’ve been wanting to change covers for quite some time as I believe that however nice the originals were, I could do better. So, I’ve been going back and forth with this idea for a while now and finally decided to take a plunge.

That said, I am very fond of the old covers and intend to keep them around as alternative covers. Gold Train paperback will still preserve its original cover till further notice.

Without further ado, presenting my new ebook covers:

GOLD TRAIN Cover 2012

STEPFORD USA Cover 2012

Check out the original 2011 covers here: Lada Ray Books

The new covers are live on Amazon Kindle on

Saturday, September 1, 2012!

Check them out!

GOLD TRAIN

STEPFORD USA

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sunshine Award & Awesome New Photos of Russia

20 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in CULTURE: Russia, My Updates

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Battleship Potemkin, Black Sea, Blogging, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, green tea, Lada Ray Blog, Lake Baikal, Moscow, Odessa, Russia, Siberia, Sunshine Blogger Award, Travel, World Heritage Site

Image

I received a Sunshine Blogger Award from author and inspiring blogger, Holly Michael. Thank you, thank you, Holly! It is a great honor and privilege!

Here is the link to Holly’s blog, Writing Straight: http://writingstraight.com/2012/08/13/award-time-yay/ Check it out, it’s awesome!

To accept this award, I am required to answer a series of questions and then pass the Sunshine Blogger Award to other deserving bloggers, link my nominees to this post and comment on their blog letting them know of their nomination. Below are my answers and the blogs I have nominated.

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Christmas in Connecticut. It’s fun and funny, has enough intrigue and romance, plus a rare innocence impossible to duplicate today.

2. What is your favorite flower?

Lotus. Check out my recent post: The Divine Lotus

3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage? Green Tea: Jasmine Pearl or Dragon Pearl (Chinese), as well as Sencha (Japanese). I like making tea in one of my traditional yixing teapots, which I collect, and drink it out of a delicate china cup, enjoying the aroma and taste. It’s a very meditative experience. Yum!

4. What is your passion? Imagining cool stories and making them come alive on paper or screen. I like to teach, inspire and open people’s eyes to the obvious and not so obvious through my writing.

5. What is your favorite time of year? Spring, because that’s when nature awakens to new life and because it’s my birthday time. And Fall, because of the beautiful colors and festive harvest.

6. What is your favorite time of day? Night time, when everything out there, in the big world, quiets down and I can sit down at my computer to think and write.

7. What is your favorite physical activity? Walking and hiking. They say, it’s a quintessential writer’s activity as creative juices flow best while walking. 😉

8. What is your favorite vacation? I’ve been to many countries and loved them all. I really miss Russia. I went back to Russia last year to reconnect and do research for my book, Gold Train, Accidental Spy Russia Adventure set in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

One of the golden-domed Kremlin cathedrals, Moscow, Russia (this is real gold, by the way).

I am planning trips to Odessa, on the Black Sea, and to Lake Baikal, Siberia, both to re-visit and do research for my upcoming books.

A beach in Odessa where I grew up. Odessa is a beautiful resort on the Black Sea. Along with several other exotic Black Sea locales, it will be the backdrop of one of the future Accidental Spy Adventures.

The famous Potemkin Steps in Odessa, connecting the historic center above with the seaport. The Potemkin Steps ensemble considered one-of-a-kind architectural phenomenon, was the site of the 1925 silent film, Battleship Potemkin (Russian: Броненосец «Потёмкин», Bronenosets Potyomkin), which has been called one of the most influential movies of all time, and was named “the greatest film of all time” in 1958.

Odessa’s spectacular Opera & Ballet House, located at – where else – 1 Chaikovsky Drive.

The famous grand stares inside Odessa Opera, considered by some architecturally the best Opera House in the world, along with Milan’s La Scala. And in case you were wondering, yes, it is real gold! The Odessa Opera, Potemkin Steps, the unique seaport, along with the entire stately center of Odessa together are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The oldest (25 mln years old), largest and deepest lake in the world, Baikal contains over 20% of the planet’s fresh water reserves, and according to locals, possesses mysterious healing powers. It will be featured in my upcoming YA fantasy/thriller, The Earth Shifter.

These are the bloggers I feel deserve the Sunshine Award because of their positive, inspiring and/or creative blogs.

1. Lori Lipsky http://poetrypatio.wordpress.com/. I love Lori’s poetry and her sunshine attitude!

2. Russel Ray http://russelrayphotos2.com/ Russel is a San Diego photographer with sharp wit and very cool cat, named Zoey. His posts are super-creative and very funny!

3. Francis http://niltsi.com/ Francis writes beautiful poetry and does wonderful photography. His dog, Pumpkin, is a cutie!

4. Maddy Walsh at 1 Earth Now Blog http://1earthnow.wordpress.com/ For selflessly and generously seeking out & reblogging today’s best and most inspired bloggers!

5. Maxima http://hillsofherchastity.wordpress.com/ For beautiful flowers and lovely sentiment!

6. The Blazing Trail http://theblazingtrail.wordpress.com/ For courageous and inspiring posts!

7. Ayanna Nahmias http://ayannanahmias.com/ For caring what happens in our world and speaking out for justice (even if I disagree with some of Ayanna’s views). I especially want to honor Ayanna for the heartbreaking post: Love, Compassion and Ugly http://ayannanahmias.com/2012/08/12/animal-rights-story/

Update: I have just added 3 more well-deserving blogs to my list of award recipients.

8. Benjamin http://prewitt1970.wordpress.com/,  who is fighting Parkinson’s desease, while producing some absolutely stunning art! I especially want to honor Benjamin for his amazing painting and post entitled Angels and Demons http://prewitt1970.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/angels-and-demons-2/

9. Sumithra Sriram http://hearingwiththeeye.wordpress.com/ for beautiful and wise nature photography!

10. Gertie http://fabricatedfables.wordpress.com/ Gertie is only 12, but she writes with maturity some adults could envy. Her stories are imaginative and evolved and I think she has great future as a writer! I especially liked her fantasy short story, Why Should I Save the Universe? http://fabricatedfables.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/stuff/ Keep writing, Gertie!

Congratulations to all winners!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Stepford USA

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Stepford USA

≈ Comments Off on Stepford USA

Tags

5 star thriller, Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, E-book, Jade Snow World Adventure Series, Kindle, murder, mystery thriller, psychological thriller, rape, small town mystery, Smashwords, Stepford Wives, United States

STEPFORD, USA
Sample prologue and chapters 1-4 below!
 

“I enjoyed reading this uplifting book by Ms Ray, filled with intrigue and irresistible characters.” From Amazon review by a reader.

“Very well written and gripping tale that will leave you guessing to the very end! Excellent storytelling!” From Amazon review by a reader.

A small town mystery with psychological twists. Alternative title: Virtual Paradise.

Stepford USA will dazzle you with an array of funny, outlandish and utterly realistic characters. Who committed rape and murder: a corrupt police chief, a crooked politician, a millionaire-nerd, or a womanizing banker? Ladies from the Stepford Knitting Club know it all, except that the town has been hijacked by criminals, posing as pillars of local community. That’s where Jade Snow comes in. A new breed of amateur sleuths and investigative journalist, she’s thoroughly at home in the brave, new, globalized world, but unprepared for one challenge – the dull existence in this sheltered American town. And that’s exactly where she ends up after getting married and pregnant. Aided by a super-intelligent calico cat and a psychoanalyst from New York, Jade’s on a mission to solve baffling mysteries and to turn upside down this sleepy paradise… if she can survive the attraction to an enigmatic convicted rapist, and the encounter with a desperate killer. Enough romance, psychology, mystical happenings, amazing pets, virtual reality and humor to delight fans of six different genres, Stepford, USA is a read to enjoy and remember!

Includes an excerpt from the gripping new thriller GOLD TRAIN, set in Russia. On digital shelves Holiday Season 2011! Paperback – April 2012!

Accidental Spy Adventure #1

Category: novel, mystery/thriller, cozy mystery with a twist, women sleuths, psychic, paranormal, pet lovers, psychological mystery

Word count: 69,000

(Includes an excerpt from the upcoming thriller GOLD TRAIN set in Russia!)

Watch Book Trailer!

Buy STEPFORD USA eBook:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon DE

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Read extensive excerpt (prologue & first 4 chapters) here!

Complete information at http://www.LadaRay.com

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

LADA RAY BOOKS

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

bio

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This blog and its content is Copyright of Lada Ray, Author. All rights reserved.

blog stats

  • 358,800 visits

Official Site

Book Author Site

Futurist Trendcast blog

Become Lada Ray Patron & Get Exclusive in-depth Content!

MDU Course 1 ​ HOW TO ADAPT & THRIVE DURING THE GREAT EARTH SHIFT​!

Explore FREE! Lada Ray’s Work

Recent Posts

  • ❗️✍️NEW TELEGRAM DESCRIPTION! “How to Stay Sane in this Insane World!”
  • 🍊🍈🥭⛩Bountiful THAILAND! Our Emil’s new papaya and guava farm!
  • FYI! “ SVB, Silvergate & USDC Collapse: CHANGE OF THE GLOBAL GUARD! Saturn In Aquarius Shakeup | NEW Shocking PREDICTIONS”
  • ❗️❗️⚡️FREE! “BETWEEN WORLDS! THE BALKAN POWDER KEG: Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia and the Secret Deal with Putin” – A very special double-feature by ESP with Lada Ray!
  • WHAT EXCITING free & exclusive CONTENT IS COMING YOUR WAY?!
  • READ COMPLETE REPOST! ☀️🔮What Is Yours By Destiny? Jaw-Dropping Accurate!
  • ☀️🔮What Is Yours By Destiny? Jaw-Dropping Accurate, I’m Floored!
  • ⏰REMINDER! 📚📖LESS THAN 2 DAYS LEFT FOR 50% LADA RAY BOOKS SALE! Lowest Prices Ever! Biggest sale of 2023! + 2 FREE!
  • 💐🌷HAPPY MARCH 8, THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2023!
  • FYI! CHERNOBYL 2.0 OR SABOTAGE? Chemical Spill & Other Strange Events in Ohio | The 3rd HARBINGER? | OUR ANTI-DIOXIN REMEDIES + QUANTUM CALIBTATIONS!
  • 📚📖 Newest release! EARTH SHIFTER 2 in 1 BUNDLE: The Earth Shifter + Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians — 50% OFF SALE!
  • ❗️FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! 📚📖Hurry to Get New Editions of GREEN DESERT and CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians FREE!

Consultations

Earth Shift Webinars

Quantum Reports, ESRs & other Programs

Today’s Top

  • THE EARTH SHIFTER Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
  • Beautiful Russian Compilation of Random Acts of Kindness that Won't Leave Anyone Untouched

Categories

Archives

Follow Lada Ray Channel!

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Top Rated

  • About
  • THE EARTH SHIFTER Launch & ARCHOS TABLET Super-Giveaway!
  • I'll be Donating Profits From My Book Sales to No-Kill Animal Shelter in USA and Siberian Tiger Rescue in Russia
  • What to Expect from the Chinese New Year of the Snake?
  • THE EARTH SHIFTER Epic Journey Begins!
  • How to Get Your Very Own Book Category on Amazon
  • THE EARTH SHIFTER Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
  • THE EARTH SHIFTER Release & Galactic Center Alignment on 12/21/12
  • THE EARTH SHIFTER and Blog of the Year 2012 Award
  • Happy New Year 2014 and How Russians Celebrate New Year

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 11,303 other subscribers

  • Follow Following
    • Lada Ray Blog
    • Join 715 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Lada Ray Blog
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: