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Tag Archives: Gold Train by author Lada Ray

Boston Bombing: GOLD TRAIN Deja Vu?

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, Geopolitics/ Economics

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Al-Qaeda, books by Lada Ray, Boston Marathon Bombing, Chechen terrorists, Chechnya, Dagestan, Doku Umarov, false flag operation, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Gold Train by author Lada Ray, mystery thriller based on true historic events, North Caucasus, Russia, USA

This post has been reblogged in its entirety from Futurist Trendcast Blog!

Remember how a few months ago a meteor exploded above Chelyabinsk in the Ural Mountains, Russia? It happened shortly after the release of my visionary fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER, and much like it was described in the book. Many readers had dubbed the book prophetic. Read more about THE EARTH SHIFTER.

Check out the post and eyewitness videos: The Earth Shifter Plot Playing out in Real Time: Massive Meteor Rocks Russia

I feel a similar sense of Deja Vu with the recent Boston Marathon bombing.

GOLD GT COVER ebook

 

Continue reading →

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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

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Predictions 2012 Update: US Presidential Elections

29 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in CULTURE: USA, Geopolitics/ Economics, PREDICTIONS: 2012 & Beyond

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Angela Merkel, Assad of Syria, Barack Obama, Confusion and Contested votes during US elections 2012, Contested US Elections 2000, Eurozone, France, George W. Bush, German Elections 2013, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, Green Party USA, Hurricane Sandy aftermath, International relations, Libertarian Party USA, Mercury Retrograde, Middle East, Mitt Romney, Occupy Wall Street, Russia, Sarkozy, Third parties in the USA, US Economy, US Presidential Elections 2012, USA, Vladimir Putin, World Trends Predictions by Lada Ray, Year 2012 Predictions

US Presidential Elections are on November 6, 2012. On January 11, I posted my original predictions for 2012, including the so-called Year of Elections, namely my predictions for USA, Russia, and France.

Here’s what I said regarding US Presidential Elections: 

“Republicans will pick Romney, who is perceived as the man of the middle, and therefore, appears a safe bet. And Romney will NOT beat Obama. In short, USA will remain sharply divided along partisan lines. Obama will narrowly win another 4-year term.

Meanwhile, various protests will continue and intensify. Emergence of a third party is very possible, fueled with disillusionment with the establishment and election results.”

Read my original Year 2012 Predictions

As usual, I want to remind everyone that I am a ‘political atheist’ and do not participate in any political party. My predictions and analysis are based on logic, facts, intuition, my knowledge of world cultures and geopolitical trends, long-time experience as financial consultant and investor, and Chinese Theory of Long Cycles.

More about me in ‘About.’

So far: Russia and France voted exactly as I originally predicted on 1/11/12, GOP nominated Romney, and there are clearly 3rd parties emerging in the USA. Two Third Party Presidential debates are being hosted by Larry King and aired by RT America. First debate took place several days ago between 4 alternative party candidates, incl., Green, Constitutional and Libertarian, and is available on Youtube; second debate on foreign policy will air and be posted on Youtube on 10/30. Very educational, by the way, and a great illustration of what’s going on beyond mainstream media. I urge everyone to watch! Check back in a day or two, I might most the Youtube links to both right here, or go to Youtube and do a search. If your cable carries RT America or RT, you can see it on TV.

Watch: First Third Party Presidential Debate 

Upcoming US Presidential Elections: no change from the original 1/11/12 prediction! Obama wins narrowly, with less than 5%, possibly, less than 3% advantage.

It is interesting to note that, while in the USA the vote will be very close, abroad it’s not even a contest between the two candidates. Based on polls from over 20 countries, Romney gets more support only in Pakistan, which is attributed to the Pakistanis’ irritation with deadly drone strikes, not so much to their preference of a specific candidate. Most countries have Romney in single digits, with Western Europe, especially France, favoring Obama by the widest margin.

My prediction: while Obama is far from ideal, no world leader (except, perhaps Israel’s Netanyahu) wants Romney as US President, in fact he scares everyone with his bellicose posturing. Foreign perception is that his rhetoric, lack of reason and restraint (as well as lack of understanding and knowledge of international affairs) would make his presidency into Bush 2.0. By the way, this is also the perception of much of the international investment community – and international investment community is seldom wrong.

It is naive to think that American elections happen in a vacuum. In our globalized and interconnected world, it should not be underestimated how much influence other countries and global community hold over any country’s policy and elections. In fact, I noticed that global opinion (don’t confuse that with the US media propaganda) is the most accurate barometer of presidential election results in any country. For example, international community at large (excluding USA and UK) wanted Russia’s Putin to win (of course, there really was no contest anyway). In France, both the country’s and international perception were against Sarkozy, and sure enough – he lost.

Other interesting cases include Italy’s Berlusconi resignation from his post as Prime Minister (in part due to international pressure), and Hugo Chavez winning recent Venezuelan elections despite his cancer, absence from the political scene, and despite having to compete against a young, strong and very charismatic right-wing candidate. Chavez managed to generate a very broad international support – that’s the secret of his success! Assad of Syria is another prominent example of foreign influence. By the way, I received questions from my readers regarding the future of Assad, as well as the situation in the Middle East at large and I intend to cover it soon in one of the future articles.

P.S. For those who pay attention to astrology: From the astrological perspective, US Elections 2012 are taking place during the start of Mercury Retrograde, infamous among astrologers for introducing confusion, delays and misunderstandings, as well as mistakes in documents and broken machinery/electronics. A friend-astrologer of mine who read my article, just reminded me that the last time the US Elections happened during Mercury Retrograde, in 2000, the confusion resulted in the Supreme Court choosing the winner, George Bush, with controversy continuing to this day. US Presidential Elections on November 6, 2012, may be just as confusing and messy (if not more so), with possible mistakes, lost or contested results. Double check everything while voting.

11/1 Update. This is from my comment (to read more click on ‘comments’):

“To our discussion about the Hurricane Sandy factor: I believe the hurricane will ultimately help Obama, like 9/11 helped Bush. The nation tends to rally behind the President in times of disaster, and the opposing party has no choice but to mute its rhetoric, because the alternative might backfire on that party. I know, this is pretty awful that we need a disaster to feel more united, but here it is.”

Update 11/2: Hurricane Sandy will also temporarily stimulate the economy and the stock market, once more postponing the inevitable recession/depression. Much will have to be rebuilt, and the government will again turn on its virtual printing presses, happily throwing money they don’t have left and right. But the key word here is “temporarily.” No nation in the history of the world could run on debt indefinitely, without having to eventually face the gruesome reality. USA is no exception.

Read my other articles/predictions regarding the elections in Russia, France and USA.

1. Russia Votes: Crash Course in Russian Politics

2. 2012 Predictions Update: Russian Elections

3. 2012 Predictions Update: French Elections and Eurozone

4. 2012 Predictions. Year of Elections: Russia, France – USA next!

I will be posting a follow up after the US elections, including my new predictions regarding the very important for the Eurozone, German Chancellor Elections 2013, and Angela Merkel‘s chances to be re-elected.

Many have asked me to expand my predictions and talk about the future of financial markets, economic outlook for various countries and continents, as well as the future of world peace. I will try to post more of my predictions going forward. Stay tuned!

Copyright 2012, Lada Ray

Check out GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), rip-roaring thrill ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg, based on true historic events: mystery, thriller, magic, hot romance, and continuing international adventure!

FIVE STARS

“Highly anticipated follow up adventure by novelist Lada Ray, Gold Train certainly delivers with dramatic thrills and spills. The action follows journalist Jade Snow as the sexy super sleuth goes international. Truth, justice and the American way… superman can take lessons from this reporter! Easily 5 stars all the way, highly recommend for all you politicos out there.” — Jasper Snieder

Paperback

Ebook

Paperback/ebook available in the USA and internationally!

All buy links: Book Store

More about Gold Train: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For blurbs/excerpts/trailers – GOLD TRAIN and other books: LadaRay.com

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Indie Book Review Fest

01 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Stepford USA, Guest Posts, Reviews

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

5 star books, Author Lada Ray, awesome reads, book reviews, books kindle, Catharsis, ebooks, fantasy scifi, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, indie authors, Kindle, Legend of the Lemurians, mystery thriller, Smashwords, Stepford USA

Welcome to the Indie Book Review Fest! Included are my September reviews of 4 great books by fellow authors, as well as the most recent and best reviews of my own books. I promise a feast for the reader’s soul with a variety of genres, including adventure, mystery/thriller, fantasy/scifi, metaphysical/spiritual, paranormal and non-fiction/history.

Without further ado…

RAHALA: An Ascension Odyssey by Jason Sullivan

Category: fantasy/scifi, dystopian, spiritual/metaphysical

FREE at this time on Smashwords!

Cover for 'Rahala: An Ascension Odyssey' Review by: Lada Ray on Sep. 16, 2012 : star star star star star
Fascinating, Visionary and Creative – Highly Recommended!

While visiting the ancient rocks in northern Arizona, friends Marcia, Steve and Harvey encounter a striking inter-dimensional phenomenon, and meet a friendly alien who shows them the future destruction of the Earth by vicious extraterrestrials called Perathons.

What ensues is a highly imaginative, philosophical and visionary story of a quest by three very different humans to save the planet. Although the book features various aliens, it is as much about saving the planet from them, as it is about saving it from ourselves, particularly from those humans who succumb to greed, aggression and other vices. It is also about saving OURSELVES, our souls, our hearts, all that is pure and good; it is about remembering who we are and what’s important.

The imagery is both profound and creative. The author takes his protagonists back in time: to ancient France and medieval Ireland, where the reader is asked to reconnect with the pure nature of our planet, and to the dismal distant future, where we see what would become of us and the Earth, if heroic action is not taken to prevent this time-line from becoming a gruesome reality.

I loved the spiritual/metaphysical element in the story, reminiscent of the Earth’s wisdom from the Native American and ancient European traditions, as well as what we call today the “New Thought.” At times, Rahala also reminded me of the famous book, The Celestine Prophecy.

Jason Sullivan’s book packs a lot of information in a relatively short space. It is easy and pleasant to read, includes some humor, yet it gets you thinking about the important truths we often forget or brush aside. I highly recommend this enjoyable, imaginative and spiritual read to anyone!

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CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians (Earth Keepers Chronicles: Book 1) by Lada Ray

Category: fantasy/scifi, YA, dystopian, spiritual/metaphysical 

Available on Amazon US  UK  and other countries

Smashwords – FREE!

Coming to B&N, Kobo, Sony, Apple any day now!

Catharsis can also be purchased at Lada Ray Book Store (PDF)

Catharsis was released on September 13, 2012. I intend to keep it free for the time being on Smashwords, and possibly on B&N, Kobo, Sony and Apple. It is only $.99 on Kindle. Below are excerpts from the best reviews it received so far.

Review by: Mary Ellis on Sep. 30, 2012 : star star star star star
CATHARSIS immediately drew me in!
I’ve just finished a really intriguing short story written by Lada Ray: Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians, is Book 1 of the new Earth Keepers Series. It is a metaphysical/dystopian short, which is also the companion and prequel to the upcoming YA fantasy/thriller novel, THE EARTH SHIFTER.

Catharsis is only 11K words, or about 30 pages in length, but it delivers quite an impact. The characters, back story, setting—all work together to create the aura of fairytale magic, along with important lessons to be learned. I found myself rooting for the Uglies, especially the protagonist Morf, as they try to save the planet, and as they have to make the hardest choice of their uneasy lives.

This first book of a very promising new series, is a relatively quick and easy read. Heart warming message about remembrance, and what it means to be a genuine human being. In these times, when we focus on all the bad news around us, it’s easy to forget this precious lesson. A truly great and inspiring read, recommended for all age groups but especially for young people… it will give them hope and a brighter outlook for the future! Highly recommend, I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, which will feature the Lemurians’ and Atlanteans’ life on Earth. 5 Stars for this elegant work.

Review by: Inspirational Fiction/IF Mystery Sep. 30, 2012 : star star star star
Great writing, plotting and pacing but the short story just ended, leaving me scratching my head. A great morality lesson for young adults, especially in this age of bullies, still I wish the author had fleshed out the events on Earth.

Lada says: This is a series of shorts, therefore, the events on Earth for both the Lemurians and Atlanteans are coming up in the next 3 books – to be released in the first part of 2013. Stay tuned!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This prequel will appeal to lovers of Star Trek, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Star Wars, all rolled into an exciting new series September 19, 2012
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Review by: J.J.Collins  Format: Kindle Edition
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I read all the author’s previous books and loved them all. “Catharsis – Legend of the Lemurians”, the author’s first book of the Earth Keepers Chronicles. The author has an exceptional talent to blend amazing creative writing, brilliant imagination and current topical issues in her writing. Catharsis has everything, science, astrology, mythology, biblical prophecy, and current affairs, all intertwined in a magical tour de force. You can tell the author puts a little bit of her soul into everything she writes, this pays off exceptionally well, as the reader will always find it difficult to remove oneself from the journey presented.
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This prequel transcends all age groups, every character has a significance and every page a twist. It contains strong values, fosters loyalty and respect, and provides for the type of leadership qualities that we all seek, but rarely find in our own modern day world.
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The promise for the future and the sense of the unknown for the main characters is as relevant, and as important to the main characters, as it is to any reader of this wonderful piece.

Review by: Madeline Walsh on Sep. 17, 2012 : star star star star star

A Beautiful Tale of Paradise Lost and Paradise Found! What does it mean to be ugly, Truly ugly from the inside-out? We are about to find out as Author, Lada Ray, takes us on a timeless adventure from a distant galaxy far away and long ago. Lessons “forgotten” tend to repeat themselves throughout history until we ultimately learn from them. “Catharsis” is a timely tale that warns us about how our collective future may unfold if we don’t wake up!

Review by: KatesReads on Sep. 15, 2012 : star star star star
This is a great short story and intro into The Earth Keepers Chronicles. It is very imaginative and well plotted. Even in such a short story Lada Ray packs a powerful message.

Review by: Jason Sullivan on Sep. 15, 2012 : star star star star star
Do you believe in the Atlanteans or, the even more obscured by time and history, Lemurians? Could they have come from another planet? ‘Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians’ is a fascinating allegorical tale by the talented author, Lada Ray. This allegorical story contains important truths, which are especially relevant today. Read ‘Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians’! It will get you thinking about collective karma, where we might have come from, and what the future could hold if we do not learn to care for each other and to share the resources of planet Earth.

Review by: ReviewerRachel on Sep. 14, 2012 : star star star star
Catharsis! This book may be only 27 pages, but it wowed me! I’m usually not drawn to short stories at all, I just stay so disconnected. The book gave off a pleasant sense of whimsy, at the same time, it underlined crucial lessons about understanding/bullying/stereotypes/societal norms. I just all-around adored it! It was just so different from everything else I’ve ever read. I loved the background stories, the lessons it expressed. Several of them closely mirrored my favorite Bible stories. It didn’t leave me empty like other short stories, it filled me up completely. I absolutely recommend this book to people looking for a satisfying read.

..

SECRETS of GHOSTS by Mardi Orlando

Category: YA, fantasy, paranormal, metaphysical, history
Available on Amazon and B&N.
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Secrets of Ghosts: forgotten Orphans An Abandoned Church Too Many Secrets
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absorbing Journey with Mystery, Magic and Heart, September 21, 2012
Review by: Lada Ray Format: Kindle Edition
..
Brought together by their mysterious and powerful gifts, seven teenagers have been stranded between worlds. Their mission is simple: uncover the hidden past, free the ghosted children stuck for a hundred years in an abandoned church, defeat the shadow…and try to survive the experience.
.
The problem is, while the ghosted children are fruitlessly trying to remember their past in order to move to the light, the seven teenagers who are tasked with saving them, desperately want to forget theirs. However, without releasing their own demons, the teens won’t be able to help the ghosts, moreover, they won’t be able to save themselves.
.
The book alternates between the past – devastating times of World War I & II – and the present. The tragic stories of the ghosted children, of the local town and of the seven teenagers are woven together into one absorbing, haunting tale. I found myself deeply engrossed in this book, trying to find out what happens next. The war time newspaper clippings provided the local perspective of the events of War World II, particular to the British and Western point of view.
.
I especially want to commend the author for her wonderful descriptions of the teens’ rare metaphysical gifts, from telepathy and clairvoyance to working with crystals and empathy. This is the subject that is very dear to my heart and I find that the author understands and feels what she is writing about on a very profound level – true, and fascinating to read about.
.
The main characters are interesting to read about, especially Daffodil, Jake and Santu. Besides, you can’t help but feel sorry for the ghosts and root for their salvation. There is profound humanity in how the author paints the ghosts’ touching protectiveness of each other and their ghosted animals. There are valuable lessons to be learned from this book. A great read – highly recommended!

..

GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) by Lada Ray

Category: action/adventure, historic mystery, spy thriller, romance, paranormal

Currently available on Amazon US  UK and other countries.
Coming in October to Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, Sony , Apple
Can also be purchased from Lada Ray Book Store (PDF)
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Ebook cover
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Paperback cover
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Nice Read, Adventures Abound!, September 18, 2012
Review by Jasper Snieder Format: Kindle Edition
..
Highly anticipated follow up adventure by novelist Lada Ray, Gold Train certainly delivers with dramatic thrills and spills. The action follows journalist Jade Snow as the sexy super sleuth goes international and unravels a potential conspiracy that may destroy the world. Truth, justice and the American way… superman can take lessons from this this reporter! Easily 5 stars all the way, highly recommend for all you politicos out there.
..
..

JAMES MADISON – The Father of the Constitution (1751 – 1836) by J.J. Collins

Category: non-fiction, history, biography
Available Paperback: Amazon US  UK
Ebook: Amazon US  UK
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James Madison - The Father of the Constitution (1751 - 1836)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring Read About the Proudest Moment of American History September 30, 2012 Review by Lada Ray Format: Paperback
..
With profound knowledge and great style, J.J. Collins sets out to explore the creation of the American Constitution and the birth of the American Republic, as well as the people behind these events. This is not a very long book, but it packs a wallop of information, at the same time managing to convey the feel, texture and attitudes of that era.
..
We get to meet not only James Madison himself, but also the other greats of American history: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, among others. The author takes us to the historic 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia where we witness first-hand the process of creation of the Constitution. The uncharted territory that was the American Constitution made it difficult to reconcile all the varying opinions and interests in order to arrive at one document, which would unite the whole country. James Madison and others were heavily influenced by the philosophy of the European Era of Enlightenment. In turn, the American Constitution would later become the symbol of freedom and the fight against tyranny in Europe and elsewhere.
..
Ironically, some of the most shameful moments of American history were also enshrined in the Constitution, including the justification of slavery and the fact that each slave was considered only 3/5 of a white man, as well as the creation of the Electoral College – the US Presidential Election’s unfair and archaic indirect voting system, which still persists today.
..
The book proceeds to describe the era of the British/French war, the French revolutionary wars starting at the end of the 18th century, a struggle for the USA to remain neutral to European conflicts, and the ever deepening bitter political divisions between Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans – the former revolutionary buddies. We follow James Madison’s life and career, from the post of the Secretary of State to being elected the fourth President of the United States, and later, to his death.
..
It was the era of great statesmen, not mere politicians, the kind of people we only wish we could see in the White House today. Their intellect, knowledge, erudition and profound concern for their country and fellow man – moderated with reason and wisdom – led them to create the foundation on which America functioned successfully for many years. They passionately debated the issues of individual’s rights, state vs. federal power, unjust enrichment, monopoly, separation of legislative and executive powers, establishment of a National Bank, and equitable taxation. They developed laws, which at that time in history resulted in the most advanced society on Earth. The creation of the American Constitution signified the US history’s proudest moment.
..
However, these men were also the children of their time: they held slaves and made constant efforts to forcefully convert the Native Americans into the white man’s way of life.
..
This book is especially timely today. As we slowly drift away from the principles that once made this country great in so many ways, it serves as an important reminder of things the Americans have conveniently forgotten. A highly recommended read for American history buffs and novices alike!
..
..

STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy US Adventure) by Lada Ray

Category: action/adventure, psychological mystery/thriller, women sleuths, paranormal
Available: Amazon US  UK  and other countries
Coming in October to B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, Apple
Can also be purchased from Lada Ray Book Store (PDF)
..
Stepford USA (Accidental Spy US Adventure)
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5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling until the very end, September 30, 2012
Review by Mardi  Format: Kindle Edition
..
Jade Snow is an investigative journalist who has braved the hardships of such places as Afghanistan. When a `white knight’ leaps to save her, she quickly falls in love and gets pregnant. But this new development is about to change Jade forever. When her husband insists on moving her to the safety and isolation of Stepford, Jade characteristically finds a story to investigate.
..
But Jade is being watched… and the mysterious web begins to be woven – a clever simile made through Jade’s new involvement with the knitting club of Stepford. On discovering a horrific crime that has happened many years ago, Jade smells a rat: There are too many suspicious angles. Adding the fact that the victim is still alive but unable to converse, intrigue and mystique build.
..
This is a very enjoyable book with terrific characters and a clever storyline that conjurs truths from the imbedded lies and deceit of the higher echelons of Stepford. In a whirlwind of well crafted storytelling we experience Jade’s paranormal psychic visions and even venture into a virtual reality laboratory to discover that all is not as it seems.
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This novel makes clever observations on morality, class and perception with wonderful twists and turns that will surprise and intrigue.
..
A purposeful puzzle, compelling until the very end. Looking forward to reading Lada Ray’s other novels.
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Wil K rated it 5 out of 5 stars A Goodreads review October 1, 2012
Enjoyable Read that Makes You Think
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If I had to compare it to other books, I’d say that Stepford USA reminded me of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, but lighter and easier to read. The book boasts a great balance of character development, action, mystery, beautiful setting, as well as a modicum of paranormal and romance. It is an enjoyable read, which will make you pause and think about things we take for granted and things we overlook, about what is important and what is not.
..
……

The Templar Agenda by John Paul Davis

Category: historical mystery/thriller
Available on Amazon US  UK and other counties
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The Templar Agenda

…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Global Conspiracy, History, Murder – and the Knights Templar! September 17, 2012 Review by Lada Ray 
..
 

When several, seemingly unrelated, high-profile murders shake up the world’s financial and political system, Swiss Guard Mikael (Mike) Frei is sent to St. Gallen to act as temporary bodyguard for Gabrielle Leoni, daughter of the murdered banker and great-niece of the Camerlengo. After the discovery of a 14th century diary left behind by Gabrielle’s father, which provides a dramatic insight into the cause of recent deaths, Mike and Gabrielle are forced to embark on a dangerous mission across Europe and the Atlantic: Mike, to ensure Gabrielle’s safety, and Gabrielle, to uncover the truth of her father’s death. Both are drawn into the global conspiracy that may endanger their lives, and in doing so they must attempt to uncover the identity of the murderers before they strike again.

The Templar Agenda is written by a historian, therefore many lush historical details about the ancient Order of the Templars and the Catholic Church are sprinkled throughout the narrative, which, being the lover of history, I personally enjoyed.

The story is well plotted and possesses an intoxicating mix of intrigue, ambiguity and seamless fusion of fact and fiction to keep the reader addicted to the next page. In addition to action, romantic tension and mystery, the reader is asked to consider certain serious questions: Are secret societies the force of good or evil? What are the consequences of actions that are deemed necessary by few, and how do these actions impact many?

The Templar Agenda is a rich, engaging, thrill-filled story, which will appeal to the lovers of history and the historical thriller genre.

..

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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!

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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!

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A Case of Mistaken Identity: Soviet Cars and My Infamy

14 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in CULTURE: Russia, CULTURE: World, My Updates

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Author Lada Ray, AvtoVAZ, FSB, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, Klout, Lada, Lada Classic, Lada Granta, Lada Kalina, Lada Niva, Russia, Russian cars, Siberia, Soviet Union, Twitter

I bet when you saw this title you thought I was mistaken for a thief of some old Soviet clunker, arrested by the scary KGB and shipped off to Siberia? Just as a clarification for those who missed it, there is no KGB any more. It has been replaced by the FSB about 20 years ago, which, much like the CIA and MI6, hardly concerns itself with auto theft, not to mention, they apparently stopped shipping people off to Siberia over sixty years ago (can you imagine that!).

No, my story is nothing as dramatic. It actually is cute and funny. So, if you wandered in here for the wrong reason, sorry to disappoint. But if you are still reading this, chances are you belong.

Want to join me on a fun journey back in time? Then, fasten your seat belt!

In the year 2011, I opened my Twitter account and suddenly was followed by a number of auto dealerships and manufacturers, ranging from Lombardini and Ferrari to Cadillac and Mercedes. My strange popularity among auto makers and distributors continued unabated, despite the fact that I never wrote a single tweet about anything remotely auto-related and never followed back my eager auto-friends.

As those, who follow me on Twitter know, I tweet about Russia, China, USA, world events and cultures, geopolitics, nature, spirituality, music, feng shui, social media, and of course, writing and publishing.

Then, several months ago, I discovered that according to Klout, I was influential in the following topics: Russia, thrillers, Amazon, epublishing and feng shui, to name a few. Which all made sense. However, my No. 1 TOP topic, according to Klout was… cars! For those who don’t know, Klout is the standard of Social Media influence and it rates how influential you are about various popular topics.

I stared at my Klout page. I’d never tweeted about cars. I tweeted about trains a lot, since my most recent mystery thriller, entitled GOLD TRAIN, includes some great train action, and since I happen to love trains.

But cars?

Then, I looked at my tweeter name, @LadaTweets, and knew: this was my answer! My mysterious and unwanted popularity with the world’s auto crowd has been explained!

Huh?.. You ask. But let me enlighten you.

It all started years ago, how many exactly is not important ;), when my well-meaning parents decided to call me Lada. This is a linguist in me talking: Lada is actually an ancient Russian, as well as Slavic, name and it means ‘balance’ or ‘harmony.’ As in ‘living in harmony.’ It’s a very good name and I am very fond of it.

As another example, the verb derived from the noun ‘lada’ – ‘ladit’ – means exactly that: to live in harmony/ peace. The popular Russian name, Vladimir, means living in harmony (peace) with the world. V-lad-i-mir = In-harmony-with-world. Many – even among Russians – think that ‘Vladimir’ means ‘the owner (or ruler) of the world,’ but the ancient root of both notions is the same. It seems, the ancients were much wiser than us as they understood that one can only rule one’s world by being at peace and in harmony with it. What a novel idea!

But back to my story. Here is the clincher: LADA also happens to be the name of the most popular Soviet car. Its manufacturer, the Soviet/Russian automaker AvtoVaz, thought it would be cute to give it a girl’s name, like Mercedes, you know. Mind you, Lada was nothing like a Mercedes. It was a rather simple, no nonsense, solid and reliable car. And cute in its own way.

Check out the general page for Lada on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada

1500 Estate Evesham.jpg

Lada Classic. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

Currently called Lada Classic, this is what Lada looked like in the Soviet days.

Lada Classic page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_Riva

Lada Classic Estate. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Lada Classic sedan. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Excessive capitalist luxury was frowned upon in the good old Soviet Union, so things manufactured in the country were rather perfunctory, but so over-engineered that many became heirloom pieces. Interestingly enough, many of those who grew up in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries have fond memories of Lada, the car. So fond in fact that there is still a cult following of the Lada Classic. Although AvtoVaz makes contemporary cars as well, they still sell Lada Classic practically with the same exact look as in the 1970’s and 80s. It’s sort of like Volkswagen Bug – people buy because of nostalgia.

In 1989, I just graduated from high school and started at the university. My parents had recently bought a Lada and jokes were frequently made about a Lada within a Lada. My fiance at the time wanted to follow in his and my parents’ footsteps and also managed to buy a Lada, after his and my folks chipped in. It was very rare for a twenty-year-old to have a car in those days, although ours was a used one. We were an adventurous couple and that little Lada served us faithfully for a couple of years, until in 1991 we left the country, having sold our well-used car for a nice profit. Such was the power of hyper-inflation that was picking up before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Before we left, we made very good use of our car, having traveled high and wide in it, including a super-tour of Eastern and Central Europe. During our European adventure, we’d visited a number of countries and some day I’ll do a post about that.

Our adventures included a story about two-foot deep pot holes in Western Ukraine, which cost us the steering wheel that cracked in half. We made the rest of the journey to Poland, steering the car without it (I still wonder how we managed it). In Poland, we bought gasoline and the new steering wheel on the black market at a huge premium, along with some very cute boots for me (the only thing that was actually affordable). Then we crossed over to East Germany, only to find that all gas stations were closed because it was after 6 pm. And I mean, ALL gas stations! The orderly Germans loved to go home to their families early and didn’t care too much about any stranded motorists, which were admittedly very few in those days.

To save the day (or rather, the quickly approaching night), we had to cross the border on foot back to Poland under curious gazes of the Polish and German border guards, and persuade the Polish border patrol to sell us some gas from their patrol car, which they gladly did to make an extra buck. In Germany, we had a different problem. Apparently, our car liked it there so much that it refused to leave and it took us a while to convince it to start moving.

Later, the Chech border patrol was so shocked to see a loose Russian car on their little border crossing – apparently the first ever Russian car they’d seen in their lives – that they asked us if we wanted political asylum. In Prague, we settled down for the night in our car (to save money) in what seemed like a quiet courtyard, only to wake up in the middle of the Chech Police headquarters parking lot. In Hungary, we befriended the gypsies, who were… But that is already another story, which I promise to tell one day, along with many, many other funny anecdotes.

Yeah, it was a great little car – a big nostalgic sigh. Some tend to laugh at it, but I’ll always have fond memories of Lada, my first car! Lada was actually considered a luxury car in other socialist countries. Everything’s relative in this world, isn’t it? Kind of like Toyota Camry is considered an impossible luxury in Israel, where it’s unaffordable even for people who make a very good living (as I found out while visiting my Israeli friends).

In East Germany, our friends Anke and Michel were very envious when we came to visit. They also wanted a car. But the only one available to them was a Trabant, an unbelievably tiny and funny looking East German car, made out of either celullose or cardboard. There is no consensus to this day, which material was used to produce that incredible creation, but the comforting thought was that the material appears to have been bio degradable, therefore cows could chew on the remnants after humans were done with it. I am not  kidding! And guess what, the nostalgia for the good old East German days causes people to collect even Trabants.

The infamous East German Trabant. Along with Yugo (Yugoslavia), voted one of the fifty worst cars ever made. Dan Niel, Pulitzer Prize-winning car critic remarked that it  “gave the Communism a bad name.” What where the other 48 all-time lemons? Well, some of them were Western European, but most were American. No Russian cars made the list.

As opposed to Trabant, Lada, properly made out of metal, was the pinnacle of desire in Poland and East Germany. As we drove our Lada through East Germany, the locals shouted appreciatively: “Ohh, eine gute Russisch auto!” – “A great Russian car!”

And so, there you have it. The mystery of my popularity in the auto industry is solved. It’s all about branding, you see. They actually thought @LadaTweets represented Lada, the car, not Lada, the thriller and fantasy writer.

Contemporary Lada: Lada Granta. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Lada Kalina. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Lada Niva. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

The trick now is to make the Lada Ray brand name just as – preferably more – recognizable. The little Lada is going strong after all these years. In competition with the Honda, Toyota, Ford and other giants of the auto world, it has outlived lots of brands, both in Russia and abroad. And people still remember that old, classic Lada with warmth. Some even still want to drive it. Whatever you think about Lada as a car, those who made it must have been doing something right!

So, I’ve been thinking: time is the ultimate test. If my books are remembered with warmth and re-read after many years, then I haven’t been writing in vain.

 

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

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia, CULTURE: World

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Russia Adventure, Anichkov Bridge, Bronze Horseman, Catherine Palace, Fontanka River, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, Hermitage, Neva River, Peter the Great, Russia, Russian culture, Russian History, Saint Petersburg, St Petersburg, World Heritage Site

Above: Bankovsky Bridge

Below: The famous singing gold fountains of Peterhof

Year 1703. During the Northern War with Sweden, Peter the Great stands on the wind-swept bank of the Neva River, amid mosquito infested swamps and desolate landscape of the north, and declares that he’ll build a city of unrivaled splendor, to become Russia’s first sea port and maritime window to Europe.

Years later, his vision became a reality – and then some! Above: Medniy Vsadnik (Bronze Horseman). Monument to Peter, the city’s founder. The inscription reads: To Peter – the First, from Catherine – the Second.

Presenting St. Petersburg, Russia‘s second capital, unique cultural phenomenon, UNESCO World Heritage site and the most beautiful city on planet Earth!

The entire center of “Peter,” as it’s affectionately called by the Russians, or St. Pete, as it’s called by the expats, is the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The unbelievable beauty of its many exquisite buildings, bridges, palaces and statues can awe even the most seasoned world traveler. Despite its harsh northern climate, it can be incredibly romantic and it always is unforgettable.

Some of the most important episodes in GOLD TRAIN take place in St. Petersburg. The GOLD TRAIN heroine, international journalist Jade Snow, stays at the Duchess Vera’s house in the very heart of the historic center, not far from Nevsky Prospekt and the Hermitage.

Above: Romantic couple by the Anichkov Bridge. One of Nevsky Prospekt‘s most popular sights, Anichkov Bridge across the Fontanka River is particularly famous for the four equestrian statues, “The Horse Tamers,” which stand at each corner of the bridge. 

Try visiting St. Petersburg in the summer, during The White Nights, a unique phenomenon occurring when the Northern Lights illuminate the sky, making a night almost as bright as day.

The mood during the White Nights in indescribable! No one in this city of 5 million sleeps and scores of people wander the streets, marveling at its monuments and watching the drawing of its amazing system of draw bridges.

Above: St. Pete’s bridges being drawn during the White Nights. Notice, how bright the skies are even after midnight!

Above: Dvortsovy Bridge (Palace Bridge) next to the Winter Palace – The Hermitage

All St. Pete’s bridges are incredibly beautiful and unique. Above: Probably the most famous of its pedestrian bridges, Bankovsky Bridge – Bank Bridge, which is just a few meters down the Griboedov Canal from Kazan Cathedral, owes its reputation to its four beautiful golden-winged griffons.

The Lion Bridge, another gorgeous bridge along the system of St Pete‘s canals

Above: Trinity Bridge

Below: Winter Palace, former residence of the Russian Tsars, the most magnificent palace in the world. Now, the Hermitage Museum.

Inside The Hermitage Museum:

The Throne Room

The Grand Stairs

Tsar’s Gold Coach

Above and below, The Hermitage Galleries

Below: The Winter Palace Ballroom. When I wrote the Menshikov Mansion ballroom scene in GOLD TRAIN, I imagined something like this! Well, minus tourists in jeans.

Some of the most dramatic scenes in GOLD TRAIN take place at the Menshikov Mansion. Prince Menshikov (Duke Menshikov in GOLD TRAIN) was a real historic figure. As Peter the Great’s first lieutenant, originally a commoner, the Prince rose to prominence during Peter’s reign. Peter relied on him for reform ideas, staunch support and execution of his grand plans to re-shape Russia for the modern age.

In GOLD TRAIN, I thought it was especially fitting – and ironic – that the Menshikov Mansion would be owned by the infamous Russian oligarch, a nouveau riche and prince-wannabe, Yury Gurevich, who would be instrumental in plunging the country into darkness as a result of the conspiracy… But… I don’t want to spoil your reading experience, so let’s not reveal the plot. 😉

Of course, the real Menshikov Palace is now a museum and is owned by the state.

Below: The Menshikov Palace, now Menshikov Museum

More beautiful views of St. Pete:

Below: Peterhof, Peter’s Summer residence and its magnificent gardens, complete with the system of gold singing fountains. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and my personal favorite.

The Grand Cascade

Above: Famous gold mythological fountains in Peterhof’s gardens

In GOLD TRAIN, Jade is supposed to visit the town of Pushkin near St. Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its connection to the Russian writer Pushkin as well as for the magnificent Catherine the Great’s Palace.

Above: Monument to Pushkin, who lived in St. Petersburg and went to school in Pushkin, originally called Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar’s Village)

Below: Catherine Palace and gardens

The Amber Room (Yantarnaya Komnata) at Catherine Palace – considered by some the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The Amber Room had been carved from top to bottom out of precious Baltic amber and presented to Peter the Great by the Prussian king Friedrich, who went bankrupt to make it happen. The room was later expanded and perfected by the Russian craftsmen.

According to the historic accounts, Catherine could sit in the Amber Room for hours, meditating. Those who’d been in the original Amber Room described the feeling as being entranced and transported to another dimension. Catherine would forget about everything, including pressing state affairs, when she was in that state.

Unfortunately, the original Amber Room was stolen by the Nazi Germany during WWII. It was dismantled and taken to Prussia, where it had vanished without a trace. Its whereabouts are not known to this day.

Starting in 1979, the new Amber Room had been painstakingly re-created from the origianl photos and drawings. It took many years to complete the project and several years ago, the Amber Room reopened for the public.

Below: Re-creating The Amber Room

Below: The magnificent Amber Room

Below: Another room at Catherine Palace, with Empress’ images

And now, back to the city center.

The grand St. Pete Metro stations, much like Moscow’s, resemble underground palaces.

Below: One of such palacial stations

One of the most dramatic scenes in GOLD TRAIN takes place at the Sportivnaya Metro Station. Below: The incredibly deep metro escalator, much like the one, Jade took in GOLD TRAIN.

Below: Sportivnaya Metro Station with its Ancient Greek Olympics theme

For more about stately St. Petersburg Metro and Sportivnaya Station, check out my post  GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

Above: The famous Church of Savior on Spilled Blood, featured on the GOLD TRAIN cover. The name of this church is highly symbolic, as those who read the book would recognize.

Buy GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) ebook & paperback!

GOLD GT COVER ebook

Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Smashwords

More about Books by Lada Ray

 

Read companion posts:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

 

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

 

GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Accidental Spy Series

 

GOLD TRAIN: Who is this mysterious Alexei?

 

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  • JULY: TIME TO REFOCUS ON POSITIVE, UPLIFTING, BEAUTIFUL – AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL!
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