Lada Ray's Blog, page 85
December 18, 2013
THE EARTH SHIFTER Killer Excerpt! Magic, Underworld and Drag Racing
A quick announcement:
For those who’ve missed my mega-sale, THE EARTH SHIFTER and GOLD TRAIN are still $1.49 (reg. $4.99 and $3.99) on #Kindle and #Sony! This won’t last, so check’em out while the price is low!
Also, we have a new promo by #Amazon: purchase my paperbacks (THE EARTH SHIFTER, GOLD TRAIN, STEPFORD USA), and download corresponding ebook for only $.99! If you are interested, take a look here! (Scroll down to paperbacks).
I’m continuing with THE EARTH SHIFTER excerpts. Today’s entertaining episode is about the mysterious and beautiful brunette with clandestine plans, called simply “Red,” her Underworld castle, and Kei’s drag racing in his new magical car. While reading this, you’ll notice that I know my drag racing. If you think that I might have had this kind of experience in my life – neah, not really. Me, I’ve always been a proper little girl. However, I really do possess first-hand knowledge of how it’s done. How, you ask? Believe it or not, from my hubby, who was quite a daredevil in his previous life and who was known to climb steep mountains, cycle and drag race along the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn, just as it is described in the book. So, the technical details here come straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. 
Enjoy!
Mysterious Brunette’s Magic and Kei’s Drag Racing
Kei became a regular at Red’s. He would usually ride his bike from Chinatown to the Underworld Club, knock on the inconspicuous door, which would open to let him in, leave the bike in the clock room, and proceed through the spacious club to the elevator. He got used to the speed—the trick was to inhale before it started moving and exhale while it was in motion. Every time the elevator started its descent, he tried not to think how deep into the crust of the Earth he was moving. He focused on Red—the mysterious, the beautiful, one-of-a-kind, the kind of woman any man could only dream about and would gladly die for.
She wouldn’t tell him her age, and every time he tried to ask, she’d just laugh with that sexy laugh, which electrified his entire body with goose bumps. By the way she looked and dressed, he guessed she was about twenty-two or twenty-three, although sometimes she behaved as if she was an old soul. But the best part was that he absolutely didn’t care. Only sixteen-and-a-half and pretty lucky with girls, he was very cognizant of the fact that he could wait his entire life and never be fortunate enough to meet such a woman. He knew what he wanted, and age had nothing to do with that. He wanted to hold on to this miracle and never let her go. For some reason he couldn’t quite understand, she seemed interested in him. That was fine with him—all he wanted was to be with her.
Kei descended the elevator as usual and was met by the bowing guard down below. He nodded casually and walked past the guard, straight into Red’s drawing room.
“Kei, darling,” she purred, her sultry body so close to him that his heart skipped a beat. “I was just going to call you. I have a surprise for you.”
“Surprise? What kind of surprise?”
“Do you like cars?” she continued, her hand caressing the biceps on his right arm, then proceeding to his chest.
“Cars?” he murmured breathlessly. “What cars?” In her proximity he hardly understood any human words. She was so intoxicating that he was ready to do anything she wanted, and go anywhere she commanded.
“Really fast and cool cars, darling,” she purred on. “But let’s go outside and I’ll show you what I mean.”
“Oh, but I just got down here.” He said that with regret. “I was hoping we could spend some time here…alone.”
She gave him a seductive smile. “Alone—later. I promise you’ll like the car. Let’s go.”
He followed her back to the elevator, remembering to inhale before and exhale during the trip up.
They got out of the building through the back and entered a small parking lot attached to the building. There were several cars, including a Ford SUV, a Mercedes, a Range Rover, and in the most prominent spot, he saw a shiny yellow Ferrari. He held his breath—the car was beautiful.
“Like it?” she said, smiling. “It’s yours.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, absolutely serious.”
“I can’t accept this kind of gift, it’s too much.” He shook his head. “I’ll never be able to repay you. Besides, I don’t even have a driver’s license. And even if I did, how would I explain it to Mom and Dad?”
“You don’t ever have to repay me anything. I enjoy giving gifts. And you don’t have to tell your parents either. Keep the car here, and when you need it, just come over.”
“This is way too generous.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She shrugged her shoulders easily. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s take it for a spin.”
“Okay. Where do you want to go?”
“How do you feel about drag racing? Despite not having a driver’s license, you can drive, right? Judging by how you handle your bike, you are a natural.”
“Of course I can drive!” A sly smirk slowly unfurled across his face. “Drag racing is a great idea—always wanted to try it. I just need to make a quick call.”
He got out his cell phone and dialed home.
“Mom, I will be home late. I am at Alex’s,” he lied. “There are several guys here and we’ll be hanging out. How late? I don’t know, but don’t wait up. Just don’t bolt up the door so I could get in.” He listened for a moment, and then continued. “Well, it’s Friday night, no school tomorrow, so there’s no problem, right?”
Red smiled approvingly at him as he talked. He hung up the phone and said, “All set. Let’s go.”
They drove onto the crowded New York street and quickly made their way towards the Brooklyn Bridge. The car was exquisitely responsive and handled like a dream, as if it was an extension of his body. He felt exhilarated. It was the best present anyone had ever given to him, and probably the best he’d ever get.
They crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge and headed to Canarsie Pier. Canarsie Pier, located in the slummy part of Brooklyn, was a sleazy local drag racing hangout. Abandoned warehouses lined the shore, and police rarely showed up there. The die-hard drag racing crowd would take bets as cars raced along the deserted stretch. They arrived early; drag racing started at 1 a.m.
“I tell you, dude, the police is on our tail,” said one drag racer, tall, black, and clad head-to-toe in shiny black leather. “I can’t race like this. The moment I see police, I am outta here.”
“Hey, Mike, I bet on you, so you can’t just split,” objected another, apparently his fan.
“I can’t help it, dude. I’ll keep my end of the bargain if everything’s quiet, but I can’t have them take away my driver’s license, or worse, put me in jail. I have three mouths to feed.”
“I also have money on you, Mike,” yelled another man.
“And me.”
“And me.”
“Me too.” It appeared Mike was very popular.
“He is the best,” murmured a man next to them as if to confirm their initial impression.
Kei sat inside his new Ferrari, as other drag racers made their last preparations. The tall guy in black leather on his right turned out to drive an old, and somewhat beaten up silver sports car. Their eyes met.
“First time?” he asked.
Kei nodded.
“Fancy wheels, dude,” he said enviously to Kei. “You do realize this is a drag race, so what’s with the Ferrari? We race for pink slips, you know.”
Seeing that Kei just stared at him blankly, he added, “You lose, I keep your car, man!”
“Not really,” responded Kei. “I intend to be ahead of everyone, so that won’t be an issue.”
“Wrong answer, dude,” grinned the drag racer. “I always win, so get ready to hand over the keys.”
Kei stared back at the man with confidence. He liked his competitive spirit, but today Red was watching and he intended to win no matter what. As they pulled up to the starting line, a girl upfront suddenly whipped off her bra, waving it like a flag. Kei watched her every move, waiting. Suddenly, she dropped her bra and immediately the air filled with the sound of roaring engines and screeching tires. The race was on!
Kei took a deep breath and floored it. Obediently, the car responded to the slightest move of his foot or turn of the wheel. Kei felt the exhilaration of the race, concentrating on the stretch of road in front of him. Soon, all the other cars were indeed left behind, except Mike’s. Kei threw a quick glance in his direction, trying to assess his competitor’s chances.
Mike was one with his car, his eyes glued to the road in front, immense concentration on his face. He didn’t look like that sociable and easy-going guy with whom he just spoke. Now, the look on his face was that of a hunter with a killer instinct.
Kei increased his speed, but surprisingly, his competitor kept up. He glanced at Mike, whose face was now contorted into a grimace. They were approaching a narrow sleeve on the road, which also had a difficult hidden curve. Kei was unaware of all this, but as he threw another glance in Mike’s direction, their eyes met and Kei read everything on his competitor’s face.
All of a sudden, the entire road materialized in front of his eyes, as if a giant map floating in thin air. All the twists and turns, as well as gravel and potholes, were laid out before him. With a jolt, he realized that he had tapped into Mike’s mind, but not in his usual way. This time, he not only read everything Mike was thinking, but also visualized the whole thing on-screen, like a 3-D roadmap, mentally downloading the entire pool of Mike’s drag racing experience available to him.
He allowed Mike to get ahead of him so he wouldn’t collide with his competitor on the difficult curve ahead. This little trick was also supposed to lull Mike into false sense of security. When Kei fell behind, the poor guy already thought he had the race in his pocket.
“Just you wait, Mikey, just you wait,” muttered Kei in a singsong voice. “I am so coming to get you…”
Once they passed the curve, Kei floored the gas pedal again and swiftly maneuvered around the silver car, passing it before Mike could understand what hit him. The next curve is crucial, came in Mike’s new thought. I’ve got to get ahead now in order to be on the winning, inner side of the curve.
Thanks for the tip, Mikey-boy, murmured Kei. He maneuvered the car as close to the right as possible and managed to reach the crucial curve first. He emerged onto the final stretch and threw his faithful steed into one last attack. At the finish line, Kei came to an abrupt, but artistic halt, raising a huge cloud of dust.
He won. He threw a glance of triumph at Red, who was watching him from the crowd’s first row, her face one big, sexy smile. The silver car reached the finish a second or two later, as Mike, dark as a storm cloud, jumped out of it. Soon, other drag racers started arriving.
“Great ride,” Kei said to him, extending his hand. “Don’t worry, you’ll win next time.”
“I don’t have that much time left,” murmured Mike.
Kei was going to ask what he meant, but didn’t get the chance. At that very moment, they heard sirens and a bunch of police cars surrounded the area.
“Damn,” whispered Mike. “I hope they didn’t get it on camera.”
“Attention everyone, get out of your cars and line up here. In case you were wondering, we’ve got everything on tape,” announced police captain with a smug expression on his face. “Get out your driver’s licenses so I can see them.”
Kei threw a quick glance at Mike, who stood quietly next to him, apparently resigning to the fact. He handed his driver’s license to the policeman, who was writing something down on a sheet of paper. “Your ticket, and this is your court appearance date. Don’t miss it, so you avoid further problems.” Mike took the ticket and the court date slip with a dejected look on his face.
“How about you, young whippersnapper?” The policeman turned to Kei. “I bet you are not even old enough to drive. Now, just look at the car you are driving. I wonder where you got wheels like that. Not stolen, is it?”
Kei opened his mouth to say that he forgot his driver’s license at home, when Red appeared next to him.
“Excuse me, officer,” she said with the most charming smile. “Here is his driver’s license—he gave it to me to hold on to.” And she handed the policeman a driver’s license.
“John Ping,” murmured the policeman. “Nineteen years of age. Hmm… I could have bet anything that you were younger.”
“All Asians look younger,” replied Red promptly. “Excuse me officer, but if there is nothing further, we should be going. It’s pretty late.”
“You are free to go,” said the officer. “Unfortunately, he isn’t going anywhere yet. I need to issue him a ticket and schedule him for court.”
“Based on what?”
“Based on the fact that he was drag racing, and we’ve got everything on tape.”
“Racing? In what?” inquired Red innocently.
“In this yellow Ferrari,” replied the officer, starting to lose his patience.
“What Ferrari?”
The officer turned his head to the right and blinked. Kei blinked, too. Where just a moment ago was his brand hew car, stood a bike.
“What the…” said the officer in bewilderment. “Where did it go? Hey Cap, did you see the yellow Ferrari?” he asked his captain.
“Ferrari?” The captain frowned. “What Ferrari? Are you okay, Jim?”
“Yes, I am.” The policeman looked confused.
“So, officer, we’ll be going if you don’t mind,” said Red, gently pulling the driver’s license out of his hand.
“Wait, what were you doing here then?” asked the policeman, trying to re-acquire his grip on the situation.
“Watching, of course,” replied Red.
“Okay, you may go, but don’t think this is over. I am going to watch the tape, and if the yellow Ferrari is on it, I’ll come after you, so it better not be there.”
“Of course,” said Kei, smiling.
As they started walking away, Kei whispered to Red, “You are amazing, you know that? But what about the tape?”
“What tape?” asked Red with a mischievous grin.
Kei grinned at her with appreciation. “I always thought we were kindred spirits.”
As they were leaving, he caught a miserable look on Mike’s face and felt sorry for him. “Are you sure the tape is not a problem? I feel sorry for that guy, Mike.”
“The tape will be blank,” replied Red. “They’ll have to let him go, so not to worry.”
They walked for a couple of blocks, Kei walking his bike, formerly known as the beautiful yellow Ferrari. “We should catch a cab. The nearest subway is probably too far, plus it’s very late.”
“I have something better,” said Red. She turned her head to the right and to the left to check that no one was watching. Then, she lightly touched the bike and a moment later, a slick black BMW was standing by the curb.
Kei whistled. “You are much better at this than I am. No contest. And there I thought I was pretty good.”
“You are very good. I am just more experienced. If you want, I can teach you some of my tricks.”
“Of course,” said Kei. “That’s one neat trick—turning a bicycle into a BMW. That kind of trick I definitely want to learn.”
“There is so much more than a mere car that you can do with this trick,” said Red.
They arrived back at the Underworld Club and Red parked the BMW in her parking lot.
“You did well today,” she said to him.
“So did you. I was very impressed,” echoed Kei. “Too bad my Ferrari is gone.”
“Who said she was gone?” Red mischievously pointed into a shadowy corner of the parking lot. There, behind a Mercedes and a Ford SUV stood his yellow Ferrari, which he already had fallen in love with.
“You are amazing, Red, did you know that?” he said adoringly, stroking the car’s yellow hood, as if it was the voluptuous body of his beloved sexy brunette.
Red responded with her trademark Mona Lisa smile. Now she was absolutely confident—Kei was hers, in body, mind, and spirit.
Buy THE EARTH SHIFTER ebook and paperback
Read more excerpts:
Siberian Shaman and Legend of the Bear Drum
Tantalizing Mystery of the Key and Spy Conspiracy
Shamans, Shifters & Remote Viewers: The Earth Shifter Video Mini-Excerpts
Mysterious Brunette’s Magic and Kei’s Drag Racing
A quick announcement:
For those who’ve missed my mega-sale, THE EARTH SHIFTER and GOLD TRAIN are still $1.49 (reg. $4.99 and $3.99) on #Kindle and #Sony due to price-matching! This won’t last, so check’em out while the price is low!
Also, we have a new promo by #Amazon: purchase my paperbacks (THE EARTH SHIFTER, GOLD TRAIN, STEPFORD USA), and download corresponding ebook for only $.99! If you are interested, take a look here! (Scroll down to paperbacks).
I’m continuing with THE EARTH SHIFTER excerpts. Today’s entertaining episode is about the mysterious and beautiful brunette with clandestine plans, called simply “Red,” her Underworld castle, and Kei’s drag racing in his new magical car. While reading this, you’ll notice that I know my drag racing. If you think that I might have had this kind of experience in my life – no, not really. Me, I’ve always been a proper little girl. However, I really do possess first-hand knowledge of how it’s done. How, you ask? Believe it or not, from my hubby, who was quite a daredevil in his previous life and who was known to climb steep mountains, cycle and drag race along the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn, just as it is described in the book. So, the technical details here come straight out of the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
Enjoy!
Mysterious Brunette’s Magic and Kei’s Drag Racing
Kei became a regular at Red’s. He would usually ride his bike from Chinatown to the Underworld Club, knock on the inconspicuous door, which would open to let him in, leave the bike in the clock room, and proceed through the spacious club to the elevator. He got used to the speed—the trick was to inhale before it started moving and exhale while it was in motion. Every time the elevator started its descent, he tried not to think how deep into the crust of the Earth he was moving. He focused on Red—the mysterious, the beautiful, one-of-a-kind, the kind of woman any man could only dream about and would gladly die for.
She wouldn’t tell him her age, and every time he tried to ask, she’d just laugh with that sexy laugh, which electrified his entire body with goose bumps. By the way she looked and dressed, he guessed she was about twenty-two or twenty-three, although sometimes she behaved as if she was an old soul. But the best part was that he absolutely didn’t care. Only sixteen-and-a-half and pretty lucky with girls, he was very cognizant of the fact that he could wait his entire life and never be lucky enough to meet such a woman. He knew what he wanted, and age had nothing to do with that. He wanted to hold on to this miracle and never let her go. For some reason he couldn’t quite understand, she seemed interested in him. That was fine with him—all he wanted was to be with her.
Kei descended the elevator as usual and was met by the bowing guard down below. He nodded casually and walked past the guard, straight into Red’s drawing room.
“Kei, darling,” she purred, her sultry body so close to him that his heart skipped a beat. “I was just going to call you. I have a surprise for you.”
“Surprise? What kind of surprise?”
“Do you like cars?” she continued, her hand caressing the biceps on his right arm, then proceeding to his chest.
“Cars?” he murmured breathlessly. “What cars?” In her proximity he hardly understood any human words. She was so intoxicating that he was ready to do anything she wanted, and go anywhere she commanded.
“Really fast and cool cars, darling,” she purred on. “But let’s go outside and I’ll show you what I mean.”
“Oh, but I just got down here.” He said that with regret. “I was hoping we could spend some time here…alone.”
She gave him a seductive smile. “Alone—later. I promise you’ll like the car. Let’s go.”
He followed her back to the elevator, remembering to inhale before and exhale during the trip up.
They got out of the building through the back and entered a small parking lot attached to the building. There were several cars, including a Ford SUV, a Mercedes, a Range Rover, and in the most prominent spot, he saw a shiny yellow Ferrari. He held his breath—the car was beautiful.
“Like it?” she said, smiling. “It’s yours.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, absolutely serious.”
“I can’t accept this kind of gift, it’s too much.” He shook his head. “I’ll never be able to repay you. Besides, I don’t even have a driver’s license. And even if I did, how would I explain it to Mom and Dad?”
“You don’t ever have to repay me anything. I enjoy giving gifts. And you don’t have to tell your parents either. Keep the car here, and when you need it, just come over.”
“This is way too generous.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She shrugged her shoulders easily. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s take it for a spin.”
“Okay. Where do you want to go?”
“How do you feel about drag racing? Despite not having a driver’s license, you can drive, right? Judging by how you handle your bike, you are a natural.”
“Of course I can drive!” A sly smirk slowly unfurled across his face. “Drag racing is a great idea—always wanted to try it. I just need to make a quick call.”
He got out his cell phone and dialed home.
“Mom, I will be home late. I am at Alex’s,” he lied. “There are several guys here and we’ll be hanging out. How late? I don’t know, but don’t wait up. Just don’t bolt up the door so I could get in.” He listened for a moment, and then continued. “Well, it’s Friday night, no school tomorrow, so there’s no problem, right?”
Red smiled approvingly at him as he talked. He hung up the phone and said, “All set. Let’s go.”
They drove onto the crowded New York street and quickly made their way towards the Brooklyn Bridge. The car was exquisitely responsive and handled like a dream, as if it was an extension of his body. He felt exhilarated. It was the best present anyone had ever given to him, and probably the best he’d ever get.
They crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge and headed to Canarsie Pier. Canarsie Pier, located in the slummy part of Brooklyn, was a sleazy local drag racing hangout. Abandoned warehouses lined the shore, and police rarely showed up there. The die-hard drag racing crowd would take bets as cars raced along the deserted stretch. They arrived early; drag racing started at 1 a.m.
“I tell you, dude, the police is on our tail,” said one drag racer, tall, black, and clad head-to-toe in shiny black leather. “I can’t race like this. The moment I see police, I am outta here.”
“Hey, Mike, I bet on you, so you can’t just split,” objected another, apparently his fan.
“I can’t help it, dude. I’ll keep my end of the bargain if everything’s quiet, but I can’t have them take away my driver’s license, or worse, put me in jail. I have three mouths to feed.”
“I also have money on you, Mike,” yelled another man.
“And me.”
“And me.”
“Me too.” It appeared Mike was very popular.
“He is the best,” murmured a man next to them as if to confirm their initial impression.
Kei sat inside his new Ferrari, as other drag racers made their last preparations. The tall guy in black leather on his right turned out to drive an old, and somewhat beaten up silver sports car. Their eyes met.
“First time?” he asked.
Kei nodded.
“Fancy wheels, dude,” he said enviously to Kei. “You do realize this is a drag race, so what’s with the Ferrari? We race for pink slips, you know.”
Seeing that Kei just stared at him blankly, he added, “You lose, I keep your car, man!”
“Not really,” responded Kei. “I intend to be ahead of everyone, so that won’t be an issue.”
“Wrong answer, dude,” grinned the drag racer. “I always win, so get ready to hand over the keys.”
Kei stared back at the man with confidence. He liked his competitive spirit, but today Red was watching and he intended to win no matter what. As they pulled up to the starting line, a girl upfront suddenly whipped off her bra, waving it like a flag. Kei watched her every move, waiting. Suddenly, she dropped her bra and immediately the air filled with the sound of roaring engines and screeching tires. The race was on!
Kei took a deep breath and floored it. Obediently, the car responded to the slightest move of his foot or turn of the wheel. Kei felt the exhilaration of the race, concentrating on the stretch of road in front of him. Soon, all the other cars were indeed left behind, except Mike’s. Kei threw a quick glance in his direction, trying to assess his competitor’s chances.
Mike was one with his car, his eyes glued to the road in front, immense concentration on his face. He didn’t look like that sociable and easy-going guy with whom he just spoke. Now, the look on his face was that of a hunter with a killer instinct.
Kei increased his speed, but surprisingly, his competitor kept up. He glanced at Mike, whose face was now contorted into a grimace. They were approaching a narrow sleeve on the road, which also had a difficult hidden curve. Kei was unaware of all this, but as he threw another glance in Mike’s direction, their eyes met and Kei read everything on his competitor’s face.
All of sudden, the entire road materialized in front of his eyes, as if a giant map floating in thin air. All the twists and turns, as well as gravel and potholes, were laid out before him. With a jolt, he realized that he had tapped into Mike’s mind, but not in his usual way. This time, he not only read everything Mike was thinking, but also visualized the whole thing on-screen, like a 3-D roadmap, mentally downloading the entire pool of Mike’s drag racing experience available to him.
He allowed Mike to get ahead of him so he wouldn’t collide with his competitor on the difficult curve ahead. This little trick was also supposed to lull Mike into false sense of security. When Kei fell behind, the poor guy already thought he had the race in his pocket.
“Just you wait, Mikey, just you wait,” muttered Kei in a singsong voice. “I am so coming to get you…”
Once they passed the curve, Kei floored the gas pedal again and swiftly maneuvered around the silver car, passing it before Mike could understand what hit him. The next curve is crucial, came in Mike’s new thought. I’ve got to get ahead now in order to be on the winning, inner side of the curve.
Thanks for the tip, Mikey-boy, murmured Kei. He maneuvered the car as close to the right as possible and managed to reach the crucial curve first. He emerged onto the final stretch and threw his faithful steed into one last attack. At the finish line, Kei came to an abrupt, but artistic halt, raising a huge cloud of dust.
He won. He threw a glance of triumph at Red, who was watching him from the crowd’s first row, her face one big, sexy smile. The silver car reached the finish a second or two later, as Mike, dark as a storm cloud, jumped out of it. Soon, other drag racers started arriving.
“Great ride,” Kei said to him, extending his hand. “Don’t worry, you’ll win next time.”
“I don’t have that much time left,” murmured Mike.
Kei was going to ask what he meant, but didn’t get a chance. At that very moment, they heard sirens and a bunch of police cars surrounded the area.
“Damn,” whispered Mike. “I hope they didn’t get it on camera.”
“Attention everyone, get out of your cars and line up here. In case you were wondering, we’ve got everything on tape,” announced police captain with a smug expression on his face. “Get out your driver’s licenses so I can see them.”
Kei threw a quick glance at Mike, who stood quietly next to him, apparently resigning to the fact. He handed his driver’s license to the policeman, who was writing something down on a sheet of paper. “Your ticket, and this is your court appearance date. Don’t miss it, so you avoid further problems.” Mike took the ticket and the court date slip with a dejected look on his face.
“How about you, young whippersnapper?” The policeman turned to Kei. “I bet you are not even old enough to drive. Now, just look at the car you are driving. I wonder where you got wheels like that. Not stolen, is it?”
Kei opened his mouth to say that he forgot his driver’s license at home, when Red appeared next to him.
“Excuse me, officer,” she said with the most charming smile. “Here is his driver’s license—he gave it to me to hold on to.” And she handed the policeman a driver’s license.
“John Ping,” murmured the policeman. “Nineteen years of age. Hmm… I could have bet anything that you were younger.”
“All Asians look younger,” replied Red promptly. “Excuse me officer, but if there is nothing further, we should be going. It’s pretty late.”
“You are free to go,” said the officer. “Unfortunately, he isn’t going anywhere yet. I need to issue him a ticket and schedule him for court.”
“Based on what?”
“Based on the fact that he was drag racing, and we’ve got everything on tape.’
“Racing? In what?” inquired Red innocently.
“In this yellow Ferrari,” replied the officer, starting to lose his patience.
“What Ferrari?”
The officer turned his head to the right and blinked. Kei blinked, too. Where just a moment ago was his brand hew car, stood a bike.
“What the…” said the officer in bewilderment. “Where did it go? Hey Cap, did you see the yellow Ferrari?” he asked his captain.
“Ferrari?” The captain frowned. “What Ferrari? Are you okay, Jim?”
“Yes, I am.” The policeman looked confused.
“So, officer, we’ll be going if you don’t mind,” said Red, gently pulling the driver’s license out of his hand.
“Wait, what were you doing here then?” asked the policeman, trying to re-acquire his grip on the situation.
“Watching, of course,” replied Red.
“Okay, you may go, but don’t think this is over. I am going to watch the tape, and if the yellow Ferrari is on it, I’ll come after you, so it better not be there.”
“Of course,” said Kei, smiling.
As they started walking away, Kei whispered to Red, “You are amazing, you know that? But what about the tape?”
“What tape?” asked Red with a mischievous grin.
Kei grinned at her with appreciation. “I always thought we were kindred spirits.”
As they were leaving, he caught a miserable look on Mike’s face and felt sorry for him. “Are you sure the tape is not a problem? I feel sorry for that guy, Mike.”
“The tape will be blank,” replied Red. “They’ll have to let him go, so not to worry.”
They walked for a couple of blocks, Kei walking his bike, formerly known as the beautiful yellow Ferrari. “We should catch a cab. The nearest subway is probably too far, plus it’s very late.”
“I have something better,” said Red. She turned her head to the right and to the left to check that no one was watching. Then, she lightly touched the bike and a moment later, a slick black BMW was standing by the curb.
Kei whistled. “You are much better at this than I am. No contest. And there I thought I was pretty good.”
“You are very good. I am just more experienced. If you want, I can teach you some of my tricks.”
“Of course,” said Kei. “That’s one neat trick—turning a bicycle into a BMW. That kind of trick I definitely want to learn.”
“There is so much more than a mere car that you can do with this trick,” said Red.
They arrived back at the Underworld Club and Red parked the BMW in her parking lot.
“You did well today,” she said to him.
“So did you. I was very impressed,” echoed Kei. “Too bad my Ferrari is gone.”
“Who said she was gone?” Red mischievously pointed into a shadowy corner of the parking lot. There, behind a Mercedes and a Ford SUV stood his yellow Ferrari, which he already had fallen in love with.
“You are amazing, Red, did you know that?” he said adoringly, stroking the car’s yellow hood, as if it was the voluptuous body of his beloved sexy brunette.
Red responded with her trademark Mona Lisa smile. Now she was absolutely confident—Kei was hers, in body, mind, and spirit.
December 5, 2013
My Books on Huge Pre-Holiday Sale + a Freebie!
Christmas and New Year’s are quickly approaching, and I have great news for those who are ready to load up their new #Kindles, #Nooks and e-readers with some scrumptious holiday reads! If you like original, mind-bending fiction; if you enjoy expanding your horizons with exotic, spiritual, thought-provoking adventures; if you crave knowledge about foreign cultures and the hidden secrets of our world – my books are for you!
All 3 of my novels are on huge sale – both ebooks and paperbacks – for a whole week starting Monday, December 9, through December 16, 2013, on #Amazon, #BN and #Smashwords!
All my 3 novels are now available as paperbacks at both Amazon and BN! Click on buy links below!
Scroll all the way down for the #FREEBIE!
Over 75% off! ebook $1.49 (reg. $4.99-6.99) paperback: $13.49 (reg. $14.99)
Buy links: Barnes&Noble Smashwords Kobo Sony also at Apple
Amazon US UK CA DE (available on all intl. Amazon sites)
Read more about THE EARTH SHIFTER
70% off! ebook $1.49 (reg. $3.99) paperback: $12.49 (reg. $13.88-14.99)
Buy links: Barnes&Noble Smashwords Sony also at Apple
Amazon US UK CA DE (available on all intl. Amazon sites)
Read more about GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure #2)
50% off! ebook $1.49 (reg. $2.99) paperback: $12.49 (reg. $13.88-$14.99)
Buy links: Barnes&Noble Smashwords Kobo Sony also at Apple
Amazon US UK DE CA (available on all intl. Amazon sites)
Read more about STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure #1)
GREEN DESERT (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel novelette) is always FREE!
One-click downloads: Amazon Smashwords Barnes&Noble Sony
Or buy on Amazon UK DE CA (available on all intl. Amazon sites) at $.99
Enjoy!
As usual, I will be donating profits from my book sales to America’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, NY; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!
Thank you for buying my books and spreading the word!
Happy Holidays!
Great Holiday Reads on Huge Sale!
Christmas and New Year’s are quickly approaching, and I have great news for those who are ready to load up their new #Kindles, #Nooks and e-readers with some scrumptious holiday reads! If you like original, mind-bending fiction; if you enjoy expanding your horizons with exotic, spiritual, thought-provoking adventures; if you crave knowledge about foreign cultures and the hidden secrets of our world – my books are for you!
All 3 of my novels are on huge sale – both ebooks and paperbacks – for a whole week starting Monday, December 9, and all the way to December 16, 2013, on #Amazon, #BN and #Smashwords!
Start your shopping early: special preview begins on Saturday, 12/7, at select retailers!
ebook $2.99 (reg. $4.99-$6.99) paperback: $13.49 (reg. $14.99-$16.99)
Buy links:
Barnes&Noble Smashwords Kobo Sony also at Apple
Amazon US UK CA DE (available on all intl. Amazon sites)
Read more about THE EARTH SHIFTER
ebook $1.49 (reg. $3.99) paperback: $12.49 (reg. $13.88-$14.99)
Buy links:
Barnes&Noble Smashwords Sony also at Apple
Amazon US UK CA DE (available on all intl. Amazon sites)
Read more about GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure #2)
ebook $1.49 (reg. $2.99) paperback: $12.49 (reg. $13.88-$14.99)
Buy links:
Barnes&Noble Smashwords Kobo Sony also at Apple
Amazon US UK DE CA (available on all intl. Amazon sites)
Read more about STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure #1)
GREEN DESERT (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel novelette) is always FREE!
One-click downloads:
Amazon Smashwords Barnes&Noble Sony
Or buy on Amazon UK DE CA (available on all intl. Amazon sites) at $.99
Enjoy!
As usual, I will be donating profits from my book sales to America’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, NY; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!
Thank you for buying my books and spreading the word!
Happy Holidays!
November 28, 2013
Lily Cat’s 19th Thanksgiving and the Pumpkin Muffin Adventure
My faithful companion and super-familiar, the cat of many names, most notably known as Lily Cat, aka Princess Lily, aka Lila (which means “divine cosmos” in Sanscrit), is celebrating her 19th Thanksgiving, for which I am eternally thankful!
Lila, the divine cat, is still no stranger to everyday earthly pleasures, one of them being a nice, savory meal – oh, about 10-12 times a day. While eating like a giant, Lily Cat manages to keep her dainty, catwalk-like appearance. I’ll tell you Lily’s secret: yes, earlier in her life she indeed worked as a cat model, and to this day, she keeps her girlish figure slim and graceful despite her ripe age. I believe a cat’s 19 years and 5 months equal something to the tune of 75 or 80 in human years. In fact, those who don’t know her tend to think she is still a kitten. I wonder where all that food goes? My hubby believes it all goes into her luxurious and fluffy coat.
As usual, to celebrate Harvest/Thanksgiving, I made some scrumptiously healthy pumpkin/raisin/cherry/cinnamon muffins. Of course, Lily Cat sat in the middle of the kitchen the whole time, getting in the way and crowding my work space. Um…sorry – correction – helping me with all her might!
My pumpkin muffins came out very nice – yum!
I displayed my newly baked culinary achievement on the dining table.
Lily Cat was not far behind. She was intrigued by the new display, as tantalizing aroma made her head spin.
Lily: “No, I’m not going to show my weakness, I won’t budge!”
“But it’s so tempting! I better go an check out what mysterious new delicacy has mommy made for me today.”
“But no, I am a dignified cat! I won’t jump on that table! I won’t, I won’t!”
“But it’s too tempting! Dignity? What does dignity have to do with it?”
“That’s better! It’s so much easier to see what’s going on from the top of the table.”
“What a disappointment! These muffins taste nothing like my favorite chicken, or turkey! And to think they showed so much promise! I’ll never allow myself to be deceived like this ever again!”
Well, Lila Cat got her usual meal (for the tenth time today – but who’s counting! ). As to us, we are getting ready to enjoy our vegetarian pumpkin muffins!
And how are you celebrating?
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Pumpkin Overload (thecocochroniclesblog.wordpress.com)
November 23, 2013
Writing Bliss, Siberian Shaman and Legend of the Bear Drum
“You must write for yourself, above all. That is your only hope of creating something beautiful.” ~ Gustave Flaubert
When several years back I first wrote the fantastic legend of the Bear Drum, it was meant as a short story depicting the young shaman Tengis’ adventure in the Siberian Taiga, near the shore of the Sacred Lake Baikal. It was a story I put on paper for myself because it just popped into my mind and because I thought it was, well…beautiful. Little did I know that this short story would eventually become the foundation for the epic novel, entitled The Earth Shifter.
Siberian shaman beating shamanic drum by the Sacred Shaman Rock, on the shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia
The Bear Drum
Tengis’s favorite drum was large, round like the sun, nearly flat and made of deerskin. The drum was in very good shape, but it must have been very old because the deerskin was yellowing. On the inside of the drum was an incredibly realistic painting of a huge Siberian bear standing completely erect on his hind legs. The bear emanated power and, if you could believe it, spiritual wisdom, all the while managing to resemble the tiny and slightly bowlegged Tengis.
Usually, Siberian shamans had their power animals depicted on the inner surface of a drum. This technique, unlike painting your power animal on a drum’s outer surface, as was common with Native American shamans, ensured that the power animal protected and empowered its user from the inside. As an added bonus, it also protected the painting from fading due to frequent pounding on the drum.
Faithful to the ages-old shamanic tradition, Tengis never took money for his healings. He didn’t need much, but the many grateful people he’d helped throughout his life always worried that the great shaman didn’t have enough. As a result, even during the worst of times he had everything he needed, and then some. An interesting side effect was that Tengis owned a collection of over one hundred drums, hanging on walls, sitting on shelves and stored in closets. Most of his drums were given to him throughout the many years of his shamanic practice.
The Big Bear Drum—his favorite—was made for him a long time ago by a celebrated local artisan. Distinguished by its amazing healing voice and unique, reverberating tone, the drum was later painted personally by Denis Velekh, a renowned artist from St. Petersburg, after Tengis healed his dying ten-year-old daughter.
Tengis loved to talk to his drums, especially this one.
“A drum represents the wisdom of the Mother Earth,” he often remarked. “Strike it, and you’ll hear her heartbeat. The drum will tell you many stories of what was and what’s to come—you just need to listen.”
Sasha always wondered how a Siberian bear came to be Tengis’s favorite power animal. And that evening, when the cozy fire crackled merrily in the hearth and Tengis lovingly stroked his old drum, she finally heard the story.
A very long time ago, when Tengis was very young and his father was still alive, he was called to heal a reindeer herder’s wife, who was very ill. The herder lived on a remote farm, far into the taiga. The healing was successful, but the woman was weak. Tengis told the man to stay by her side through the night and to keep brewing the special Siberian ginseng and herb tea that he’d prescribed. Meanwhile, Tengis started getting ready for the return trip. It was a bit late in the day and the herder tried to convince him to stay overnight.
The majestic realm of Lake Baikal and Siberian Taiga
“The snow’s too deep and the days are too short. Wait until tomorrow morning and I’d be privileged to take you home personally!” pleaded the herder.
No matter how sunny any given Siberian winter may have been, the locals would never stay overnight in the frozen taiga, where the temperature could easily drop to minus fifty degrees after sunset. Besides, while Siberian bears usually hibernated this time of year, hungry wolf packs relentlessly scouted the forest for any food they could find. And that was the kind of encounter you definitely wanted to avoid.
But Tengis, with the carelessness of youth, disregarded the herder’s pleas. He was eager to get home. His father promised him an advanced shamanic training early the next day, and Tengis wasn’t about to miss this opportunity.
At first, it was going well as he briskly walked across the forest, but the night was creeping up on him too fast, with enormous trees obscuring what little light of the day was left. Sure enough, heavy snow started falling, hiding his path, and with a sinking feeling, halfway home, Tengis realized that there was no way he could reach his destination before nightfall.
He stopped by a clearing to catch his breath. As he surveyed the area, he noticed a tall mound of earth just ahead. The space under the mound seemed protected from the snow and wind, and it looked like a good place to sit down and consider the next step. But the closer he got to the mound, the deeper the snow became, and just before reaching it, he sank in right up to his waist. As he frantically tried to free himself from the huge snow pile, his heart skipped a beat.
In the distance, where the white snow of the clearing met the darkness of the trees, he saw a pair of gleaming yellow eyes, and another, and another. He counted no less than twelve pairs of eyes. Exhausted from the protracted winter, hungry and determined to have a long-awaited feast, rejoicing that a foolish human had wandered into their domain, the wolf pack was closing in.
Tengis could sense their excitement and their impatience. He didn’t blame them, knowing that their survival instinct took over. Tengis took a deep breath and assessed his options. As a shaman and a healer, he didn’t carry a gun. His only weapon was a travel knife, very handy for cutting branches, but hardly sufficient against a hungry wolf pack. He knew that empty-handed, freezing, and up to his waist in snow, he wasn’t in the best position to survive.
He decided that his best bet was to lean against the tall mound of earth, therefore protecting his back, and somehow try and shield his front from the upcoming attack. Tengis took off his rucksack and threw it as far as he could into the snow. His favorite drum was inside and he wanted to save it from the wolves. The drum inside the rucksack made a low reverberating sound as it touched the ground.
For a brief moment in time, Tengis felt that the whole world had become still. He threw one last glance around the snowy clearing, took a deep breath, and said a prayer, “Please help me, Mother Earth… please protect me, Father Heaven… I still have so much to do here on Earth, so many people to help, so many wrongs to right! It is not my time to go! Please help me…”
His mind registered the wolves charging at him as if in slow motion as he tightly covered his head with his arms. His sturdy deerskin coat withstood the first attack.
He could hear the confused growling of the wolves next to him. They were regrouping. Then they charged again and sank their sharp teeth into the helpless man in the snow.
The deerskin coat started giving way and the sound of it being ripped by the sharp fangs filled Tengis’s ears. The wolves’ growls grew impatient as they ripped his coat, determined to penetrate this unusually resistant outer layer. And then, he heard himself scream as a wolf’s teeth sank into his flesh.
But at that particular moment, another, much louder roar was added to the chorus, the roar of an angered bear. Tengis cautiously peeked with one eye. A huge bear, rugged and lean from hibernation, drew up to his full height and charged at the wolves from under the earth mound behind. The bear advanced, taking wide swipes at the squirming wolves. He was angry, and he was beside himself that his winter hibernation had been so rudely interrupted. Startled wolves flew in all directions, yelping in pain, leaving crimson blood trails, then scrambling back to their feet and sprinting toward the cover of the trees. Within minutes, all the wolves, except one, disappeared back into the taiga. The remaining wolf stayed motionless in the snow, a big black ink stain on the pristine page.
Tengis knew that he was next, and covered his head, wondering how much longer his damaged deerskin shield could withstand the attack. Slowly and grouchily, the bear approached Tengis and started sniffing him. Then, he poked him with his nose, as if urging him to start moving toward the cave.
Carefully—incredulously—Tengis raised his head, and their eyes met. In that surreal moment of suspended disbelief, a complete and total understanding passed between the man and the beast. The bear resumed his nudging and Tengis understood: he was invited to come in and warm up.
He found his bag at a distance and threw the last glance at the field of recent battle, taking in the disturbed white sheet of the snow and a single black stain of a wolf on it. He took a deep breath of crisp night air and entered the musky realm of the bear cave.
Inside, he sat down, opened his rucksack and got out the provisions the herder had packed for him for the road—bread, salted fish, smoked meat, and a can of honey. He laid all that down on a piece of cloth and made an inviting gesture to his gracious host. The bear sat down on the other side of the cloth and helped himself to the spread. Tengis smiled at him and could have sworn that the bear smiled back.
The dinner was soon over and the bear was ready to resume his sleep. He lay down on a bed of straw in the depth of his cave and stared at Tengis, as if inviting his guest to make himself comfortable next to him. Tengis hesitated, but the chill of the night was now seeping through his torn coat.
He lay down next to the bear and pressed his shivering body against the animal’s thick fur. The pervasive musky smell made his head spin, a distraction only for a moment. Soon Tengis was asleep, cuddled against the enormous body of his furry savior, secure, warm and peaceful, and completely unaware that the temperature outside dropped that night to record levels even by Siberian standards, and that the desperately hungry wolf pack dared to come back to quietly finish off the carcass of the fallen wolf left earlier on the snow.
Tengis awoke with the sun’s first rays, inhaling the fresh morning air with a smile on his face. He said thank you to the Mother Earth and Father Heaven, prayed for the safety and good fortune of the sleeping bear, and surveyed the landscape, mildly surprised that the dead wolf’s body had gone.
He was home well before lunch, exhausted, cold, but light and inspired. The bear and the drum of the night had been with him ever since.
Shaman Tree on the shore of Lake Baikal, southeastern Siberia, Russia
*******
THE EARTH SHIFTER buy links:
Amazon US UK CA Barnes&Noble Smashwords Sony
Profits from my book sales go to America’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, NY; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!
Or visit BOOKS BY LADA RAY for a glimpse of all books at a glance!
November 11, 2013
Move Update, KDP Select and Where to Purchase My Books
Hello, everyone!
I have received some questions about where I’d disappeared lately and whether my books are still a part of #KDPSelect program.
Well, as some of you may know, very recently I have moved to my new residence in a different area of Upstate NY, where I am presently settling down. I love the new house; it’s nice, yet substantially smaller than my old one. I am rather happy about that since I don’t have to waste as much time taking care of the property. Instead, I can let my creative juices flow more freely, while concentrating fully on things that matter – namely my various spiritual, creative and life projects that have been blossoming wonderfully.
Read more about that here:
For a small part of my exciting plans (more coming!), check out my new page:
As to my books, several months ago, I have opted to leave KDP Select and distribute widely. The reasons for that are outlined in my earlier post:
Publishing Paradigm Shift. What Is Better: Amazon KDP Select or Broad Distribution?
My books can now be found at Amazon (ebooks and paperbacks), BN (ebooks and some paperbacks – more coming), Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, as well as #Apple. Click on store name above to view all my books at a glance!
I have more exciting news! I am planning a big pre-holiday #pricedrop for all my books. More details of the #booksale will be available soon! And of course, Green Desert (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel novelette) #ebook is #FREE everywhere at all times, including, Kindle and Nook! Stay tuned for more announcements soon!
Click on any book cover for buy links & more about each book:
If you don’t feel like waiting for the price drop and would like to sink your teeth into reading without delay, you’ll be pleased to know that:
Profits from my book sales go to America’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, NY; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!
And of course, Green Desert is always free everywhere!
New, updated version will be uploaded on 11/13 to #kindle #bn #smashwords.
Stop by to check it out! Click on cover for all store links!
Or visit BOOKS BY LADA RAY for a glimpse of all my books at a glance!
Related articles
And the Oscar For the Funniest Book Review Goes To… (ladaray.wordpress.com)
THE EARTH SHIFTER Excerpt: Tantalizing Mystery of the Key and Spy Conspiracy
Excerpt Sunday: Not All’s Kosher at Stepford’s Berkshire Hope Clinic
My Move Update, Where to Purchase My Books, Pre-Holiday Sale
Hello, everyone!
I have received some questions about where I’d disappeared lately and whether my books are still a part of #KDPSelect program.
Well, as some of you may know, very recently, I have moved to my new residence in a different area of Upstate NY, where I am presently very nicely settling down. I love the new house, which is nice, yet substantially smaller than my old one. I am very happy about it since now I have to spend much less time taking care of the house and the property and dedicate much more time to things that matter, namely my various spiritual, creative and life projects, which are blossoming wonderfully, as well as to health, fun and personal development.
Read more here:
For a small part of my exciting plans (more coming!), check out my new page:
As to my books, several months ago, I have opted to leave KDP Select and distribute widely. The reasons for that are outlined in my earlier post:
Publishing Paradigm Shift. What Is Better: Amazon KDP Select or Broad Distribution?
My books can now be found at Amazon (ebooks and paperbacks), BN (ebooks and some paperbacks – more coming), Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, as well as #Apple. Click on store name above to view all my books at a glance!
I have more exciting news! I am planning a big pre-holiday #pricedrop for all my books. More details of the #booksale will be available soon! And of course, Green Desert (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel novelette) #ebook is #FREE everywhere at all times, including, Kindle and Nook! Stay tuned for more announcements soon!
Click on any book cover for buy links & for more about each book:
If you don’t feel like waiting for the price drop and would like to sink your teeth into reading without delay, you’ll be pleased to know that:
Profits from my book sales go to America’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, NY; and to Siberian Tiger rescue project in Russia. Read more about that here!
And of course, Green Desert is always free everywhere!
New, updated version will be uploaded on 11/12 to #kindle #bn #smashwords.
Stop by to check it out! Click on cover for all store links!
Or visit BOOKS BY LADA RAY page for a glimpse of all my books at a glance!
Related articles
And the Oscar For the Funniest Book Review Goes To… (ladaray.wordpress.com)
The End of Free – and Why I’m Waiting For Bad Reviews! (joannegphillips.wordpress.com)
THE EARTH SHIFTER Excerpt: Tantalizing Mystery of the Key and Spy Conspiracy
Excerpt Sunday: Not All’s Kosher at Stepford’s Berkshire Hope Clinic
November 10, 2013
I Will Not Let You Go
One of the most tender, selflessly loving and beautiful photos I've ever seen!
What's Mine is Yours
What's Mine is Yours - a homeless boy sharing his food with stray dog. #kindness #love
