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Tag Archives: Saint Petersburg

Beautiful Russia 3: Moscow’s Many Faces

10 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, CULTURE: Russia

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Arbat, Author Lada Ray, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Golden Ring, Moscow, Moscow Kremlin, Moscow University, pictures of Moscow, Pushkin Cafe in Moscow, Russia, Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union, The Earth Shifter, Tverskaya Street

The continuation of the Beautiful Russia Series is here and today’s highlight is Moscow!

bigstock-MOSCOW--SEPTEMBER--All-part-41016379

Every September, Red Square hosts International Military Band Festival, Spasskaya Tower, featuring military bands from all over the world. Grand finale of the festival – joint band showcase. 

I love this city, where I was born and where I spent some of the happiest moments of my early childhood. What’s more, Moscow is featured prominently in two of my books: the top-rated metaphysical fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER & mystery/thriller GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure).

bigstock-Moscow-Kremlin-Wall-and-churc-45278569

According to the Russians, Moscow is where Russia’s heart is. Affectionately, it is referred to as “Moscow, the city of white stone” – Moskva Belokamennaya.” Although the present day Kremlin Wall is red brick, the ancient Moscow Kremlin, churches and other buildings were white stone, as seen on the Kremlin picture above, and as you would notice in the many architectural treasures of the Golden Ring of Russia. J.R.R. Tolkien modeled his White City in the Lord of the Rings after Moscow. Read more about the Golden Ring and Tolkien’s White City here. Continue reading →

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A Slice of Real Russia: Eyewitness Video Journey 1

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in CULTURE: Russia

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk region, Everyday life in Russia, Moscow, Russia, Russian communal apartments, Russian culture, Russian leisure, Russian Meteor Shower Videos, Russian parks, Russian public transport, Russian trams & trolleybuses, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union, Ufa, Ural Mountains

Map of Russia Ufa

Real Russia Video Blog has been launched in 2012 by “Sergey x 2” as they are called – Sergey Baklykov and Sergey Pichugin – the two enterprising young men from the city of Ufa, the capital of Russia’s autonomous Republic of Bashkortostan.

Feeling tremendous dissatisfaction with the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Russia in the West, they decided to start a Youtube channel entitled REAL RUSSIA, in which they endeavored to document the true Russian life as is, without any propaganda, embellishments or editing.

Being in complete agreement with Sergey x 2, I also do my best to dispel such misconceptions and enlighten my readers. Read my various articles about Russia on this blog. I also write truthfully and extensively about Russian turbulent history and its ever-changing present in my books GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) and my new release, THE EARTH SHIFTER. Both books can be purchased on Amazon by clicking on above title links.

Back in 2012, I promised my friends at the Real Russia Channel to share their entertaining and educational videos with my friends and followers. However, with all the other events and timely topics, this idea has since been on hold. I’m now taking this opportunity to deliver on my promise.

Map of Russia Baikal Ufa Meteor

A word about Russia and Bashkortostan: The Russian Federation is the most multicultural country in the world, consisting of approximately 100 different nationalities and ethnic groups – widely different, large and small! Because of that, there is a number of autonomous regions and small republics, which form part of the federation.

Bashkortostan is one of them. It is located in the Ural Mountains, about 1000 km east of Moscow. The Ural Mountains serve as a perfect vertical divider between Europe and Asia, and this is visible in the composition of the population of that region. As you’ll see from the videos, the population is very mixed, about 50% Russian/Slavic and 50% Bashkir, an Asian ethnicity speaking Bashkir language, which together with Mongolian, Tibetan and Tatar is part of the Turkic family of languages (not to be confused with Turkish language).

A Bashkir woman in traditional costume

Bashkortostan is known for its oil deposits. There are two dominant religions: Russian Orthodox (Christian) and Muslim (Bashkir). The autonomous republic has its own flag, anthem and government. The signs in the republic are in both Russian and Bashkir, as these are the two state languages. The everyday language is primarily Russian, although Bashkir is studied in schools alongside Russian.

One of the things that strike me while watching these real life vids, is how well the two very different ethnicities and religions get along in Bashkortostan! They tend to intermarry, embracing both cultures as their own. This tends to be the way of life in most such Russian regions, where the Russian culture is embraced as the national culture, yet local roots are celebrated equally. If only the rest of the world learned to live like that!

As you see, this small and remote republic is somewhat different from the heart of Russia, and from the image many in the West have of this country, but according to Sergei x 2 team, this is the true Russia!

I will certainly agree with our dynamic duo. The Russian culture spiced up with a distinctive multicultural mix, the typical everyday living, common history, and the new and exciting developments, all make Ufa into a charming and fascinating destination.

By the way, remember the recent meteor incident in Russia? Guess what, the City of Ufa and the Republic of Bashkortostan neighbor directly the Chelyabinsk region, where the meteor shower took place, as seen on the map of Russia above. Watch eyewitness vids: The Earth Shifter Plot Playing Out in Real Time: Massive Meteor Rocks Russia.

On map: Chelyabinskaya Oblast (Chelyabinsk region) located to the east of Bashkortostan, in the westernmost part of Siberia.

The vids below show Russian life as is, without smoothing out any rough spots. The presenter speaks pretty decent English and the vids are entertaining, as well as educational at best. This is post one of my new Real Russia video series. Below, I’ve included several of the best videos, courtesy Sergey x 2, in which you can experience the everyday life in this Russian province as well as its Soviet past. Presenting: THE REAL RUSSIA!

Episode 1: Welcome to Real Russia! It includes: Sergey Baklykov’s old Soviet clunker; driving on the Ufa roads; Ufa’s lovely city center, including its main artery, the Lenin Street; a look at the both Sergeys apartments (warning: not for the faint of heart, ahem…ahem… ;)).

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Episode 2: Russian Parks. This charming episode is a must watch! Growing up in Russia, I loved the local parks, and watching this vid brings back my most cherished childhood memories. Unlike the trendsetting capitals of Moscow and St.Petersburg, in some ways, Ufa still has one foot in its Soviet past, although the new sprouts are visible everywhere.

Note: in the 1990s, most streets, parks and other locations with Soviet names in such large, trendsetting cities as Moscow, St. Petersburg & Odessa have been given back their old historic names. In St. Petersburg’s case, the whole city was renamed from Leningrad back to its original Saint Petersburg. Unlike most large central cities possessing their own old and rich history, Ufa is a relatively young place, built up during Soviet times. Hence, their preservation of the Soviet names, as in Lenin Street & Communist Street. They certainly made peace with their history. The new and the old blended together as one – works for me!

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Episode 5: Russian Public Transport. The Russian public transportation system is very well structured, comprehensive and well-oiled. Ufa, where the guys are from, doesn’t have the famous Russian Metro, which is a preferred method of getting around major cities like Moscow & St. Petersburg. For more on the Russian Metro, complete with awesome pics, see my post, Amazing Russian Metro. 

This is an excellent episode in which we can experience the old-world charm of the very affordable Russian trams, trolleybuses and buses, as well as the shared taxi service called “Gazelle” – live! Also, something that’s very traditional in Russia and other former Soviet states, but inconceivable elsewhere: a tram/bus conductor carrying around bagfulls of cash, and amazingly, it doesn’t occur to anyone to steal all that money!

..

More about the Russian public transport and its history: Gold Train May Day Interview and The World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories.

Episode 18: Traditional Soviet Communal Apartment. A communal apartment is a purely Soviet phenomenon, born of housing shortage and a well-intentioned, but misguided, drive to equalize the living standards of the rich and poor by making everyone’s life miserable. Now a relic of the past, it was a shared apartment, where a family occupied one, two or three rooms privately, while sharing all other areas. Typically, there was one shared entrance, kitchen (usually with multiple stoves and tables), bathroom and corridor.

It is ironic and fascinating that communal apartments were only possible on the posh and fashionable streets of the richest and most popular cities, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Odessa.  Incidentally, I describe in detail the history and realities of the Moscow communal apartment living in my new fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER. Check it out!

As Sergey x 2 have discovered, there really were no communal apartments in Ufa, since it wasn’t in the category of the most desirable and fashionable cities. Therefore, they had to get creative. They found a way to demonstrate the communal living realities via an episode from the recent Russian musical movie, Stilyagi (1998), which describes the communal life in a 1940s Moscow blue collar apartment.

I’ve never lived in a communal apartment, but some of my friends and relatives did, and I must say, this episode is super-entertaining (a great song too), but generally, communal life I’d observed was much more civilized than shown (of course, I’ve only been to the 1970s-80s communal apartments occupied by intelligentsia). In most cases, there were no more than 2 or 3 families sharing such a place. Oftentimes, these apartments were lavishly decorated and well maintained, with tall ceilings, beautiful details and extra-large rooms and kitchens. So, the view here is sensationalized; still, this is a rather fascinating slice of the Soviet life circa 1940s/WWII and a mesmerizing movie scene, which I highly recommend!

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Check out my new release

 THE EARTH SHIFTER

IMG_0193

Fascinating, colorful, poetic, shocking and unforgettable episodes from Russian and Siberian history + NWO conspiracy, remote viewing, psychic spies and more! Both ebook and paperback are available @ Amazon,  B&N,  Smash,  Kobo, Sony, Apple. Where to buy THE EARTH SHIFTER + blurb, excerpts, fave themes and characters, more…

ES COVER ebook 2

Also read/watch: A Slice of Real Russia 2: Real Moscow

Beautiful Russia 1: The Golden Ring of Russia

Beautiful Russia 3: Moscow’s many faces

2 sides BOOKMARK ES AS

 

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The Cool, the Original and the Controversial

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, Reviews

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, author interview, Author Lada Ray, blog tour, book, Cold War, ebook, Gold Train, Jade Snow, May Day, mystery thriller, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union

The GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour is over and I wanted to thank all my wonderful blog hosts and reviewers for their hospitality, time and valuable opinions.

As a wrap up of the tour, I decided to feature some of the coolest, most original and controversial of the GOLD TRAIN review questions and interviews. I wanted to mention that I never met any of my reviewers before they read/reviewed my book. Some asked me to review GOLD TRAIN, others I approached myself, and some bought the book, read it and were gracious enough to write a review. Eventually, I became very good friends with some of my reviewers, sometimes despite differences, or because we had so much in common – or both!

I am immensely grateful to all those who took the time to read and review my books! The feedback I received has helped me not only understand better my own writing, but also aided me in shaping up the future world of my heroine, Jade Snow.

This interview is so different and fun, so stand alone, that I call it “The Centerpiece of the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour.” Author and blogger Jason Sullivan of DIFFERENT OUTCOMES blog interviewed me on May 1st, or May Day, as it is called and celebrated around the world. And we wanted to make this interview very, very special! It came out quite yummy, all thanks to Jason’s amazing questions: cool, in-depth and very unusual!

The interview includes a fun history primer of the Russian Civil War and a candid discussion about the fates of the descendants of Russia’s noble houses; a Russian/Soviet movie and book list; a chat about Jade Snow and what went into the creation of this unusual character; what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union and how May Day was celebrated in the USSR, as well as today’s Russia.

Included are also some awesome pics from another world – another era, and the story of my own thrilling Russian train adventure when my mother put me on the wrong train as a child.

Says Jason: “Luckily, the story has a happy ending due to the fact that the child in question was an intrepid thriller writer in the making.”

This is such a great interview, it is so chock-full of interesting, one-of-a-kind information – all thanks to Jason’s talent for asking terrific questions and for making his subject feel comfortable answering them! I HIGHLY recommend that you read it on Jason Sullivan’s blog DIFFERENT OUTCOMES! And I promise, you are gonna love it!

Review: 5 Stars – Solid Gold Thriller, February 18, 2012, by Jason Sullivan, Author, The Dark Yergall

This is an excerpt from Jason’s review of GOLD TRAIN. Read the entire review on his blog!

“If you enjoyed the charming young detective, Jade Snow, in Stepford, USA, you will absolutely love her next adventure in Gold Train… This thriller has it all! It has the two romantic locations of Moscow and St. Petersburg for its backdrop. It has real princes and princesses, who may or may not be undercover agents and spies. It has the whisperings of revolution, deepening international intrigue, plus beautiful trains and huge piles of gold!

Jade, however, is the real treat. She does not have super powers, nor even any formal training in the spy business, but she is daring, and clever, and her heart is always in the right place. She must rely on her intution to make choices her life, and world peace, depend on. Read Gold Train and be transfixed as Jade stays one step ahead of her adversaries through quick thinking and bold actions. This book is so believable it reads like a true story. Lada Ray takes you inside the grand houses of Russia to witness an unfolding mystery you will not soon forget.”

Next, a brand new review and May 4 blog tour stop by M.G. Edwards, Author of the new adventure book, Kilimanjaro.

This review is especially notable because Mike is a fellow writer residing in Thailand. What’s more, he is a former U.S. State Department official and American diplomat. I believe we both had started our careers well after the end of the Cold War, but if it happened earlier, we conceivably could have found ourselves on the opposite sides of the trenches, figuratively speaking of course. But no, not really. When I grew up in the Soviet Union, I was very far from politics, my interests lie abroad and I was very much critical of the direction the country was taking in the late 1980s – beginning of 1990s. For more on that, read my interview with Jason Sullivan at Different Outcomes Blog.

In today’s globalized world, Mike and I met on Twitter and became good friends, our “ideological differences” notwithstanding ;), once again demonstrating the fallacy of fighting instead of working together. And so, Mike’s review, bringing up a certain controversy, is very interesting. Below is an excerpt.

Review: 5 Stars -Gold Train is Golden, May 3, 2012.

Read the entire review and my guest post, Russia and I, at the WORLD ADVENTURERS blog.

“From the very first chapter, Lada weaves vivid descriptions of Russia and Russian culture into a story filled with thrilling suspense.

As someone with a keen interest in international affairs, I was happy to read the author’s unique portrayal of Russia, and in particular, Russian intelligence. So many western novels since the days of the Soviet Union have painted Mother Russia and the “Russians” as a nemesis, a stereotype that has continued, albeit muted, since the fall of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Her account is a refreshing look at Russia today and a rare positive portrayal of the Russian authorities. While the truth may be different than her depiction, I give her high marks for originality. For Western audiences, it’s a new take on an old storyline usually reserved for Russia’s former Cold War foes. Her deep appreciation of Russian culture is apparent in her writing and translates well to readers. Lada does an excellent job navigating a subject that can be easily politicized — Russian politics – in a disarming way. Those with an eye for fashion will enjoy the exquisite descriptions of the trappings of European royalty.

I give Gold Train 5 stars overall. The novel includes all the elements of a novice spy-thriller masterpiece, from smart writing to a crisp plot that moves along with action and ties up loose ends, great plot twists, memorable characters, good dialogue, and fabulous descriptions. That said, it doesn’t achieve the threshold of greatness reserved for classic spy thrillers written by John LeCarré, Frederick Forsyth, and others. Perhaps, in time and another book, Jade will rise to the level of a Kay Scarpetta or Kinsey Millhone.”

I want to thank Mike for mentioning me in the same paragraph with John LeCarré, even if it was in a somewhat critical sense. In DRAGON GATE and the following books, Jade and I will strive to achieve the level of greatness of this Master of the genre. 😉 Although perhaps it should be considered that I am not trying to emulate past writers and that Jade is a new and original character with her own ideas of how to act and develop as her destiny unfolds.

On my end, I have to give Mike high marks too, for bringing up the point about Western novels painting Russia and the “Russians” as a nemesis. I felt that the field had gotten way too lopsided and that someone had to even it out, even if just a little bit. Might as well be me… The distortion has gotten so disproportionate in fact, that it fails to resemble the truth even remotely. Watching some of the Western movies, or attempting to read some of the Western books relating to Russia makes me cringe.

And I want to ask my readers this: do you even remember those negative movies or books you were fed by the US media? Do you recall their titles? Did they do well in the box office? Probably not. Because the truth has a very funny way of sorting itself out. But everyone will always remember the classics, for instance: Gorky Park, The Russians Are Coming, Read Heat, The Russia House, and a few others. Why? Because these authors/movie makers didn’t take an easy way out, and because they told the TRUTH.

Review: 5 Stars – Brilliantly Written – A MUST Read December 20, 2011: Hayley Sale, The  Kindle Book Review.

Hayley was Gold Train’s very first reviewer and I just loved how she managed to express so much – and so many thoughts that immediately resonated with me – in a relatively short review. I think her review speaks for itself! Below are a few excerpts:

“The plot lines… were brilliantly written and the story is just fantastic – there are layers that go deeper and deeper as we go along. I found that the way the author described the scenery and landmarks of Russia was just amazing – it made me want to go and visit myself. I was as interested in reading about the landmarks as I was about the actual storyline! This book had it all, not only a great mystery, and action but a little romance and even some humour. It really was superb, fast paced and well written. For me it was also one of those books that gets you thinking about things – even after you finish reading. I really hope that we get to hear more from Jade Snow and also Alexi.”

Hayley’s blog, MY LOVE OF READING was also a GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour stop on 4/29/12.  Here are a few excerpts that I especially liked:

How do you go about making the setting come alive for the reader?

I call creating the right setting: anchoring the story in the here and now. As such, I am a big believer in creating a beautiful, vibrant setting, which comes alive for the reader. It is extremely important to anchor the story in both the time and space, so that the reader can be actively present every moment inside the story and participate directly in everything that happens. A beautiful, stand out setting can sometimes make or break the story.

I certainly put a lot of effort into creating a setting that speaks to the reader, one that fascinates, entertains – and absolutely does not let you go. I usually visualize the place, as well as what is happening in the scene, as if in a movie. I play the movie in my head, until it translates into words. Sometimes I need to feel the texture, touch the scene, so to speak.

Since GOLD TRAIN is action adventure thriller, it has lots of action scenes. To make such action scenes come alive within the particular setting, I would usually re-enact them. Besides making the scene crisp and believable, this game is also lots of fun!

What’s next for Jade Snow?

Jade Snow adventures continue! There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover and wrongs to right. There is also much happiness to find.

The next Jade Snow adventure, DRAGON GATE, will take her to the mystical lands of Asia where Jade has to solve another mystery, uncover another conspiracy and avert yet another global disaster. DRAGON GATE will be released later this year. Incidentally, you can read exclusive description and excerpt from DRAGON GATE in GOLD TRAIN Paperback (release 4/25/12). For a limited time, GOLD TRAIN paperback is available on Amazon for $9.99 (reg. $14.95)

Will we see Alexei, the mystery man who captures Jade’s heart in Gold Train, in the future Jade Snow Adventures?

Absolutely! The relationship between Jade and Alexei is the kind both men and women dream about their entire lives. A match made in Heaven – literally. Yet seemingly, it’s not meant to be, or at least, it’s not going to be easy…

But I’ll let you in on my secret. I have big plans for both Jade and Alexei. They can’t help but keep bumping into each other, first in Asia (DRAGON GATE), and later in Siberia, Russia, where Jade will be traveling after her Asia adventure. I have hinted in Gold Train that there is more treasure to be found. That was done for a reason, as Jade and Alexei will head to the legendary Lake Baikal in Siberia for the continuation of the Tsar’s gold saga. And their relationship will continue developing throughout the series with heart-stopping twists and turns throughout.

Dear reader, please join us for the future Jade Snow adventures, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrill ride with heart!

What other books are you working on right now?

I am also working on THE EARTH SHIFTER, a new YA fantasy/thriller, set in Russia, USA and China. It will also be released in 2012.

All up-to-date information about my present and future books may be found at my official author site: http://www.LadaRay.com.

Read Hayley’s review of Gold Train and the entire interview here!

5 Stars – Jade Snow is to journalism, what Jason Bourne is to action and espionage. December 29, 2011.  J.J. Collins, Author, Famine to Freedom, Irish in the American Civil War. 

I initially approached Jason Collins – now my favorite Irishman residing in London – regarding a review because he wrote about the history of the American Civil War. And there is a lot about the Russian Civil War in Gold Train. I thought it would be great to get his perspective. And his review totally exceeded my expectations! When he mentioned Jason Bourne, one of my great favorites in the contemporary thriller literature and film, I was blown away! It never occurred to me to compare Jade to Jason Bourne, but it made perfect sense!

And his comparison brought home an important point. Don’t try to tell your readers what other books yours resonates with; let them decide for themselves. So I removed a reference to The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure from the GOLD TRAIN’s product description. Since then, the reviewers took it upon themselves to compare Jade and GOLD TRAIN to Jason Bourne, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew (the adult version), and even to Twilight (with a pulse and a Vodka twist)!

Jason Collins’ review makes a lot of great points. Here are some of them:

“The author has managed to develop a character with a fascinating thoughtful purpose. “Gold Train” is an absolute must read, the author goes beyond the obvious and whisks us along into the heart-stopping world of Jade Snow with breath-taking appeal for the next paragraph and page. The author’s knowledge and comprehension of the Russian political scene brings a very credible and believable level of authenticity to the plot.”

Read this terrific review, along with Jason’s review of the Jade Snow Prequel, Stepford USA here!

5 Stars – A Race for Gold! December 30, 2011, Kate’s Reads

A review excerpt by the lovely Kate:

“Gold Train is a fast paced thrill ride filled with great characters you will love and villains you will hate. And maybe a few you won’t know whether to love or hate. This is definitely one to read!”

Kate’s stop along the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour route was on 4/28. Read the entire interview and review here. Here is an excerpt:

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you decided to be a writer.
 
When I decided to start writing, I wrote My Manifesto, in which I pretty much summarized the answer to this question:
 
MY MANIFESTO
 
For years, I was afraid to take a risk. As we all grow up being conditioned by our society and parents, so did I.
 
And this was my conditioning: I broke through the Iron Curtain, moved across oceans and continents, traveled to exotic countries, translated foreign languages, worked for major companies and mastered new professions… but in all that time I was utterly terrified to do something totally unchartered and intimidating – sitting down and writing a book.
 
My fear is gone. I’ve done my share of the same-old-same-old routine! It’s time to explore that which is aching to be explored – the murky waters of the human psyche, the dangerous landscapes of what was, and the fascinating, undiscovered world of what can be. As I make the most crucial and courageous step of my life, I am finally sitting down at my desk to write these words. I am officially the explorer of the ultimate frontier, located right here, at my computer.
I am ready for new adventures! Are you?
March, 2011
 

5 Stars – Review for Rachel’s Book Reviews, February 18, 2012

Check out this cool and witty review from one super-talented teenager:

“Based on actual events, I found it an amazing book. I felt like it was true to Russia, like I was actually there, spying on uprising monarchists. If I were to make a comparison, I would say it reminded me of Nancy Drew, always in the right place at just the wrong time. Except this is an adult version. On top of breakneck action, the ending blew my socks off. I really wasn’t expecting that to happen! It was 100% an original book. It’s even inspired me to learn Russian (that’ll be an adventure in itself!) Like Jade I think it’ll give me new insight to people in my family I never knew. (although, here’s to hoping it won’t involve a murder!)”

A few more review excerpts from the Gold Train readers:

5 Stars – by Madeline Walsh, New York, December 21, 2011: “In Gold Train, I think everyone will find mystery, suspense, action, passion, romance… and an amazing timeless story!”

5 star spy thriller, grips you to the end! March 17, 2012: “The protagonist, Jade Snow is a strong, independent journalist with international appeal. Her intuition, ability to reason and deductive prowess rivals the great Sherlock Holmes. This has got to be one of the coolest, most explosive and passionate novels I read in a very long time! The novel is very well written. I can’t say enough about it… has you hanging on the edge of your seat! Read it and you’ll see what I mean!”

5 Stars – Extreme Journalism to the MAX, totally original mystery adventure,  May 3, 2012: “I’ve learned a ton about the real treasures of Russia… it’s people and it’s vision… Absolutely love it!!”

Check out these and other reviews on Amazon.

4 Stars – Suspense thriller with Russia as its backdrop, March 8, 2012, Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This review stirred up a bit of controversy:

“Jade is a bright likeable character. She is educated and good at connecting the dots. While she has no training as a detective, her inquisitive mind and investigative reporting skills find her entwined in the mystery. I loved Jade the detective, but struggled to like Jade the person. While on this adventure she strays and breaks her marriage vows. Call me old fashioned, but this doesn’t sit well with me; even though the romance was passionate and Jade felt he was her soul mate. I realize this won’t affect everyone, so do not let this deter you from a great adventure. For more delicate readers, I must warn you that while most is implied, the romance does get pretty hot and heavy. The plot developed at a good pace, and the tale kept me captivated.”

I’ve addressed the controversy in question in one of my previous posts: Jade Snow: Savior or Seductress. Check it out!

Kimba also was gracious enough to host my blog tour on 5/3 as well as the Giveaway for 1 Gold Train paperback and 1 ebook. Check out both at Kimba The Caffeinated Blog.

Kimba asks some really COOL questions and here is an excerpt from our interview:

Your novels take place all over the world. Do you travel or do you research all of these places?

I traveled all my life, for as long as I can remember. I am fluent in several languages and have been to over twenty six countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as Africa. I worked in Havana, Cuba as an interpreter for the Russian educational exchange delegations, including a couple of interviews with the man himself – Fidel Castro.
 
I rely heavily on my memory and knowledge of a particular place and period. But in addition, I always do a lot of research to verify and clarify the smallest details. That’s what makes every scene come alive, and that’s what makes the book believable.
 
Tell us about your protagonist, Jade Snow.
 
My books are very international and I am a big believer in capturing life in all its complexity and facets. Jade Snow is a very strong, independent, smart and sexy heroine. She is also a citizen of the world and her heart is always in the right place, as one reviewer pointed out. She has to go through a lot and get tested to the limit during her adventures.
I can’t emphasize enough how much our contemporary literature needs the smart and strong female characters and role models who are also real, genuine people. And how much we need more people with intelligence, courage and heart in our everyday lives! In the new world of the 21 century, we have to learn to live and work together, regardless of prejudices and borders, to understand each other and help those in need, whether it is by saving a stranger’s life, averting global disaster, or by a simple act of random kindness.
 
Where do you like to write? Do you have a writing schedule?
 
I prefer to write at my large and comfortable writing table at home, in my room full of books and inspiring pictures. Sometimes I write at a café.
I don’t keep to a certain schedule, but if I don’t write for a while, I feel as if something is missing in my life.
 
What actress would you choose to portray Jade Snow?
 
Several years ago I’d say: Nicole Kidman. But today… she’d be too old. Jade is a very youthful 30 in Gold Train and she’s 28 in Stepford USA.
I would choose Keira Knightley. She has the right character and personality and can play someone smart, witty, sexy, independent, courageous, a dash tricky and a little vulnerable, too. Of course, she’d have to become a redhead. 😉
 

Coffee or tea?

Great question! Both actually. Love the coffee aroma, especially Turkish or authentic Italian. Tea: I have a great collection of authentic green teas from China, India and Japan at home. Every writer needs a boost! Inspiration and caffeine are practically siblings!

If you had to be an animal for twenty-four hours, what would you be and why?

Ahhh… I’d be an Ussurian Tiger. The largest cat in existence, the most beautiful and the most rare. Found only in one spot on the planet: Ussurian Taiga, the Russian Far East. Was on the brink of extinction with only 29 tigers left just ten years ago, but now the population is up to 500. Like all cats, has an amazing night vision.

Or, I’d be a white eagle. Love the color, plus the ability to soar high and see everything from above. Both of these magnificent creatures take part in my upcoming YA fantasy/thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER, to be released in 2012.

What kind of reader would like your novel?

Gold Train is for the fun loving, dynamic, adventurous people, who have open minds and are interested in the world around them, as well as foreign lands.

For those who love a fast-paced thrill ride with a purpose. For those who love history, sleuthing and mysteries, who are naturally curious, who want to immerse themselves in the story line and feel, like they are part of the action. And it is for those, who expect more from a story.

It’s also for those who love animals and mystical, psychic stuff, yet, are firmly grounded in this world. And for those, who care what happens in our world and who want to improve it.

Although the thriller side of the story dominates, let’s not forget that Gold Train, along with the other Jade Snow Adventures, has a strong romantic undercurrent. Therefore, those who are interested in romantic suspense, will also find Gold Train a compelling read. My way of writing romance is anything but traditional. The relationship between Jade and Alexei is marked by destiny, and I hope the reader enjoys it.

I again want to thank all my reviewers and interviewers for their wonderful and thoughtful reviews and interviews! I enjoyed them tremendously!

Check out the complete GOLD TRAIN BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE!

Check out GOLD TRAIN Ebook and Paperback on Amazon.

GOLD TRAIN is also available on Amazon UK, DE, FR, IT and ES, as well as Smashords, B&N, Sony, Kobo and Apple.

Please check out Lada Ray Book Store for direct links.

For those readers, who inquired about purchasing my books directly, or those who don’t have access to Amazon, I will soon have a book store on my website, where you’ll be able to acquire my books in both ebook and print format via Paypal.
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Happy reading and see you on pages of my books!
 
Yours,
Lada Ray

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GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour Centerpiece: May Day Interview

02 Wednesday May 2012

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

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, author interview, Dr. Zhivago, Gold Train, Jade Snow, May Day, Mikhail Bulgakov, Moscow, mystery thriller, Russia, Russian literature, Russian Revolution, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union

GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour continues! Today please enjoy a very special interview, which I call The Centerpiece of the Gold Train Blog Tour.

Don’t forget to check out other awesome blog stops, Gold Train reviews and giveaways here!

Reblogged from Different Outcomes blog by author Jason Sullivan:

May Day Interview with Lada Ray, author of Gold Train

LADA 3

Today I would like to welcome linguist and writer Lada Ray to the Different Outcomes blog. She is here to discuss her new exciting thriller Gold Train. Perhaps she might also share with us a little about her fascinating life growing up in Russia.

Jason: I would prefer to ask a few somewhat atypical questions, which might give you the possibility of going deeper into them. The areas that fascinate me, although the whole book is so wonderfully exciting, are the following:

The White Army connection with modern Russia, its historical background and current association with other countries, is very interesting. I fear most Americans have a very superficial understanding of the Russian Revolution, and especially the White Army. I always remember the scene from Dr Zhivago when they are crossing a field and are ambushed! In your book you obviously have a more complex and, I think I may say, holistic approach to this conflict. Perhaps not dissimilar to how some Americans have come to view their own Civil War as an opportunity to move beyond differences, although some are still fighting it! But you put forth this sense of pride in Russia, in wanting a healthy Russia which has healed from past conflicts and which is not manipulated by foreign interests. So, I don’t know if that is all one question, or maybe more, but generally, maybe you could share some more with us this unique sense we get in the book, perhaps possible only from an author born in Russia!

GOLD GT COVER ebook

Lada: These are some wonderful questions, Jason, and I’ll try answering them, remaining as entertaining and educational as possible.

I love your definition of my approach to the conflict as “holistic.” I think, most Russians have come to view it as such, having made peace with it and having been able to understand both sides’ point of view. A huge credit for this goes to the educational value of the Soviet and Russian literature and film. These topics, especially the Civil War, are perennial favorites in Russia.

During the Soviet era, more emphasis was put on the role of the Red Army, but starting with the mid 1980’s, when Gorbachev came to power, more attention was given to the White movement. That said, the books written/movies made during the Soviet era did a great job portraying the conflict thoughtfully and evenhandedly.

I grew up with many amazing movies and books, and Dr. Zhivago was only one of them. An excellent book, to be sure, and the one that had a profound effect on the Western society, but hardly the only, and some even think, not even the best in the long line of books/movies about the Russian Civil War. The books/movies I am talking about all portrayed the conflict in a rather balanced way, even if they sided with the Red Army and Bolsheviks ideologically. The human element, motivations, depth of drama – all that was amazingly done.

I think, due to the politics and the wall that existed, and to the extent still does exist between the American and Russian cultures, Americans have a very distorted understanding of the history and implications of the 1917 Revolution and Civil War. I have to say that on average the Europeans and the rest of the world have a much better comprehension of the Russian history.

I want to mention a few movies and books, which come to mind immediately when we talk about the subject – all great in their own right. These are the classics, and those who have an interest in Russian history will find them not only enlightening, but also immensely entertaining. If you can find any of these with English subs or translation, they are well worth watching or reading. I suggest checking out YouTube, you never know what treasures you may uncover there. As to the books, the English translations  of these classics should be readily available.

Soviet Books/Movies:

Movie Beg – The Flight, 1970. Based on the play by Mikhail Bulgakov, Flight. A dramatic and memorable epic about destinies and emigration to Istanbul and Paris of several senior officers and other White Russians during the Civil War. The characters are painted with profound humanity. Great cast, too!

Movie Dni Turbinykh – Days of The Turbins, 1976. Based on the highly acclaimed novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, The White Guard. One of my favorites growing up, boasting tremendous cast of actors. Also about the destinies of several White Russians with different personalities and views. Resolves the conflict in favor of staying in Russia, rather than emigrating. The movie is worth watching not only for the drama and character development, but also for humor and great songs.

As an aside, Mikhail Bulgakov is widely recognized as one of the great authors and visionaries of the 20th century. I also highly recommend his mega-popular, cult book: Master and Margarita. Set in the 1930’s Moscow, it is a dark fantasy about a writer and his trials and tribulations against the backdrop of the Stalinist Russia, his forbidden romance with Margarita, complicated by the appearance of the Devil himself. But that’s not all; inserted within the novel is the story of life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Part of the book takes place in mystical realms of Heaven and Earth. The imagery and philosophy of the book is incredibly striking. It is available in English, moreover, the recently made wonderful mini-series based on Master and Margarita can be purchased on Amazon with English subs. You can probably also sample it on YouTube.

But back to the Russian Civil War: TV Series Adyutant Evo Prevoskhoditelstva – Adjutant of His Excellency, 1969. An excellent mini series about a Red/Soviet spy, who infiltrated the headquarters of the White Army and became personal adjutant to the commander in chief. Needless to say, he was able to thwart some major operations by the Whites, until he was discovered. To add to the drama, the spy, beautifully portrayed by the famous Russian actor, Yury Solomin, falls in love with the daughter of the chief security officer of the White Army, the man who is constantly on his trail. Plus, the series includes some great train action, where a very valuable train, containing advanced tanks and machinery, sent by the West for the Whites, gets blown up! Couldn’t have written it better myself!

Tikhiy Don – And Quiet Flows The Don. Both a book and epic movie about the role of Cossacks in the 1918 Civil War, some of whom sided with the Whites and others with the Reds. An absolute classic of the Soviet literature by Mikhail Sholokhov. For years, Soviet literature had been shunned by the Nobel Prize Committee for political and ideological reasons. Pity, there were many works that deserved to be considered and awarded. Mikhail Sholokhov was one of the few Russian authors who, along with Boris Pasternak, author of Dr. Zhivago, received the Nobel Prize for literature.

Recent Russian Movie:

Moi Admiral – My Admiral, 2008. Starring Konstantin Habensky, known in the West for his acclaimed role in Night Watch and Day Watch, dark fantasies, set in today’s Moscow. Moi Admiral is about the famous leader of the White Movement, Admiral Kolchak, his life, romance and drama. Kolchak was eventually betrayed by the Tsar’s Army Czech Corps who initially sided with the Whites, but eventually handed Kolchak over to the Reds who ended up executing him. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but it received some tremendous press.

I want to let you in on my secret. I wasn’t planning on announcing it just yet, but since we are on this topic, I thought I’d give my readers a sneak peek of what’s to come in the Jade Snow Series. As you may know, this year I will be releasing the next Jade Snow adventure – DRAGON GATE, set in Asia. But after that, in Jade’s third adventure, she will head back to Russia, specifically, to the legendary Lake Baikal in Siberia, for the continuation of the Tsar’s Gold saga. Incidentally, the story of Admiral Kolchak and his betrayal by the Czech Corps is intrinsically connected to the treasure. I’ll say no more so not to spoil the surprise… and I am planning lots of those in the following books!

Jason: Another aspect of the book, which fascinates me is your opening, it is so wonderfully written, where the train is pirated. You also feature beautiful modern trains and stations in Russia. And then we hear you have personal experience because your father worked for the train system in Russia. I love trains! I think everyone does. They are so romantic! So anything you might think of with regard to your inside perspective or childhood memories of trains. Is the great gold robbery the most infamous of Russian train stories? Are there other famous train stories in Russia that you might relate? What sort of role did trains play in the history of Russia? And, also, and this might be the most interesting to readers, what specific memories might you share about riding through the Russian countryside and into the cities by train? What was it like, what were the passengers like, any exciting moments?

Lada: The trains had always played a huge role in the Russian history. Unlike in the USA, historically, the Russian roads had been in pretty bad condition and the auto industry hadn’t developed to the extent it has in the USA. Although Russia is a major power in aeronautics, civil aviation had lagged and is only now starting to mature. Moreover, due to the vastness of the country’s landmass with seas surrounding it, the ships had been important, but not universally usable.

That left trains and related vehicles as the primary source of transportation. Russia inherited the Soviet public transportation system, which was very well developed and maintained. Within smaller cities, you had a comprehensive network of trams and trolleys (trolleybus), aided by some bus traffic (usually for longer express journeys). In larger cities, primarily Moscow and St. Petersburg, the most popular mode of transportation was, still is (and probably will always be) the truly one-of-a-kind Russian Metro. Moscow Metro, in addition to being a beautiful underground architectural miracle, is also the second busiest metro in the world, after Tokyo’s Twin Cities metro, carrying 8 million passengers a day. St. Petersburg Metro, considered by some to be even more beautiful, and the world’s deepest, is also the 5th busiest on the planet. The Russian Metro is featured in Gold Train, including one of the most dramatic episodes of the book.

For connections between cities and suburbs, people normally use local diesel and electric trains, called “Electrichka.” And for long-distance travel, regular trains, expresses, and lately, high-speed trains. Sapsan, the high-speed train, connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, is featured in Gold Train as well.

Three generations of the Russian Trains:

 Old Soviet Locomotive

 Traditional Nokolayevsky Express, Moscow – Saint Petersburg, the one Jade rode in Gold Train (named after the last Russian Tsar Nicolas)

 High-speed train Sapsan featured in Gold Train

Of course, the challenge now is to transition this very comprehensive, well-oiled, but aging system into the 21st century, preserving its heritage, yet innovating it to suit tomorrow’s needs.

Just like you, Jason, I love trains and could talk about them for ages. For now I’ll be getting off my soapbox.

To answer your question about the robbery of the Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire in 1918. Let’s remember that GOLD TRAIN, although based on real historic events, is a book of fiction and the events as described in the prologue are a product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, according to the disclaimer on the book’s copyright page. There are many theories as to how the Gold Reserve really disappeared and there is no consensus to this day as to what happened to the treasure. We can definitely say that more than one train was involved.

I hinted in GOLD TRAIN that there is more treasure to be found. This hint was made for a reason. As mentioned earlier, I intend to explore this story further, when Jade together with Alexei, travels to Lake Baikal in Siberia during her third adventure.

Were there any other famous events related to trains in the Russian history? During the Civil War, trains were attacked and robbed regularly. Let’s remember that in addition to the main opposing forces in that conflict, the Whites and the Reds, there was a rainbow of different factions – the Greens (this was the color used by the bandits and robbers, not the Green Party), The Blacks (anarchists), and even The Yellow-Blues (I’m not kidding – these were the Ukrainian nationalists).

The bandits and so many others just wanted to capitalize on the general disorder, confusion and misfortune, and robberies of peaceful passenger trains were frequent, reminiscent of the Wild West page in the US history.

After the war ended and order in the county was restored, very few robberies took place due to tough law enforcement. Of course during World War II, lots of Russian treasures were looted by the Nazis from the museums and taken to Germany and some other countries. The most famous of them is the looting of the legendary Amber Room, considered by some to be the Eight’s Wonder of the World. It was stolen from Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg and its whereabouts are unknown to this day.

For more about this, read my post on Lada Ray Blog: Tsars, Oligarchs and Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia.

When I grew up in Russia, the travel on trains, or any other mode of transportation was 100% safe. Robberies were unheard of. Even petty crime was rare. I remember once, the crime of the year was that someone was snatching fur hats from people’s heads. The culprits were eventually apprehended and the “wave of hat snatching” had stopped.

I was born in Moscow, but grew up in Odessa, on the Black Sea, where both of my parents worked for the Southern Railways. My father did financial/legal audits and traveled a lot; my mother’s job description was to sit at the headquarters and regulate railroad’s traffic for any given sector. I remember as a child visiting her huge office with tall ceilings and soundproof walls (so that she wouldn’t get distracted when she was on duty, as a single mistake on her part could cause a collision). The office was large enough to do cartwheels in. On the wall she had an enormous map of the entire Southern Railroad, dotted with glittering lights, signifying passing trains, signals and intersecting tracks. All this looked awfully important. 😉

On long-distance trains, there are 3 main classes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I normally rode 2nd class, as it was free for me. I took 1st class only when I was with my father, who due to his job had free 1st class tickets.

Second class sleeper coupe, or compartment, has 4 bunk beds on two levels, with upper bunks pulled up during the day, luggage compartments and a foldable table in the center. The trains usually have nice rugs in corridors and compartments and are very clean and cozy.

The beds have mattresses, pillows and fresh linens and are quite comfortable to sleep in. First class has 2 bunk beds, which turn into plush sofas during the day. Each 1st and 2nd class compartment has a door, which can be locked for privacy. 3rd class has no doors and there are 6 bunks per unit – two of them next to the corridor. 3rd class doesn’t have any rugs, plus there is no privacy at all. The whole carriage would usually buzz all day long as people chat, sing songs and play guitar. It’s certainly much more sociable – and much cheaper. Many younger people would travel 3rd class to save money.

Russians love feeling cozy and comfortable on long-distance trains. They usually bring a pair of slippers and even robes and pajamas to change into. Russian trains provide tea in traditional thin glasses in silver holders or in porcelain cups as part of their service. I have the fondest memories of these tea glasses in silver holders. The scene in Gold Train, when Jade rides the overnight express from Moscow to St. Petersburg echoes my childhood memories.

As part of my parents’ job perks, they always had free train tickets, which I’ve always put to good use. I traveled ever since I can remember, often alone. I was always an adventurer at heart and staying put in one place wasn’t for me. It was so safe to ride a train to another city even as a ten or twelve year old, that I often did just that.

My uncle and aunt lived in Bendery and my much older cousin Sasha (Alexander) in Kishinev (Chisinau), Moldova. Currently, these two cities are located in different countries, as Moldova split in two parts after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I loved visiting my relatives and did that ever since I was eleven. My mother would usually take me to the station and put me on the train. Two hours later in Bendery, I would jump off the train, walk two blocks to my uncle and aunt’s house and surprise them. Then, my aunt Zeena would usually dial my mother and admonish her for letting me travel without any supervision. My kindly Uncle Vasya and Aunt Zeena never managed to get used to the level of my independence.

Once, my mother put me on the train to visit my older cousin Vera, who lived in Nikolayev, a city about four hours east of Odessa. Nikolayev was one of the Black Sea’s Soviet fleet bases, where Vera’s husband was a naval officer. It was the first time I was traveling to that particular city, as my relatives had only recently moved there. I was about twelve at the time. Vera and her husband were supposed to meet me at the train station.

It was late afternoon and my mother was late for work. Feeling distracted, she put me on the wrong train. I knew that I would be in Nikolayev by eight thirty p.m. and Vera’s husband would be waiting for me on the platform. I realized that something was wrong when the train made its final stop at some tiny, godforsaken station in the middle of nowhere and the last two passengers quickly dismounted and disappeared into the darkness stretching beyond the single light illuminating the tiny platform. It was past nine p.m.

The small station building was dark. Obviously, the staff left for the day. I realized immediately that I was, for lack of a better word, screwed. Now, let’s remember, it was well before cell phones.

Thank goodness for my sharp reflexes. As the train was preparing to leave and the conductor, an indifferent-looking woman, was about to snap the train door shut, I dashed to her and explained the situation. She said that the train was going to the depot, some ten kilometers away, and there was nothing she could do. Turned out, my mother (the big train specialist that she was) had not only put me on the wrong train, but also on the train going in the wrong direction. As a result, I was nowhere near Nikolayev. Before long, the whole crew was gathered around, trying to figure out what to do with me. I decided not to tell them who I really was so they wouldn’t start fussing, or god forbid, put me on the train back home. I wanted to continue with my adventure.

Someone remembered that another train would pass this station shortly. It wasn’t an express and it would make all local stops, but it would get me to Nikolayev. I waited on the dark, deserted platform, and lo and behold, thirty minutes later a train did stop. It was indeed headed towards Nikolayev, but there was a problem. I didn’t have enough for the ticket. My mother gave me a few rubles for the road, but since I was to be met by my loving cousin’s family, who was supposed to take care of all my expenses, she didn’t bother giving me any more.

The conductor looked at me and said that I should put my money away. She gave me a seat in the third class compartment and brought some tea (again for free) in that same thin, gold-rimmed glass set in the traditional Russian silver holder, which I always remember with warmth. The scene that I experienced many times in my life – the conductor (stewardess) bringing tea in a glass with silver holder – is described in Gold Train.

I drank tea and munched on cookies the other passengers in the sociable 3rd class shared with me. The train arrived to Nikolayev at dawn. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the main train station, but the auxiliary one, located very far from the city itself. I went around, asking people how to get to the center of the city. They said that trolley traffic started at six. I waited till six and boarded the first trolley. It took me almost an hour to get to the city center.

There was another problem, which would have stumped anyone – but not me. When my mother so infamously put me on the wrong train, no one bothered to provide me with my cousin’s address. Because, well, because it was assumed I didn’t need one, since my relatives would be meeting me at the station. Thank goodness for my memory. I happened to catch a quick glimpse of that address when my mother was handling it earlier and I miraculously managed to remember it.

While on the trolley, I started asking other passengers where the 5th Greenhouse Drive might be. I am not kidding, this was the name of the street! Of course, as you can imagine, no one had the faintest idea where such street was to be found. But I persevered. Finally, one man said that he thought that I should get off on the next stop and walk a few blocks. I took a chance and got off. As I walked, I kept asking passersby and little by little I was directed to the right street. I walked along the narrow, hidden alley and located my cousin’s house. I knocked on the door, which was opened by Igor, my disheveled looking cousin in law, followed by similarly disheveled Vera. Both didn’t sleep all night. It turned out, the entire railroad, as well as local police, were searching for me, task made ever more difficult by the fact that my mother forgot which train she put me on. When I knocked, my cousin thought it was the police with news. The room was full of smoke, as Igor, who had recently quit, started smoking again to settle his nerves.

Needless to say, everyone was immensely relieved that I was okay. I think I became a minor legend in my circles, as everyone asked me to recount my adventures over and over again. And of course, going forward, I made sure I had all the emergency information at my disposal whenever I traveled.

This is just one of my little railroad adventures. There are many more, but that is another story altogether.

Jason: Jade Snow is a magnificent character, so smart, sexy and fearless! She is such a real character, I think the reader gets a very strong sense for Jade and immediately likes her, will follow her anywhere. I think part of this, as well, is a sense of honesty. We feel we can trust Jade to tell it like it is! So if you would talk a little about what was involved with creating this character, a wonderful character that can really carry a long series, I think readers and writers alike will be fascinated by this.

Lada: I have to confess: I am very fond of Jade! I love her not only as one of my characters – my creation – but also as a person. You hit the nail on the head. She is smart, sexy and fearless. Yes, she is all that. But what’s more, she is absolutely and brutally honest. Not just with others, but with herself, which is a much more difficult thing to do. There are many ways we as humans indulge in self-deception. Jade wouldn’t have any of that.

There is an expression in Russian, which is normally reserved for males: “With him, I’d go into battle.” In this case I can honestly say, with Jade I’d easily go into battle. In other words, Jade can be absolutely trusted. With everything – from the world’s largest treasure to someone’s life. And that, together with her zest for life and passion, is an enormous part of her sex appeal. Even her little deceptions come from a higher place.

Front matter Title page

Several years back, when I was flying to Asia via Dubai, I met some international journalists returning from Afghanistan, who told me stories of their adventures. As I was boarding my plane, the image of Jade Snow, complete with her flaming hair and unusual blue-green eyes appeared before me. It occurred to me that this young, sassy , beautiful journalist would make an amazing heroine for the international adventure series. I soon started writing my first novel, STEPFORD USA, prequel to the Jade Snow International Adventure Series. In it, Jade, 28, gets stuck in an idyllic town in the Berkshires, MA, where she is supposed to take it easy before the birth of her child. But this little sheltered paradise is hiding a terrible secret, which Jade must uncover, risking her own and her unborn baby’s lives. Next I wrote a short novella, GREEN DESERT, describing Jade’s experience in Iraq, before the start of the series.

When I stumbled upon the story of the lost Russian Imperial Gold, I knew – this was to be Jade’s next adventure. Now that the series has taken off, the characters and stories write themselves.

I didn’t plan it to be first person narrative. I am a third person gal, generally. But it’s as if Jade insisted on telling the story herself – and there was nothing I could do about it! There is some of me in Jade (what writer can resist that!), and that’s why it’s so easy to write her.

Correction: I don’t really write her. She just tells me her story and I transcribe it on paper.

Jade Snow adventures continue! There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover and wrongs to right. There is also much happiness to find.

DRAGON GATE, the next adventure set in Asia, is coming in 2012.  More information is available at my official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com.

Dear reader, I hope you’ll join me for the future Jade Snow Adventures, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrill ride with heart!

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

Jason: I think one thing that is a little confusing to Americans is the situation with the royal families in Russia. What was their lifestyle like, who were the major families, what is their current status, are they living abroad, etc. What were their houses like? I get the sense some of them were richly adorned palaces! Have you been in some of these, if so might you share your experience?

Lada: This is a very complex question and I’ll just scratch the surface with my brief answer. The lifestyle of the Russian royalty was very opulent and, as Lenin would put it, “they were very far from the people.” This is why the 1917 Revolution happened: the people, simply put, had had enough. World War I and its devastation had become the ultimate trigger.

Actually, some of the legendary Russian noble family names are mentioned in Gold Train. Although used fictitiously, as specified in the disclaimer, most are real historic names.

The Romanovs were of course the Imperial family. Prince Obolensky, Duchess Golitsina (sometimes the Dukes Golitsin would be referred to as Princes as well), Baron Vrangel, Count Vorontsov, Count Goncharov, Duke Menshikov (or Prince Menshikov) are all real historical names. Only Jade’s name – Countess Rosanova – is fictitious, as I wanted her to stand out and have her own identity.

Opulent ballroom at Catherine Palace, Pushkin, Saint Petersburg. Ballroom a little like this one is featured in Gold Train

Menshikov Palace on Neva Embankment, Saint Petersburg. In Gold Train, the Menshikov Mansion plays a prominent role and is owned by the oligarch, Yury Gurevich. Of course, the real Menshikov Palace is owned by the State and is a museum.

Please read more about the world of the Russian royalty in my upcoming article: Fact and Fiction in Gold Train, coming to Lada Ray Blog on May 6, 2012.

After the revolution, many of the royalty became part of the White Movement, some emigrated right away and others stayed, hoping the White army crushes the Bolsheviks and restores the monarchy. But this was not meant to be, and most of those who remained to fight the Bolsheviks ended up emigrating between 1918 and 1920.

This process was far from orderly. It was usually more like fleeing, boarding the last ship out or cramming into the last train, as the Bolsheviks gained and the Whites lost ground, and leaving everything behind in the process. Many ended up in Istanbul, Paris and even China penniless, forced to work at jobs far from glamorous – something they’ve never done in their lives – just to survive. For more on this, please watch the movies/read books I recommended earlier.

Meanwhile, those who had enough foresight, escaped with the family jewels (unless they had been robbed) or had foreign bank accounts and family connections to sustain them during their emigration.

The minority stayed in the Soviet Union and adjusted to their best ability. Some even thrived.

Presently, many former nobles live in the USA, France, Holland, UK and other Western European countries. Many have returned to Russia, which now welcomes them with open arms. Some of the events and aristocratic characters in GOLD TRAIN echo my own experiences. And although used fictitiously in the book, The Royal Society does exist in Russia.

It should be mentioned that most descendants of the noble houses of Russia are currently of very mixed blood, as described in Gold Train.

I’ve been to lots of palaces owned by the former Russian royalty. Extremely lavish and expansive, most are presently owned by the state and are museums, as well as various cultural establishments. The majority have been lovingly maintained during the Soviet days, but were somewhat neglected during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Recently, the new Russia again started heavily investing into maintaining its cultural heritage.

Jason: And finally, since my blog tour day will be May 1st, perhaps you could explain May Day a little from a Russian perspective. Is it a big deal in
Russia? How is it celebrated, has it changed since the end of the Soviet Union? Is there a Spring connection?

Lada: It is my pleasure to talk a little about May 1, or May Day – “Pervomay,” as it is traditionally called in Russian.

The Holiday, considered International Labor Day, is celebrated widely in Europe, China Latin America and of course, in Russia. During the Soviet days, every city and town would host massive parades and demonstrations. Each company or government office would rally its workers and their families. Nurseries and kindergartens would have Pervomay parties with kids dressing up and singing, dancing, performing. Oh yeah, kids also got showered with gifts, usually lots of candy and chocolates, both from their parents’ place of work and through their day care.

 May Day party in my kindergarten. Me and my then boyfriend 😉

 May Day shot of my kindergarten class after a performance. I am sitting in the first row, second from left. Poster on the right wall says: “World Peace.”

If you imagine it was all done under the barrel of a gun, think again. It was actually quite festive, and again, similar celebrations are common throughout Europe today, as thisday is supposed to demonstrate the international solidarity of the workers. I was still very little when these mass parades, or demonstrations as they were called in the USSR, still took place.

I remember lots of red banners, colorful balloons and a sea of spring flowers. I also remember the incredible spring smell. I spent my childhood in Odessa, a southern city on the Black Sea, with gentle sun and breezes blowing from the bay, with lilac, jasmine and acacia trees in bloom. Russians love their flowers, and between bunches of tulips in people’s hands and blooming flowerbeds, trees and bushes, the whole city smelled like an enormous celebratory bouquet.

Every office or company carried their own insignia and banners to identify themselves and display their achievements. As with a lot of other kids, I’d usually have the best seat in the house, riding on my father’s shoulders. Uplifting music played everywhere, from live bands, trying to outdo each other, and from the loudspeakers installed on every corner. People would dance and sing on streets. The whole city turned into a massive, joyfully buzzing beehive. It was loads of fun.

Then, the country started slowly turning away from its socialist traditions and Pervomay demonstrations became smaller and smaller. When Gorbachev came to power, a lot of the old Soviet traditions were modified or eliminated.

The new generation, as we grew up, developed very different interests. As a linguist and translator, mine lay abroad, as I spent most of my time traveling while in college. In the late 1980s, I didn’t pay much attention to what was going on under my very nose, even though my friends and I would still often celebrate Pervomay as it was intended – in nature or somewhere on the beach. We would burn fires, bake potatoes, make shashlik (Russian shish kebob), and sing to the accompaniment of a guitar. I have to say, to this day I miss these outings. In 1991, I left the country permanently and finished my education abroad. Shortly thereafter, the Soviet Union had peacefully and quietly ceased to exist.

 May, still a little cool. Us on the beach, Odessa

I have to say, that tomato and corn on the cob were delicious (homemade hot corn, straight from the stove and a perennial favorite treat for beach goers in Odessa, was sold by babushkas at the entrance to the beach… yum!)

 Contemplating the meaning of life. More early beach in Odessa.

 

 One fine day in the Caucasus mountains. Me and one very cute monkey 😉

 Today as I understand, Pervomay is still celebrated in the Soviet fashion by Communist party members, which is the second most popular party in Russia after Putin’s ruling United Russia party.

The roots of the holiday are actually pagan. The indigenous pagan populations of Europe, including the continent’s largest Celtic and Rus cultures, celebrated May Day in nature, with lots of spring flowers, bonfires, music, dance and good food, to greet the beginning of the warm season. You can still see traces of this ancient holiday in, say, Ukrainian 19th century literature and Celtic legends. Today’s Wiccans celebrate this holiday, too.

But with the advent of the modern era and Christianity, these old traditions were forgotten. They were revived in the 19th century Europe, when it was decided to celebrate this day as International Workers Day. It was the time when the factory workers in Europe and USA were fighting for their rights.

And here is the shocker: The actual trigger to this newly revived holiday was the event in Chicago, USA, when during a factory strike, a number of American workers were killed as a result of a brutal crackdown, which happened – you’ve guessed it – on May 1. The workers in other countries decided to show solidarity with their “American brothers” by marking this day as International Workers’ Day. Isn’t it ironic that Labor Day in the USA, as opposed to the rest of the world, is now celebrated in September.

May Day is a national holiday not only in Russia today, but also in most of the world. In Russia everyone actually has April 30 and May 1 as official days off. May 8-9, Victory Day – another 2 days off. Some companies/offices have practically 2 weeks off, which they call May Holidays. Not bad! That’s in addition to country wide 10 days off for New Year/Russian Christmas: 12/31-1/10 and required by law 1 month vacation for all! Most Europeans have 24-36 day vacations AND many countries have additional 2 weeks period in August, when the whole country practically shuts down for a summer break. Compare that to American 2 weeks. Hmmm… Food for thought, especially on May Day.

Thank you, Jason, for this very special opportunity to connect with your readers. I thoroughly enjoyed answering your in-depth, off-the-beaten-path questions. And I hope the readers enjoyed this interview, too!

Thank you, Lada, for such a fascinating interview! I’m sure my readers are going to want to become Jade Snow fans and follow her adventures. You have been very generous sharing with us memories from your life. Thank you for this. You illustrate beautifully how an author’s experiences weave into his or her writing to create compelling and world-broadening fiction. I would like to remind readers to visit Lada’s website for more information on all of Lada Ray’s writing. And, before you leave this page, please leave a short comment so that you, too, may be eligible for the drawing! Thank you for stopping by Different Outcomes!

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

GOLD TRAIN INFO and LINKS

Genre: geopolitical/spy thriller, historic mystery, action, adventure, humor, suspense with an element of otherworldly romance.

Pages: 230. Print size: 9×6 in.

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

PROMOTIONS:
For a limited time on Amazon:

Buy GOLD TRAIN paperback for $9.99 (reg. $14.95)
Buy Gold Train ebook for only $0.99 (reg. $3.99)
Own all three Jade Snow ebooks for only $2.97. Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert – $0.99 each!

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

WHERE TO BUY GOLD TRAIN:

Amazon (Paperback)

Amazon US (eBook)

Amazon UK DE FR ES IT (Paperback and eBook)

Barnes & Noble (eBook)

Smashwords (eBook)

Kobo (eBook)

Sony (eBook)

USEFUL LINKS:

Blog Tour and Giveaway info: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours
Visit Lada Ray Author Website – all about GOLD TRAIN and other books:http://www.LadaRay.com
GOLD TRAIN Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTek8E23rg
Blog: https://ladaray.wordpress.com
Twitter: @LadaTweets
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LadaRay
YouTube: Lada Ray Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay/videos

I am inviting you to check out the entertaining posts on Lada Ray Blog with lots of beautiful and rare photos. It’s Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russian trains and gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Russian Metro, like you’ve never seen them before! It’s also about Jade Snow and Gold Train:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

Amazing Russian Metro

The World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

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

GOLD TRAIN: Who is this mysterious Alexei?

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

In conclusion, read book reviews by Jason Sullivan:

Book Review: Gold Train by Lada Ray

Book Review: Stepford USA by Lada Ray

Reblogged from Different Outcomes blog by author Jason Sullivan:

May Day Interview with Lada Ray, author of Gold Train

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RUSSIAN TREASURES

30 Monday Apr 2012

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

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Without further ado,

RUSSIAN TREASURES

Enjoy the ride!

The Great Russian Imperial Crown

The Minor Russian Imperial Crown

The Russian Imperial Orb

Moscow: Bolshoi Theatre at night

Above and below: legendary Bolshoi Ballet

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

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

Another view of Red Square

Manezhnaya Square, Moscow

Above and below: The golden domed Kremlin cathedrals

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

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

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

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

Above and below: images of the sumptuous Moscow Metro

Above and below: Famous bronze sculptures, Moscow Metro

Above: Russian porcelain exhibit in Moscow Metro

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

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

The Throne Room, The Hermitage

Beautiful Saint Petersburg

Neva Embankment, Saint Petersburg

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

Magnificent Gold Singing Fountains of Peterhof

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

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

In conclusion:

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

RUSSIA and I

Guest post by Lada Ray

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

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

stbasils_spasskayatower

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

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

parade

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

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

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

novodevichy-convent

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

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

Food for thought…

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

red-square

Above: Fireworks on Red Square, Moscow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

gt-cover-master2

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

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

Moscow:

friendship-fountain

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

bolshoi

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

st-basils-1

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

arbat

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

horses_fountain_alexander_gardens_moscow

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

dancing-in-alexander-gardens

Above: Dancing in Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin Wall.

arbat-painter

Above: Art on display on Arbat.

moscow-street

Above: On Moscow Street.

modernmoscowarchitecture

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

modern-moscow-1

Above: Moskva City (Moscow City) under construction.

moscow-university-5

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

moscow_metro-8

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

moscow-metro-16

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

komsolmoskayametrostation

kremlin-guards

Above: The Kremlin Guards.

kremlin-cathedral

Above: A golden-domed Kremlin cathedral.

sapsan-3

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

Saint Petersburg:

st-pete-bridge

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

300px-saint_petersburg_metro_novocherkasskaya_station1

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

hermitage-stairs

Above: The Hermitage, Grand Stairs.

523737-peterhof-palace-and-gardens-1

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

anichkov-bridge-with-love

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

catherine-palace

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

amber-room-catherine-palace

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

fabrege_egg_catherine_palace1

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

pushkin_statue_square_of_the_arts

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

TR.RUS04

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

station-sportivnaya

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

liebeskind_gazprom-conceptual-design

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

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

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

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

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

The World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

lada-3

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

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

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

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

Copyright 2012 Lada Ray. All rights reserved.

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

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GOLD TRAIN BLOG TOUR Starts Today!

25 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

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

GOLD TRAIN Paperback Launch Blog Tour starts today

NOT YOUR USUAL BLOG TOUR!

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

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

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gold Train Ebook: $0.99

Stepford USA Ebook: $0.99

Green Desert Ebook: $0.99

GOLD TRAIN Paperback is coming to Amazon today!

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


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

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


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

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GOLD TRAIN, Second Edition

12 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, CULTURE: Russia, E-book, geopolitical thriller, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, historic mystery, Jade Snow Russia Adventure, Jade Snow Series, Lada Ray, Moscow, mystery thriller, Saint Petersburg, Smashwords

The exciting Second Edition of GOLD TRAIN is now on Amazon and Smashwords digital shelves!

Check it out:

Amazon US

Amazon UK   DE   FR   ES   IT 

Smashwords 

Coming to all other Ebook retailers soon!

GOLD TRAIN Paperback launch: April 25, 2012

GOLD TRAIN Paperback Launch Blog Tour: April 25 – May 6

Check out http://www.LadaRay.com for all updates.

Watch new dramatic GOLD TRAIN book trailer

See you on pages of my books!

Lada Ray

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New GOLD TRAIN Book Trailer – new dramatic score!

05 Monday Mar 2012

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

action, Barnes & Noble Nook, book trailer, CULTURE: Russia, geopolitical thriller, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, historic mystery, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Moscow, mystery thriller, romance, Russia Adventure, Saint Petersburg, spy thriller, suspense, trailer, World Heritage Site, YouTube

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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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GOLD TRAIN Holiday Launch 12/19/11 – 1/1/12

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN

≈ Comments Off on GOLD TRAIN Holiday Launch 12/19/11 – 1/1/12

Tags

action, adventure, Author Lada Ray, Barnes & Noble, CULTURE: Russia, FSB, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, gripping thriller, historic mystery, humor, Jade, Jade Snow, Jade Snow World Adventure Series, KGB, mystery thriller, Nicolas II, romance, Russia Adventure, Russian Civil War, Russian Tsar, Saint Petersburg, Smashwords, Soviet Union, suspense, true historic events

Giveaway, promotion, blog, new excerpts, reviews, fun!

Announcing 3 for 1 Promotion!
Buy GOLD TRAIN ebook for $2.99
and get 2 free ebooks!

GOLD TRAIN

For the fans of The Da Vinci Code & National Treasure
comes this gripping new thriller, based on true historic events!

1918: Civil War in Russia. The entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. But what if it’s about to resurface? And what if it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power?
Today: the world’s largest treasure; dangerous adventure; forbidden passion, defying time and space; conspiracy that threatens to plunge the country into darkness.
International journalist, Jade Snow, travels to Russia to investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train, instead, she finds herself a pawn in a struggle between forces beyond her control. Running is not an option, as commitment to solve a murder makes her play the deadly game. Jade must choose between her worst friends and best enemies, and the fate of the world just might depend on her choice!

READ 5 STAR REVIEWS!

Jade Snow International Adventure Series 1

Category: novel, international mystery/thriller, geopolitical/spy thriller, historic mystery, suspense with an element of otherworldly romance

Word count: 68,400

Read GOLD TRAIN Excerpts:

Excerpt 1

Dramatic Prologue

Excerpt 2

Jade and Alexei – Love Scene in St. Petersburg

Excerpt 3

Jade’s Kidnapping

 Buy GOLD TRAIN ebook:

Amazon US

 Amazon UK

 Amazon DE  FR  ES  IT

Smashwords

Coming soon: Barnes & Noble, Sony, Apple, Diesel, Kobo!

Watch GOLD TRAIN Trailer

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

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