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Lada Ray Blog

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Tag Archives: Stepford USA

GLOBAL AMAZON SALE ON ALL LADA RAY BOOKS: ebooks & paperbacks, fiction & non-fiction!

24 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by Lada Ray in Author Feature, BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Green Desert, BOOK: Stepford USA, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, Geopolitics/ Economics, My Updates, NEW BOOKS, Writing and Publishing

≈ Comments Off on GLOBAL AMAZON SALE ON ALL LADA RAY BOOKS: ebooks & paperbacks, fiction & non-fiction!

Tags

Amazon, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, ebook, Geopolitical & Geo-Economic Quantum Calibrations, Gold Train, Green Desert, Kindle, Lada Ray Books, novel, paperback, predictions, prophecy, sale, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter

Big sale on all Lada Ray books on Amazon: novels, shorts and new non-fiction, ebooks and paperbacks! Click on links below to view and purchase!

LIMITED TIME ONLY! All prices below in USD. Books are available on Amazon worldwide! Buy on Amazon.com (links below), or go to country specific Amazon sites!

3Novel set SMALL TEXT1

THE EARTH SHIFTER

ebook SALE $6.99 (reg $8.99)

paperback SALE $17.88 (reg $18.99)

GOLD TRAIN (AccidentalSpy2)

ebook SALE $5.89 (reg $6.99)

paperback SALE $16.88 (reg. $18.88)

STEPFORD, USA (AccidentalSpy1)

ebook SALE $4.89 (reg $6.99)

paperback SALE $15.88 (reg $18.88)

 

NOVELETTE SHORTS (12-13,000 words, about 30 pages)

2Shorts set

CATHARSIS – Legend of the Lemurians

ebook SALE $0.99 (reg $2.99)

GREEN DESERT (AccidentalSpy0 Prequel short)

ebook SALE $0.99 (reg $2.99)

 

3COMBO BANNER2

NEW RELEASE – NON-FICTION:

GEOPOLITICAL & GEO-ECONOMIC QUANTUM CALIBRATIONS

eBOOK – only $9.99 US

Paperback SALE $19.88 (reg $22.99) US

 

more info:

All International direct Amazon links can be gleaned here:  Ebook   Paperback

NEW BOOK INFO PAGE on LadaRayAuthor site!

and visit Lada Ray Amazon Author Page

**

To let you know, I am updating my book author site! More pages, info, links and excerpts are being added!

Check it out, especially the new dedicated Book Page for GEOPOLITICAL & GEO-ECONOMIC  QUANTUM CALIBRATIONS: GO TO NEW ​BOOK INFO PAGE!

There will be more soon! Stay tuned!

 

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Princess Lila and I

09 Sunday Aug 2015

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

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

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

LADA and LILY edited7

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

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

Lila cropped

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

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

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

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

Princess Lila and I

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

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

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

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

‘No?’ replied my hubby, taken aback.

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

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

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

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

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

Sorry!

Tiger Lily is spoken for

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lilechka helping me work

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

Lilechka loves to sleep on my desk

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

Agatha Christie fan

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

Lila, the Cosmic Panther

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

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

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

In memoriam: Celebrating her life!

in memoriam 1

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

in memoriam 2

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

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

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

ENCHANTED HALLOWEEN, starring The Halloween Cat!

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

.

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

STEPFORD USA ebook NEW

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

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

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

#LightForPets #cat

~~~~

Much more about Animal & Mother Earth Protection

More posts about Lilechka:

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

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

  • Meet My Wonderful Lily Cat

~~~~~~

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

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

EARTH SHIFT REPORTS              BOOKS             

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

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Books by Lada Ray: Five Book Trailer

20 Monday Oct 2014

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

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, Author Lada Ray, book trailer, books by Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, ebooks, Gold Train, Green Desert, Lake Baikal, mystery, mystical adventure, paperback, prophetic, psychic, Russia, Siberia, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter, thriller

Watch/like this video on YouTube

Video description: A short, dramatic 5 book trailer for 3 novels and 2 novelettes written by Author Lada Ray. Experience books by Lada Ray! THE EARTH SHIFTER – dubbed ‘prophetic’ mystical adventure/thriller; CATHARSIS (Legend of the Lemurians), a cosmic adventure novelette, companion to The Earth Shifter. Accidental Spy Series of adventure/thrillers: bestselling GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure); STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure); GREEN DESERT (Iraq prequel novelette).
Lada’s books are sold at Amazon and Barnes&Noble worldwide.

More info: BOOKS    Read excerpts

Visit: LadaRay.info!

All Lada Ray ebooks are on pre-holiday sale! 

Paperbacks available too!

More info in original announcement and BOOKS!

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I’ll be Donating Profits From My Book Sales to No-Kill Animal Shelter in USA and Siberian Tiger Rescue in Russia

17 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Stepford USA, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, Earth/ Nature/ Animals, Love/ Kindness/ Inspiration

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

Amur tiger conservation, animal rescue, animal rights, Animal sanctuary, Author Lada Ray, books by Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Donating, donating book profits, Проект Амурский тигр, endangered species, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Ithaca New York, Lake Baikal, no-kill animal shelter, Pet, Russia, Russian Far East, Siberia, Siberian Tiger, Siberian Tiger Project, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter, Tomkins County SPCA, Ussurain Tiger, WCS Russia, WWF

Each of the books I’ve written is about justice, peace and/or kindness amid the most adverse circumstances. Most of my books feature amazing and beautiful animals, both wild and domestic. I am very passionate about the beauty of our Mother Earth and about her animals being treated with respect and care they deserve.

THE EARTH SHIFTER features one of the miracles of Lake Baikal – its endemic seals (Nerpa), Siberian Bear, wolves, White Eagle, as well as the majestic Siberian Tiger; both STEPFORD USA and GOLD TRAIN feature rescued super-intelligent and heroic cats and dogs; and even my sci-fi novelette CATHARSIS includes a note of warning against cruelty and about the need for animal protection and preservation.

For a while, I’ve been considering donating profits from my book sales to a no-kill animal shelter and animal rescue in New York State, USA and in Siberia, Russia. I’ve done some research, and these are the organizations that clearly stand out.

NEW YORK, USA

march for the animals Ithaca SPCATompkins County SPCA http://www.spcaonline.com/ The first ever no-kill animal shelter in US History! Provides shelter to 3,000 animals annually.

Sept. 28, 2013 March for the Animals, Ithaca, NY

The Tompkins County SPCA was incorporated in February 1902 in an effort to prosecute individual cases of cruelty. In 1999, the SPCA Board of Directors resolved to become a “no kill” shelter, maintaining its no-kill status continuously since 2001-2002. Animal People, a prominent national journal on animal issues, ranked Tompkins County (Ithaca, NY) the safest community for companion animals in the United States. P.S. Ithaca (home to Cornell University and Buddhist Monastery – Dalai Lama’s Seat in North America) has also been voted the most spiritual city in the USA.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Saugerties, NY http://casanctuary.org/

atlas-in-sun-crop-150x150

Located in the New York’s Hudson Valley, Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS) is a 110-acre haven for horses and farm animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. In addition to emergency rescue, CAS provides innovative programs that educate the public about the sentience of farm animals, and the devastating impacts of agribusiness and institutionalized cruelty on animals, people, and the planet.

HorseCAS offers weekend and special group tours, vegan cooking classes,speaking engagements, a summer day camp for kids, and a host of compassionate programming year round at its primarily solar-powered Sanctuary. Since 2001, CAS has rescued over 2,000 animals, and has worked in tandem with law enforcement to bring animal abusers to justice. Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s mission is to rescue and rehabilitate farm animals and horses, to advocate for the abolition of institutionalized cruelty to animals through education, and to help people adopt a cruelty-free lifestyle.

Buy links for my books (ebooks and paperbacks)

SIBERIA, RUSSIA

Siberian Tiger, aka Amur Tiger, aka Ussurian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) – IUCN Red Book endangered species. The largest cat and most magnificent tiger in the world, currently, only about 350 adult tigers are left in the wild (about 450 individuals all together), 95% of them in the Russian Far East.

Siberian tiger habitat

Siberian Tiger habitat

I have written about Siberian Tiger in THE EARTH SHIFTER, in the scene where Sasha encounters, and psychically helps, 2 tigers (and their yet unborn baby) dislodged from their habitat.

Victor, the tiger freed from a poachers snare released into the wild

Victor, tiger rescued from a poacher, released into the wild Continue reading →

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Publishing Paradigm Shift. What Is Better: Amazon KDP Select or Broad Distribution?

15 Thursday Aug 2013

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

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Apple, Author Lada Ray, Barnes&Noble, Big 6 Publishers, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, Free ebooks on Kindle, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Green Desert, Indie Publishing, KDP, KDP Select, KDP Select free promo, KDPS, Kobo, publishing paradigm shift, Smashwords, Sony, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter

question-mark-thinker

Amazon KDP Select (KDPS) or broad distribution through multiple channels – in other words, to be or not to be. For me, it was a cause of much vacillation for the past year.

Finally, I have happily parted ways with #KDPSelect, not planning to ever return, barring some sort of massive revamping of their system. My books are back to #BN and #Smashwords, and slowly but surely they are also posting on #Kobo, #Sony and #Apple as well. I am also making both CATHARSIS and GREEN DESERT free everywhere, to celebrate this joyous occasion! See My books at a glance + buy links. A separate post is coming soon with direct links to Kobo, BN and Sony. There will be freebies too, so watch for them!

new-year-champagne

So why am I celebrating? Continue reading →

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The Envelope Please! The Earth Shifter Mega-Giveaway Results

01 Saturday Jun 2013

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

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

5 star book review, ARCHOS Tablet, Author Lada Ray, book giveaway, book giveaway winners, Book: The Earth Shifter, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, Gold Train, Green Desert, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter book launch, THe Earth Shifter mega-giveaway, top rated books

IMG_0187

I am immensely grateful to all those who participated in The Earth Shifter Launch & Mega-Giveaway! To all my fabulous readers, reviewers, fellow writers, and fans who helped spread the word about my books, and especially, to all who wrote those awesome reviews, did author features, and hosted interviews: THANK YOU! Continue reading →

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Shaman, Mysterious Brunette, Russian Oligarch, CIA Guy…What Do They All Have in Common?

29 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, Writing and Publishing

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

5 star book reviews, Accidental Spy Series, ancient European languages, ARCHOS Tablet giveaway, Author Lada Ray, bible, book giveaway, books by Lada Ray, Dan Brown, EARTH SHIFTER, elohim, elves, Gold Train, Green Desert, Harry Potter, Hebrew, J.K. Rowling, Jack Sparrow, JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Linguistics, philology, Pirates of the Carribbean, Stepford USA, talking names in literature, The Earth Shifter, toponymics

2  SUPER-EXCITING NEWS, dear readers! 

1. Both THE EARTH SHIFTER and CATHARSIS are now featured on the top-rated Amazon list for visionary/metaphysical literature, all thanks to your wonderful reviews! 

2. THE EARTH SHIFTER Virtual Tour is nearing its grand finale and I have some awesome news about the upcoming giveaway! As you know, I’m giving away ARCHOS TABLET, as well as 2 complete sets of my ebooks.

I’ve decided to add something very special and exciting to my giveaway to thank all of my readers, reviewers and fans for your wonderful support and generosity. In addition to the above great prizes, I am also giving away signed paperback copies of The Earth Shifter, Gold Train and Stepford USA! Each book comes complete with 2 of my new, exclusive bookmarks, and this giveaway is open worldwide!

More about THE EARTH SHIFTER MEGA-GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Results

Links to all my books: bookstore

ARCOS TABLET image 

And now…how ’bout some TALKING NAMES, mate?

As Captain Jack Sparrow would probably say…

In the run up to ‘The Earth Shifter Virtual Tour & Giveaway Grand Finale,’ I want to invite you on a little linguistical adventure in which we’ll explore the fascinating subject of the talking names in literature, and learn some of my secrets…

Ready? Continue reading →

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The Earth Shifter Launch, Virtual Tour, Book Sale + Read and Review!

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

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

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Author Lada Ray, Barnes & Noble, book giveaway, book launch, books by Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, E-book, Gold Train, Green Desert, paperback, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter, virtual book tour, YA Revolution

I have several very important and exciting announcements!

Enter THE EARTH SHIFTER Read & Review Giveaway

PAPERBACK LAUNCH

1. I am thrilled to announce the official launch of THE EARTH SHIFTER! It has been available as ebook since the beginning of the year, but now the paperback is also out!

ES COVER ebook 2

2. I’m also releasing 2nd edition Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) paperback, which has been re-edited and substantially improved.

GT COVER ebook

3. I’m also finally releasing Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure) paperback – and it looks spectacular!

SUSA FRONT COVER FINAL NEW 2

Continue reading →

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Join the YA Revolution!

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in Author Feature, Writing and Publishing

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Author Lada Ray, book reviews, Books, e-readers, ebooks, Gold Train, reading, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter, YA literature, YA Revolution, Young adult fiction

YA REV BADGE 5

The E-publishing revolution has just started, and already digital shelves are full of senseless imitations rehashed over and over again. Some books are just openly negative, violent or meaningless. All you need is an e-reader and a simple click of a button in order to purchase an ebook. No one can possibly police what our teens and young adults are reading. Meanwhile, their minds are still delicate and developing, and perhaps they haven’t yet learned to discern what is good and what is harmful. Much of what our teens may be downloading on their e-readers may not be what they should be reading in order to develop into good human beings and responsible citizens of our planet!

Typically, author organizations and promotional sites do not distinguish books for integrity, quality of message and positive energy. It is up to us, readers, writers, bloggers and reviewers to convey this information to each other. YA Revolution aims to unite all those who are tired of same old, same old and who want to read new, original, inspiring books with message and heart. It’s also for those who want the same for their kids. We intend to give voice and help promote authors who deserve to be heard, whether they write YA or adult literature. The more good books are promoted by us all, the easier both teens and adults will be able to chose the right books to read!

Whether you are a young adult or simply young at heart,

join the YA REVOLUTION!

We are for literature with message and meaning! Continue reading →

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The Earth Shifter Review & Feature Fest

10 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, My Updates, Reviews

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

Amazon Kindle, author interview, Author Lada Ray, Barnes&Noble, book reviews, books by Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, Gold Train, Goodreads, Green Desert, indie authors, Smashwords, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter, YouTube

ES COVER ebook

Hello everyone! In October 2012 I did a Book Review Fest where I shared my new reviews of several awesome books by fellow indie authors. The Review Fest 1 became so popular that I decided to continue the tradition. As many of you know, my new release, fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER, has received some very nice reviews in the past couple of months. Also, it is coming out as paperback on or after March 18th, which will be a pre-launch release: the official book launch is in April. The paperback will feature excerpts from the best and most interesting reviews The Earth Shifter has received so far.

I’m very grateful to all those who took the time and effort to not only read my book, but also post a thoughtful and honest review. Many of these reviews put a smile on my face and warmed my heart because their authors have captured the very essence of the story. All the reviews were fabulous and rich in material, and I had a hard time choosing which reviews, and which excerpts, to include. But due to space limitations, I had to make some hard choices.

Today, I want to honor all of my first reviewers by posting excerpts from their reviews, the links to their original websites and blogs, as well as other sources, where the full reviews can be found. The excerpts below have been selected for the inclusion in THE EARTH SHIFTER paperback Praise Section, as well as on the back cover. You will notice that one of the review excerpts below is longer than the others. That is because its author, Sofia Siberia, is the very first reviewer of The Earth Shifter, and also, because her review hits on so many great points that resonate deeply with the book’s message and intent.

For those who have missed my recent author interviews and features, I am also including the links below. What I especially love about these pieces is that they are all so different, reflecting varying personalities and interests of my interviewers, while working in concert to lift the veil of secrets, big and small, and complimenting each other quite wonderfully. Check out these one-of-a-kind and cool interviews (and this not an exaggeration!), which will shed additional light on the characters, settings, and the wild, wild ride that was the creation of this “cosmic adventure thriller,” as author J.J. Collins has called it!

Before we begin, a want to share some breaking news:

As you may have noticed from the image above, the front cover of THE EARTH SHIFTER has received a face lift based on my publisher’s guidance. I really like the new cover and I think it will showcase the book even better! This will be the cover we’ll use for both the paperback and ebook editions.

ES COVER full cropped

Also, just to mention, my birthday is coming up and to celebrate it, I’m starting a Read and Review Program. Anyone interested in reading and reviewing any of my books, including The Earth Shifter, Gold Train, Stepford USA, Catharsis & Green Desert, will receive respective ebooks for free. See the full list of my books here. The details of the Read and Review will be announced in a couple of days both here and on Goodreads, and it will be accompanied by a new, awesome giveaway, as well as other goodies! Please stay tuned!

EARTH SHIFTER Image

Without further ado, The Earth Shifter Review & Feature Fest!

Check out these wonderful recent INTERVIEWS & FEATURES:

Feng Shui, Fidel Castro & Fascinating Predictions! An Interview with Lada Ray! – Title says is all. One-of-a-kind interview conducted by author & blogger Rohan Healy, Rohan7things blog!

Interview with Author Lada Ray – A very different, witty and spunky chat conducted by spiritual blogger Madeline Walsh, 1EarthUnite blog!

Interview with the Author: Lada Ray – a detailed and fun talk conducted by Michala of Bitemybook.com

Author Spotlight: Lada Ray – A cool piece, where M.C. O’Neill, the Author of The Ancients and the Angels, is discussing The Earth Shifter & Catharsis (Legend of the Lemurians). Includes reviews!

The Earth Shifter and yours truly have also been discussed in this cool radio/video interview: Ancients & Spirits: Author M.C. O’Neill on the Vinny Eastwood Show

Last, but certainly not least, I’m delighted to announce that I will also be a guest on the Vinny Eastwood Show at 6pm EST on March 18th, all thanks to Mark O’Neill’s glowing introduction, for which I’m eternally grateful! Tune in to listen on the American Freedom Radio or watch it at  vinnyeastwoodshow.com and guerillamedia.co.nz.  I will also post the show on LadaRay Youtube channel and here, on my blog, a few days after. Please tune in to listen, ask questions and comment! Hope you enjoy it, and please stop by to let me know what you think!

Aurora 1

And now, the reviews!

5 Stars – “Lada Ray’s The Earth Shifter is the easiest five star review I’ve done in a long time, I loved and was captivated by the story right from he beginning. The parallels with so much of what is happening in the world today, and so many other detailed aspects give believability to this well crafted, wonderful story. My only complaint is that it is a trilogy and I have to wait till the end of 2013 to find out what happens next.”—Paulette Mahurin, Author – The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap (California) 

5 Stars – “The best book I’ve read in two years! Warning: Lada Ray knows more about human nature than Gandhi himself! Read The Earth Shifter and you’ll see a new definition to YA fantasy.” —M.C. O’Neill, Author – The Ancients and the Angels (Chicago, USA)

5 Stars – “Fantastic new young adult fiction! I finished The Earth Shifter 3 nights ago and it has been on my mind since. The characters and plot have stuck with me and I eagerly await the next installment. As I was reading a book set primarily in Russia about comets striking the Earth, what should happen but a comet should strike Russia! That was crazy and gave the book a whole new level of intrigue!” —Rohan Healy, Author, Blogger (Ireland)

5 Stars – “If you could read just one book this year, seriously consider The Earth Shifter! This metaphysical fantasy/thriller is simply one of the most compelling stories you’ll find. Author Lada Ray expertly weaves a tale about the consequences that mankind’s insanity has upon the world. The adventure is all-encompassing and epic in scope, and the author mindfully balances multiple story lines where the characters play a very crucial role in the outcome. It’s a real eye-opening, earth-shifting experience for sure!”—Madeline Walsh, Blogger (New York)

5 Stars – “A cosmic adventure thriller that will take the reader through history and across continents. The plot moves along quickly, introducing each key character and sub-plot with precision timing. An awesome, fast-paced, original storyline with exceptional twists that will leave you breathless and wanting more. The book is outstandingly researched and a marvel of creativity. It contains the perfect mix of history, fact, fiction and creative imagination at its best.”—J.J. Collins, Author – James Madison, The Father of the Constitution (London, UK)

5 Stars – “A hypnotizing novel which moves with deeply ingrained subplots. It serves up juicy portions of a storyline you will be begging to finish reading. A book that is hard to put down…because it is more complex than you can imagine…the next page must be turned… MUST BE… And just when you think you know all the essentials, Lada interrupts your story with an added element, perfectly knitted into the world of Sasha and the Key. I wouldn’t hold this novel to being just a YA because it is perfectly suited for the adults as well. Most all of characters were easy to grab onto and hold close. Final Verdict: 10/10.”—Bite My Book Reviews

5 Stars – “Tolkien, move over, another Russian has hit the deck running. Must read!”—Nanakulikane Reviews (Hawaii) – see this review on Amazon

5 Stars – “The Earth Shifter is a rich cocktail of amazing ingredients with the two core, and most delicious components being, the mystical realm of Lake Baikal in Siberia, as well as the Prophecy of the Key. The author covers a wide range of interests from history and legends, to mysticism, prophecy and origins of humanity. There are elements of a spy thriller set against the glamorous backdrop of modern Moscow and New York.

My family is originally from Siberia, and I was mesmerized by the beautiful descriptions of indigenous Siberia, including shamanism, ancient history, Tunguska Meteorite explosion, local village life. The author Lada Ray is a unique mysterious encyclopedia in herself! Her writing style is inimitable and her esoteric knowledge is impressive. While reading the book, I just couldn’t help but wonder how one person can possibly know all that!

The unexpected twists and turns, amazing flashbacks, stand-out characters and unforgettable settings all fold into an astonishing kaleidoscope of events and a mystically-integrated message. Every new chapter is an escalating suspense, and every new piece of information is an introduction to another, even more gripping revelation. The Earth Shifter will keep you thrilled, intrigued and glued to the next page. You’ll wish you could finish your chores ASAP so you could absorb yourself in reading again. The book brings modern present and ancient past into a fantastic unity, being prophetic, revealing, casting lights on the shadowy preliminaries and the shifting destinies of humankind.

The Earth Shifter will literally “shift” your consciousness, for, after reading it, the world as you see it will never be the same again! I’m endlessly happy I discovered Lada Ray’s books and got to know her as a writer!” —Sofia Siberia, Blogger (Russia/ Ukraine/ Lebanon)

5 Stars – “World-enriching spiritual journey filled with drama and excitement! Another impressive thriller. Ms. Ray artfully puts the pieces in place, building the suspense steadily until the reader is fully encompassed. The Earth Shifter has incredible scope. It combines geopolitics, spirituality, cultural depth and, perhaps most of all, the idea that it is the relationships we form, how we treat each other, that is so important to the healing of the planet.” —Jason Sullivan, Author – Rahala, An Ascension Odyssey (USA)

4.5 Stars – “A complex tale with a great cast of characters. A great YA thriller that is sure to please. I think adult readers will enjoy it as much.” Kate Farrell – The Kindle Book Review & katesreads.com (USA)

Also, many thanks to authors George Wensley (UK), Darlene Foster (Canada) and Guy Portman (UK) for their lovely 5 and 4 star reviews!

You can also read these reviews & more on:

Amazon     B&N     Goodreads     Smashwords   

See book extras on Shelfari

THE EARTH SHIFTER characters/settings/themes/news/excerpts

Stay tuned to the Read and Review Program! Coming next week!

Remote-Viewing

Related articles
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  • Ancients & Spirits: Author Mark O’Neil on the Vinny Eastwood Show (ladaray.wordpress.com)
  • The Earth Shifter & Gold Train Paperback Preview (ladaray.wordpress.com)
  • My Favorite EARTH SHIFTER Themes & Characters: Fantasy, History, Geopolitics, Metaphysics (ladaray.wordpress.com)
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  • The Earth Shifter Review & Feature Fest (ladaray.wordpress.com)

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The Earth Shifter & Gold Train Paperback Preview

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, Writing and Publishing

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Atlantis, Author Lada Ray, Barnes & Noble, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, Earth Keepers Chronicles: Origins, ebook, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Lemurian crystal, paperback, publishing, Stepford USA, The Earth Shifter

Exciting news! Mark your calendar: THE EARTH SHIFTER paperback pre-launch release will be in the second part of March, and the official launch is in April! The exact date will be announced here – look for the book on Amazon, with subsequent release on Barnes&Noble, after March 18, 2013.

This is a 394 page book, trim size 6×9 inches, retail price $18.99. The good news: it will be available for a limited time for $16.88! Signed copies at a very competitive price will also be available through LadaRay.com Book Store. More info is coming soon, but for the time being, here’s a sneak peek at what the paperback looks like.

The Earth Shifter cover

ES COVER full cropped

Front Cover

ES COVER ebook

Back cover, including bio, new book blurb, and praise

ES Back Cover correct

An inside look – the Title Page:

Front matter Title page

Front matter Dedication

Front matter Earth Keepers excerpt 1

Front matter Books By Lada Ray

..

I am also very pleased to announce the second, deluxe edition of GOLD TRAIN! It has been additionally edited, beautifully re-designed & re-formatted, and it includes a new blurb, new back matter, plus a blurb & excerpt from the next Accidental Spy Asia Adventure, DRAGON GATE. This is a 280 page book, trim size 6×9 inches, on cream paper, retail price $16.99. The good news: it will be available for a limited time for $14.99! Signed copies at a very competitive price will also be available through LadaRay.com Book Store. Look for the new edition on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and various online retailers in the second part of March! Here’s a sneak peek.

Gold Train – book cover

GT COVER full cropped

Front Cover

GT COVER ebook

Back cover, with the new blurb, updated bio, and praise

GT BACKCOVER

An inside look – the Title Page

Front matter Title page

Front Matter dedication page

..

In April, I’ll also be releasing the STEPFORD USA paperback!

Stepford USA front cover

SUSA FRONT COVER FINAL NEW 2

Also coming soon: EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES: ORIGINS

Read next on Lada Ray Blog:

THE EARTH SHIFTER Review & Feature Fest

Stay tuned for all the goodies! 🙂

Related articles
  • The Earth Shifter Review & Feature Fest (ladaray.wordpress.com)
  • My Favorite EARTH SHIFTER Themes & Characters: Fantasy, History, Geopolitics, Metaphysics (ladaray.wordpress.com)
  • Ancients & Spirits: Author Mark O’Neil on the Vinny Eastwood Show (ladaray.wordpress.com)
  • THE EARTH SHIFTER Plot Playing out in Real Time: Massive Meteor Rocks Russia! (ladaray.wordpress.com)
  • Interview with Lada Ray (1earthunite.wordpress.com)
  • Feng Shui, Fidel Castro & Fascinating Predictions! An Interview with Lada Ray! (rohan7things.wordpress.com)

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The Earth Shifter Giveaway Results

27 Sunday Jan 2013

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

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

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

We have winners!

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

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

EARTH SHIFTER MASTER

Winners:

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

Entry #125 Allen

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

Entry #49 Paul H.

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

Entry #24 Wil  

Entry #10 Mary E.

Entry #71 Sherry F.

See full results here: LadaRay.com/TheEarthShifterGiveaway

Congrats, winners!

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Accidental Spy Mega-Giveaway Results: Congrats, Winners!

02 Sunday Dec 2012

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

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

GOLD TRAIN COVER BLOG 2012

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

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

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

Anna Tan – Complete set of 3 Accidental Spy Ebooks!

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

See full results here!

CONGRATULATIONS, WINNERS!

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

All about the ACCIDENTAL SPY SERIES

Check out BOOKS by LADA RAY

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

GT COVER MASTER

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Accidental Spy Party: Huge Price Drop & Giveaway!

13 Saturday Oct 2012

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, Amazon Kindle, Author Lada Ray, book sale, books for writers, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, ebook formatting, ebooks, giveaway, Gold Train, Goodreads, great reads, Green Desert, paperback, Stepford USA

The Holiday Season 2012 is quickly approaching, and the Party Season on Lada Ray Blog never stops!

ANNOUNCING: 50%+ price drop for both Accidental Spy novels: Stepford USA (US Adventure, #1) and Gold Train (Russia Adventure, #2), plus, a BIG giveaway! My ebooks are on sale everywhere, including B&N Nook and Smashwords.

For 8 days, from 10/14 to 10/21, GOLD TRAIN & STEPFORD USA will be $1.49 (or UK/Euro equivalent) everywhere! (regular $2.99-4.99).

Make sure you stop by and load up your fave reader with some great Holiday reads!

Please see the buy links below!

GIVEAWAY: I’ve got some great stuff to give away, and I hope everyone will find something they’ll like. For the first time, I am using Rafflecopter for this giveaway, as I hear it’s a great tool. Please check below to see what’s cooking in our several Rafflecopters – entering is as easy as 1,2,3!

B&N Nook    Smashwords

Amazon:  US  UK   DE   FR   ES   IT

B&N Nook    Smashwords

Amazon:  US  UK  DE   FR   ES   IT

Incidentally,

GOLD TRAIN Paperback can now be ordered at Barnes & Noble $12.46 (best price!)

GREEN DESERT is now only $.99 on B&N Nook and Smashwords

CATHARSIS is only $.99 on B&N Nook and FREE on Smashwords

More buy links: LADA RAY BOOK STORE

Even more fun stuff!

Announcing Accidental Spy Big Giveaway!

Do I have stuff to give away? Oh yes, I do.

The Accidental Spy Giveaway takes place at my official author website: LadaRay.com

It is already up and running, so please stop by and check it out any time. New stuff will be added as we go along. Stay tuned for more!

There are 4+1 (!!) Rafflecopter forms @LadaRay.com. 

Prizes include:

KINDLE + SMASHWORDS (both!) PROFESSIONAL FORMATTING for your next book (Many thanks to Dynamic Web Design (DWD) for donating this great service!)

Signed copy of GOLD TRAIN paperback with personalized message

Complete set of Accidental Spy ebooks (Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert)

Writers’ Pack: 2 highly acclaimed non-fiction books that belong on every writer’s shelf!

Plus, I’ll be adding CATHARSIS giveaway in a day or two! Stay tuned!

Something for everyone.
ENTER one or all.

But check it out for yourself!

Please note, the Giveaway Party is taking place at LadaRay.com (my official author website), due to the fact that WordPress (alas) does not support Rafflecopter. 

The Party is now LIVE!

Click here to ENTER THE ACCIDENTAL SPY PARTY!

Let the fun begin!

 

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Indie Book Review Fest

01 Monday Oct 2012

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

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

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

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

Without further ado…

RAHALA: An Ascension Odyssey by Jason Sullivan

Category: fantasy/scifi, dystopian, spiritual/metaphysical

FREE at this time on Smashwords!

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

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

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

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

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

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

..

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

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

Available on Amazon US  UK  and other countries

Smashwords – FREE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

..

SECRETS of GHOSTS by Mardi Orlando

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

..

GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) by Lada Ray

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

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

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

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

STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy US Adventure) by Lada Ray

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

The Templar Agenda by John Paul Davis

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

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

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

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

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

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

..

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

01 Saturday Sep 2012

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

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

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

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

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

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

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

Without further ado, presenting my new ebook covers:

GOLD TRAIN Cover 2012

STEPFORD USA Cover 2012

Check out the original 2011 covers here: Lada Ray Books

The new covers are live on Amazon Kindle on

Saturday, September 1, 2012!

Check them out!

GOLD TRAIN

STEPFORD USA

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Meet My Wonderful Lily Cat

30 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Stepford USA, Earth/ Nature/ Animals, Lilechka, My Updates

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Author Lada Ray, beautiful cat pictures, Bodhi Tree, calico cat, cat lovers, cat photos, Gautama Buddha, Gold Train, Lily Cat, Meditation, pets, Stepford USA, YouTube

Lily is very loving, beautiful, smart and fluffy, and I love her with all my heart. She co-starred in Stepford USA, and made her appearance in Gold Train as the super-intelligent and sassy cat, Princess Lily. She also starred in my YouTube video, Enchanted Halloween, as the Halloween Cat. Despite these lofty credentials, Lily Cat likes simple pleasures of life.

LADA and LILY edited6

Lily and I, when we were just a notch younger

Picture

Us again, today

Hello, I am the official greeter

Lily’s famous ‘white paw pedestal pose’ featured in Stepford USA

And another version of the same pose

This carpet is very comfortable

Lily, this famous master of meditation, can meditate anywhere, even in the kitchen

Meditation over, time to go

Under the Bodhi Tree. A great place to relax, Buddha style

The Bodhi Tree meditation

I want my privacy, please!

Time for a nap

Lily: a portrait

Another rendition

Lily of the garden

The best hiding spot

A cozy spot by the warm heater on a cold winter day

What wouldn’t I do for a nice meal!

Time to say goodbye. See you again soon!

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A MUST Read if You Are an Author! Does Amazon KDP Select FREE Promo Work?

30 Saturday Jun 2012

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

≈ 31 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, book promotion, book sales, e-books, E-Publishing, Gold Train, Goodreads, Green Desert, Indie Publishing, KDP Select, Kindle, market share, Shelfari, Stepford USA

After hearing some success stories with Amazon KDP Select program, in May I finally decided to enroll GOLD TRAIN, STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT. I got some borrows, but borrowing wasn’t my goal.

It appeared that the program was effective for the previous authors when they made their books free for up to 5 days. Usually, lots of copies would get downloaded during the free period, which made the book jump in the Kindle rankings. After the book came off the free period, it would retain the imprint of its free ranking, which would make the paid ranking jump as well.  At least, this was the theory.

But the reality proved different…

Before I go into the story, I want to say that regardless of my feelings about the program, I am very happy and grateful that thousands of readers were able to download and enjoy my books for free. The most important thing for any writer is to be read. I wish all my readers a wonderful journey through the tantalizing world of Jade Snow! Enjoy!

And here is my story.

I made Green Desert, a Jade Snow Prequel set in Iraq, free for 5 days during the Memorial Day period. I didn’t expect too much, because it is just a short novella, and those don’t sell as well as novels. Although, as 5 star reviews from readers demonstrate, it is a darn good one! Green Desert promo was to be my test. I decided, if I liked what I saw, I’d run similar promos for my other books.

In five days, close to 1000 copies were downloaded in the US, UK, Germany, Spain and Italy. There were no downloads from France.

An awesome surprise was that I quickly received 3 unsolicited and unexpected, but very lovely, FIVE STAR reviews on Amazon. 2 of them also posted on Goodreads and Shelfari. On top of that, one of the satisfied readers added Shelfari book extras for Green Desert. Thank you, thank you, thank you! As a side benefit, for the first time I discovered Shelfari for myself (how out of the loop am I?).

The bestseller rankings jumped quickly and kept climbing. The highest I saw (I didn’t watch them all the time and only recorded some) were these:

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

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

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

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

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

Find out more about the GREEN DESERT free promo here! 

I decided that 5 days was way too long, and as Green Desert was winding down, I made STEPFORD USA, Jade Snow Book 1, free for 2 days.

My first unpleasant surprise was that the promo didn’t start on time. It was about 5-6 hours late in the US and more than 12 hours late in the UK, which cut into the promo time. As a result, there was less exposure, and rankings suffered as well. The other countries were even slower. I finally emailed Amazon regarding the problem and they assured me they corrected it. A fellow author, who was running his free promo at the same time from the UK, only had his book listed free in the US. His book was never made free in the UK, which was his primary market. Needless to say, he was quite disappointed.

Despite all the delays, Stepford USA quickly shot up in rankings and kept climbing. Over 2200 books were downloaded in the US, UK and Germany. There were no downloads at all in Italy, France and Spain (I’m guessing, because of the “USA” in the title).

Stepford USA (Jade Snow International Adventures Prequel)

I didn’t get any new reviews so far, probably because it is a much longer book, although several nice readers wrote to me that they were enjoying the book and would definitely write a review. Thank you and looking forward to that! 🙂

These are the highest bestseller rankings I noticed for Stepford USA (again, I didn’t follow them all the time):

US: #193 Kindle FREE; #29 Mystery & thrillers; #9 Mystery; #8 Women Sleuths

UK: #358 Kindle FREE; #14 Mystery & Thrillers/ Women Sleuths

DE: #259 Kostenfrei Kindle; #5 Krimis & Thriller/ Krimis (mystery); #50 Populare Belletristik (popular fiction)

So far, so good!

Find out all about STEPFORD USA Free Promo here!

Meanwhile, Green Desert came off the free promo, and that’s when I had my biggest, and VERY unpleasant, surprise.

Not only the new paid ranking didn’t reflect the free ranking, but it actually was worse then the book’s pre-promo rankings! Due to how the Amazon rankings algorithm works, because Green Desert was off the paid shelf for over five days (it took extra 5-6 hours to get it re-listed) and no PAID purchases were made during that time, it lost its prior position. I realized that something changed and Amazon no longer took into account the free rankings in order to compute its paid rankings.

But as after-promo sales started, Green Desert ($0.99 or UK/Euro equivalent) initially went up to #35,000 paid in the US, then tapered off as sales slowed down.

So the theory that free rankings help improve paid rankings had to be thrown out the window. In the end of this article I’ll discuss what is behind this, what’s really happening with KDP Select, and how it affects you.

When Stepford USA came off its promo, I was already prepared for the aftermath. Sure enough, after the book re-gained its paid status ($2.99 or UK/Euro equivalent) its ranking suffered, too. It was all of a sudden in the #400,000 category in the US. Then sales picked up and in 2 days it was #20,000 in the US for a brief time.

I think an explanation is due here: Again, I didn’t watch the rankings all the time and this was the best I noticed. But I was told that it probably went much higher than that, because at one point dozens of books were downloaded in the US alone within a couple of hours. Then, as fewer books were being downloaded, the familiar scenario of sales tapering off together with rankings occured.

Image of Lada Ray

As I observed all this, I decided it wasn’t worth running the free promo for GOLD TRAIN. At the same time, Amazon placed Gold Train on sale. Regular price was $3.99, sale price $2.99. One would think that sales should have picked up because of this. But interestingly enough, once I started the free promo for Green Desert and Stepford USA, sales of Gold Train, which was my bestseller at the time, stopped cold turkey on Amazon. It’s like all the energy was zapped out of Gold Train in favor of the other two books. Or was it because the reader now expected Gold Train to be available for free as well?

Ironically, Gold Train sales actually picked up on B&N, Kobo and Sony, where the book is priced at $4.99.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. I believe that Amazon has done a lot for the writing community. On balance, Indie authors and publishers have to be grateful to Amazon for pushing the envelope, for opening up the market and for the ease with which Indie titles can now be listed on digital shelves. The company deserves big credit for evening out the field.

2. However, in its relentless pursuit of the market share, Amazon is becoming ruthless, elbowing out competitors and insisting on exclusivity through its KDP Select program. The danger is now that it may become a monopoly, which in the end will hurt both Indie and Big 6 authors.

As a result, Amazon has been in a war with Barnes & Noble, as well as independent retailers. B&N and others have threatened to ban some Amazon authors from their shelves.

3. An important piece of the puzzle: I have found out that in the spring Amazon changed its KDP algorithm, so when the books come off the free promo, they lose their standings and have to compete anew to regain it.

Here is the reason Amazon changed its algorithm: The Big 6 publishers were unhappy that Indie authors gained standings and visibility by simply making their books free for a few days and then transferring those rankings into paid category. That hurt sales and rankings for the Big 6 books. So, Amazon bowed to pressure and changed its rankings algorithm to favor the Big 6, essentially taking away the only effective promotional tool Indie authors and publishers possess.

4. Amazon’s KDP Select is essentially a race to the bottom. If the readers are trained to receive books for free, they will hold off buying until the title they want goes free. Therefore, authors who value their work, perhaps because it’s worth it, get punished.

The worrying trend is: Amazon pushes everyone into this race to the bottom, thus devaluing all authors’ work.

5. If you tried KDP Select, you know that in order to enroll, you have to de-list your book from other retailers. This may result in a loss of future sales, as well as your ranking with those retailers. Plus, re-listing later is a huge hassle. That alone makes you think twice before enrolling.

And with the recent change in KDP algorithm, is KDP Select worth it?

On a much more pleasant note, many thanks to all my readers for downloading and reading my books! It means a lot for any author to be read and appreciated. If you liked my books, please consider reviewing them on Amazon, Goodreads and elsewhere ( I will also be re-listing on Smashwords, B&N Nook, Sony, Apple and Kobo in October). You can find all the buy links at my Book Store. 

My books are on Goodreads, so if you have an account, consider posting there, and also on Shelfari. 

Always remember that you can make an author’s day by writing a simple review!

Thank you very much and see you on pages of my books!

Warmest regards,

Lada Ray

P.S. Some time after this post, STEPFORD USA, GREEN DESERT, and especially GOLD TRAIN, started hitting some bestseller lists, albeit briefly. Read more about this, and about my KDP Select experience 2013!

Publishing Paradigm Shift. What is Better: KDP Select or Broad Distribution?

   

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How to Make a Book Trailer

24 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in Social Media, Writing and Publishing

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Author Lada Ray, book promotion, book trailer, classical music, Film, Gold Train, Goodreads, Green Desert, images, indie authors, movie trailer, music, nature videos, photography, Shutterstock, Smashwords, Social Media, Stepford USA, trailer, United States, video, Windows Movie Maker, YouTube

Authors traditionally rely on writing to spread the word about their books. Yet they often overlook videos as a fabulous promotional tool. Trailers historically have been reserved for movies. But with the advent of Social Media, it became possible to make book trailers at low or no cost.

A book trailer adds an extra dimension and visibility to the promotion of your book. And in our competitive world, we, authors, should use every advantage we can get. This, visual dimension can be quite valuable. A book trailer can be posted on your YouTube channel, website, author Amazon and Smashwords pages, Goodreads, as well as a number of other places.

I know, I know. You think it’s too hard. It actually isn’t, but there is a learning curve – a rather steep one. One point I want to make is that the trailer doesn’t need to be overly complicated. For example, you don’t need to make it into a movie, unless you like that kind of thing. It is very effective to use pictures/photos, together with a snappy narrative and suitable background music. This is my preferred way of making a trailer, but of course, use your imagination and let your creativity tell you what works for you and your book. Sky is the limit!

I estimate the learning curve for making a trailer at about 50-60 hours. So, if you can’t afford to dedicate this much time to learning about movie and trailer making, than you are better off delegating this task to someone else.

But if you are up for the challenge, here is what you need to know.

First, you need to start a YouTube channel. It’s easy to sign up and setting it up takes no more than half an hour.

Mine is called Lada Ray Channel and for now, I keep it simple. So far, I’ve made 4 book trailers and a bunch of nature/Halloween videos. But I may expand my channel in the future, time permitting.

Take a look at my channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay/videos

Once you’ve set up your Youtube channel and learned the ropes, you can start making your book trailer. Estimated time for each trailer: 5-10 hours.

Here is what you will need:

1. Find and upload on your computer a movie maker software. Google it. There are several that are free, including Windows Movie Maker. Of course, you can also pay for a more sophisticated version.

2. Think about the theme and flow of your trailer. I love this part! It’s like directing your own movie. I usually write down the narrative for each frame and visualize what kind of picture would work with it.

3. Write out the narrative. Don’t overwhelm your trailer with text though. Remember, you are making a movie, not writing a book. It’s supposed to be snappy, entertaing, and a feast for ALL the senses.

4. Gather enough images to be used in your trailer before you begin. My advice, have plenty of extras. You can always discard the ones you decided not to use. It is much better than coming short while in the middle of your trailer-making process.

To find the images, go to a website like Shutterstock, where you can purchase royalty-free photos inexpensively.

I love photography, so whenever I can, I use my own pics for trailers and videos.

5. Find the music that works with your trailer. You can purchase a piece of music online, or use a royalty-free piece that is past its copyright. These are usually classics. A word of warning: classics are great if they go with your topic and presentation. But I sometimes see pieces that are completely mismatched. Try your music for size before applying it.

For example, check out my STEPFORD USA trailer.

The music used is a classic: Second Waltz by Russian composer, Dmitry Shostakovich, written in the 1940s. And it works very well with this particular piece.

6. After you’ve assembled all the elements, the real fun begins! Upload your images into frames, add text and music! Enjoy!

TIPS:

1. To make my videos look and feel more professional, I usually play with extending or narrowing time frames depending on how long I want every image to linger.

Check out my GOLD TRAIN  trailer.

Notice how the music changes and highs emphasize the narrative and work with images?

2. Always fit your music to frame. Otherwise it will be too long or too short. This will make it look sloppy and unprofessional.

Check out my videos:

Enchanted Autumn  and  Amazing Autumn Meditation

to see how the music precisely matches the length of the video. Unfortunately, not every video has this, resulting in a period of silence or a cut off piece.

3. YouTube offers some very cool video enhancement tools, like color enhancement, moving frames and text, etc. I used some of them in my videos. See if you can spot what enhancements I used in the following trailers and videos:

GOLD TRAIN  trailer

STEPFORD USA trailer

Autumn Waltz of the Ducks

Amazing Autumn Meditation

Enchanted Autumn

Humorous Enchanted Halloween

These video enhancement tools are great fun and I enjoy playing with them. Word of caution: make sure they work with your particular piece! And sometimes less is more.

Good Luck! If you decide to make a book trailer or if you already have one, feel free to post a comment together with the link!

P.S. When you set up a YouTube channel, make sure you subscribe to Lada Ray Channel and let me know about it. I’ll be glad to reciprocate!

Copyright Lada Ray, 2012

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A Fun Little Game: The First 4 Words You See Describe You

01 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in My Updates

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Bestseller, book, E-book, entertaining, free promotion, fun, game, Gold Train, Green Desert, KDP Select, Kindle, Literature, promo, Stepford USA, Stepford Wives, weekend, word game

I worked hard the whole week! The weekend is almost here and I thought, why not play a little game? It’s fun, yet thought-provoking. Check it out and have a wonderful weekend!

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

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

And now, game time! Check out this little entertaining game: The first 4 words you see describe YOU! I got “elegant” “eloquent” “stubborn” “outgoing.” And… “sweet” thrown in the mix, too. Interesting… I personally like to think I am more sweet than stubborn. Well, maybe when it comes to achieving a goal 😉

And what do you see? Have a go and share your results in comments 🙂

Photo: From a friend. I got "peace," "compass," "happy" and "wrestles." Brad loves that last one.

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STEPFORD USA, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, FREE on Amazon 5/29-5/30!

27 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Stepford USA, My Updates

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Amazon.com, cat mystery, Green Desert, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, knitting club, Massachusetts, murder, mystery thriller, New York, psychological mystery, rape, romance, Russia, Small American town, Stepford USA, Stepford Wives, suspense, The Berkshires, United States

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

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

Read the original post below:

I am very pleased to announce that STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, is FREE on Kindle 5/29-5/30! Download your copy today!

Stepford USA (Jade Snow International Adventures Prequel)

Bestseller rank:

US: #193 Kindle FREE; #29 Mystery & thrillers; #9 Mystery; #8 Women Sleuths

UK: #358 Kindle FREE; #14 Mystery & Thrillers/ Women Sleuths

DE: #259 Kostenfrei Kindle; #5 Krimis & Thriller/ Krimis (mystery); #50 Populare Belletristik (popular fiction)

5 Star rated psychological mystery thriller, set in an idyllic Massachusetts town harboring a dark secret. Cool characters and setting, intense adventure full of surprising developments, amazing pets and humor! Check it out!

Here are the buy links:

Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005L36DG6

Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L36DG6

Also FREE Amazon: DE   FR   ES   IT

Synopsis: Psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow US Adventure. A cool play on The Stepford Wives, STEPFORD USA will dazzle you with an array of funny, outlandish, dangerous and utterly realistic characters. Who committed rape and murder: a corrupt police chief, crooked politician, millionaire-nerd, or womanizing banker?

FIVE STARS
“This exciting page-turner will have you guessing from the very beginning. Lada skillfully weaves many surprises into this psychological thriller. Her exquisite scene setting together with compelling dialogue makes Stepford USA a fascinating, if at times nail-biting, read. I highly recommend Stepford USA. Jade Snow is intelligent, warm and witty. Join her as she puts the pieces together and helps release a town from its dark, hidden past.” Jason Sullivan, Author, The Dark Yergall

FIVE STARS
“Psychological thrillers don’t get much better than this. Excitingly and yet chillingly gripping… plot line that surprises you at every turn and absolutely does not let you go.”  J.J. Collins, Author, Famine to  Freedom (UK)

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

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

Ladies from the Stepford Knitting Club know it all, except that the town has been hijacked by criminals posing as pillars of local community. That’s where Jade Snow comes in. A new breed of amateur sleuths and international journalist, she’s thoroughly at home in the brave, new, globalized world, but unprepared for one challenge – the dull existence in this sheltered American town. And that’s exactly where she ends up after getting married and pregnant. Aided by a super-intelligent calico cat and a psychoanalyst from New York, Jade’s on a mission to solve baffling mysteries, uncover a local conspiracy and turn this sleepy paradise upside down… if she can survive the attraction to an enigmatic convicted rapist, and the encounter with a desperate killer.
Warning: Contains enough suspense, psychology, mystical happenings, amazing pets, virtual reality, romance and humor to be a thrillingly delightful, yet dangerously sobering read.

Category: novel, psychological mystery/thriller
Word count: 69,800. Print pages 248

Check out Stepford USA Trailer!

Also by Lada Ray:
GOLD TRAIN: rip-roaring thrill-ride mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
Green Desert: riveting story set in Iraq (Jade Snow Prequel)

Reminder: 5/28 is the last day to download GREEN DESERT for FREE! Check it out here!

NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow International Adventure Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the character development and plot twists.

For more about Lada, her books and current projects, visit LadaRay.com


Cheers and happy reading to all! 🙂

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

13 Friday Jan 2012

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

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

5 star thriller, Accidental Spy Asia Adventure, Accidental Spy Russia Adventure, Accidental Spy Series, Author Lada Ray, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, Green Desert, Iraq, Jade Snow, Moscow, mystery thriller, Russian culture, Russian Empire, Stepford USA

The JADE SNOW INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE SERIES idea was born several years ago, when I was flying through Dubai to Asia. In Dubai I met American journalists, returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, who told me stories of their adventures. As I was leaving Dubai, the picture of Jade Snow, a young, beautiful and spirited international journalist, who’d worked in Iraq and Afghanistan, appeared before my eyes. It occured to me that she would make a great heroine for an international mystery/thriller series.

A beautiful and witty red-head with unusual blue-green eyes, budding psychic powers and rare talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Jade Snow is the protagonist of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series and of GOLD TRAIN, the gripping mystery/thriller, set in Russia and based on true historic events. When she gets married, this international journalist gives up her promising career to raise her little daughter, Lara.

But as the unexpected and exotic assignment drops in her lap, she jumps at the chance to restart her career and reconnect with her Russian roots. She gets much more than she’d ever bargained for!

When Jade travels to Russia, amid the magical settings of St. Petersburg and Moscow, she must uncover a dangerous conspiracy, find the world’s largest treasure and experience forbidden passion, defying time and space.

As she finds herself a pawn in a struggle between forces beyond her control, she also meets the man, who’ll change her life forever.

Click to watch GOLD TRAIN Book Trailer!

Companion posts:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

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

GOLD TRAIN: Who is This Mysterious Alexei?

Check out GOLD TRAIN ebook on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble Nook

Smashwords

GOLD TRAIN paperback is coming on April 25, 2012. More: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For descriptions/excerpts/trailers from GOLD TRAIN and other Lada Ray’s books: LadaRay.com

If you liked my posts, please comment, RT, share and follow Lada Ray Blog!

Till next time,

Cheers!

Lada Ray

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