Lada Ray's Blog, page 89
July 8, 2013
Odessa, The Pearl of the Black Sea
The Colonnade of the Vorontsov Palace, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Take him instead to Odessa, a nice city, a wonderful place to raise a family.” Everything Is Illuminated (novel & movie)
In its almost 220 years of history, Odessa has been through dramatic changes in citizenship and population, bloody revolutions, Nazi siege & occupation, heroic underground guerilla war, and even a cholera outbreak. What allowed it to survive all of this, emerging with flying colors, is its relentless optimism, its undying sense of humor and artistry that permeate every pore of the city’s existence.
Odessans are lovers and traders, not fighters. Over 70 different nationalities reside in this major trading port. From the very childhood, they learn to co-exist peacefully and respect each other. This is a very colorful place an exceptional environment to enjoy life. This is where I was lucky enough to grow up. This is the city I love.
Pushkinskaya (Pushkin Street) with its prized southern trees, cobblestones and beautiful classic buildings.
Odessa’s main street, pedestrian Deribasovskaya
A child of ambition and genius of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great, Odessa is a truly unique cultural and architectural phenomenon. In addition to being a major resort, international port, plus educational & cultural center, it also was the Russian capital of humor during Soviet times. Although now, along with the Crimea, it is part of the Ukraine as a separate state (sad story – don’t ask), it still retains its status as a major international hub of laughs, and the special Odessa brand of humor is popular not only locally, but also in such places as Israel, Germany and New York.
How was the Odessa humor born, you ask? Well, I have a theory on that. It is very possible that the humor gene was embedded in the city’s DNA at birth.
Monument to Catherine the Great, Odessa’s founder, and her statesmen
Legend has it that when in 1795 Catherine the Great decided to build a splendid city on the Black Sea to become Russia’s first southern seaport, she dispatched a special envoy to the site of the former Turkish fortress Khadzibei, and now the newly acquired domain of the Russian Empire. The envoy’s name was Duke Richelieu. Yes, he was a Frenchman in service of the Russian throne.
Odessa trade port today
“We’ll build the city and the port here,” reportedly proclaimed Le Duc, regally standing on top of the hill, soon to become the famous Primorsky Boulevard, and surveying what later would be known as the Odessa Bay. “Splendid location for a port.” He must’ve looked regal… well, at least that’s how I imagine that legendary scene. 
“But Monsieur,” objected the engineers and architects, who were crowding the hilltop next to him, “this is not a suitable place for a large city – there is no potable water!” Alas, that was a true statement. The nearest potable water source, the River Dniestr, was over 50 kilometers away from the city – not the best location for sure. Potable water shortage later became the city’s Achilles Heel in World War II when Odessa had to endure an excruciating siege, punctuated with extreme water starvation and heroic raid of the Red Army marines to get it flowing for a short period of time. That raid, commemorated in word and film, was the last thing the brave soldiers did in their lives, allowing the city to hold on just a little longer. Later Odessa was awarded the Gold Star of the Hero City for this event, as well as for the stoic guerilla resistance during the German Nazi/Romanian occupation, becoming one of the 4 original Hero Cities (more were added later).
Poster reads: Hero City Odessa – 60 Years of Peace
But back in 1795 our duke didn’t know any of that. He was driven by desire to please the Empress and by his vision of a perfect port. So, he raised his well-groomed and meticulously manicured hand and replied with what was to become an immortal phrase: “Assez d’eau,” meaning that there was “enough water.” He accompanied this phrase with an equally immortal sweeping gesture pointing at the sea water below in order to illustrate his point.
Monument to Duke Richelieu on Primorsky Boulevard, facing the seaport and Potemkin Steps. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Long story short, the port and the city were built in record time. As to Monsieur Le Duc, the Odessans built a monument to their first governor in the same exact spot he stood when he declared that there was plenty of water around. And as to the phrase… Well, the witty locals reversed it phonetically, and the French “assez d’eau” became Russian Odessa (Rus: Одесса). This was the day the famous Odessa humor was born.
Odessa humor in action: Pervoye Aprelia – April Fool’s Day – is taken here very seriously
Odessa grew dramatically throughout the 19th century, becoming Russia’s 2nd largest (after St. Petersburg) seaport, the country’s only non-freezing port, and 3rd capital of the Russian Empire, after St. Peterburg and Moscow. As a major international trading center, the city and its citizens became very wealthy. As a result, many magnificent buildings and monuments were built to showcase the city’s fortune and cultural significance. The architectural style of Odessa had significant Mediterranean influence, however, the Russian culture always was, and remains, the dominant culture, albeit with a unique multicultural Odessa twist.
The spectacular Odessa Opera Theater located at – where else – 1 Tchaikovsky Drive.
Odessa is a beloved city for many around the world. Its pull is such that those who had long moved to foreign shores, be it Moscow, London, Israel, or New York, tend to buy second residences here, returning to the Pearl of the Black Sea in order to spend the summer on its shores. We, those who grew up in this unique place, call it warmly “Odessa Mama.”
The grand stairs inside Odessa Opera complete with gold statues
Inside Odessa Opera, considered the world’s most beautiful opera theater, along with Milan’s La Scala.
Magical Odessa Opera at night
Opera entrance
The entire center of Odessa, including the Odessa Opera, pedestrian Primorsky Boulevard, Potemkin Steps, the Seaport, its beautiful palaces, museums, as well as its two most gorgeous and famous streets, Pushkinskaya, and its main street, pedestrian Deribasovskaya, together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The exquisite Laokoon statue from the Ancient Greek mythology in front of the Odessa Archaeological Museum, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Odessa is a boon for archaeologists, as it was a Greek colony during the times of Ancient Greece, and to this day, the Greek population constitutes a tangible minority here, in addition to Russians, Jews, Ukrainians, Moldavians, Armenians, Turks, Serbs, Koreans, Germans, Chileans, Spaniards, Italians, etc.
The Duke Richelieu statue on Primorsky Boulevard surrounded by unique “hugging” buildings
Potemkin Steps, or Potemkin Stairs (Potemkinskaya Lesnitsa) – also part of the UNESCO Heritage Site. The Steps, leading to the Odessa Seaport, are distinguished by their superb architectural harmony and balance, and are considered one of the world’s highest stairbuilding achievements.
Odessa has been featured in many movies, the most famous of which is the silent film by Sergei Eisenstein, The Battleship Potemkin, declared one of the 10 most influential movies of all time.
A baby crib going down the Potemkin Steps – the famous scene from The Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein. Voted one of the most powerful movie scenes of all time.
Potemkin Steps from a turn of the 20th century postcard. Before the 1917 Revolution, Primorsky Boulevard above was called Nikolaevsky Boulevard, after the Russian Emperor Nikolay II.
Monument to the Battleship Potemkin sailors located behind the Duke Richelieu statue, not far from the Potemkin Steps. Their uprising against the oppressive tsarist regime gave start to the first Russian Revolution in 1905, and their story became the basis for Sergei Eisenstein’s film.
One of Odessa’s beautiful buildings
Odessa Ratusha, the historic city mayor’s building at the end of Primorsky Bloulevard, with its clock (center top), whose distinctive melody sings a tune from “Odessa, My Beloved City” – Odessa’s anthem, immortalized in film.
One of many beautiful Odessa city squares with Catherine the Great monument
Odessa Seaport at night
Odessa Seaport from the Potemkin Steps
Seeing off a ship – statue in Odessa Seaport
Odessa is one of those places that make you want to sing and dance. The unusually high number of lovely and famous songs have been written about this city. I’ve posted 3 of them below. The clips also include some cool images of real Odessa.
My Odessa – Mikhail Shufutinsky
Shalandi Polniye Kefali. A world famous song loosely translated as Boatloads of Fish
Ah, Odessa
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Odessa is endless and you can spend a lifetime discovering its secrets, yet in the end, still be surprised. There is so much more I can say and show… The second post will be about the sea, fun and some personally significant places I hold dear to my heart. Summer in Odessa is magnificent! Stay tuned!
Text and images: Copyright Lada Ray 2013
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Related articles
Everything you wanted to know about Odessa but were afraid to ask (maphead.wordpress.com)
Odessa! (findoneworld.wordpress.com)
June 26, 2013
Here and Now: Spiritual Quotes by Lada Ray
“Contemplation + action = breakthrough.”
“Success takes many forms. Most people strive for something unattainable without realizing that it’s already theirs.”
“Spiritual growth and creativity are two sides of the same coin.”
“I create, therefore I am.”
“Happiness is to be understood.”
“Being present here and now is the highest compliment you can pay a woman in your life.”
Lada Ray’s definition of Feng Shui:
“In it’s highest and purest form, good feng shui signifies perfect alignment between inner and outer worlds.”
“Shaman is a spiritual shuttle between three realms of existence: Heaven, Mankind and Earth. He pierces through inter-dimensional veils in order to heal the parts and unite the whole.” The Earth Shifter
“Higher energy always wins and the light always drowns out the darkness.” The Earth Shifter
“Remote Viewing is Space Shifting without leaving your chair. It is a convenient shortcut to a miracle, therefore, relatively high numbers of humans have been able to achieve it.” The Earth Shifter
“Alexei was a dream of something more… He was a reminder that I could be so much more…” Gold Train
“You are too alive to bury yourself at this age, Jade. Don’t do it – it won’t work anyway.” Rachel to Jade Snow, Gold Train
“Claircognizance is the ability to KNOW without trying.”
“Psychic power is the ability to download information directly from the Universe.”
“Due to their super-sensitive auras, Empaths are emotional and energetic beacons of humanity.”
“Karma can be a beautiful maiden or a bitch.” Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians
“Just write is just right!”
Quotes by Lada Ray
Copyright 2013
Related articles
(ladaray.wordpress.com)
June 17, 2013
A Slice of Real Russia 2: Real Moscow
We are continuing our multimedia Russian adventure through stories, pics and vids. Today, we’ll be watching several very cool vids from our friends at the Real Russia Video Blog. What I especially like is that these are authentic Russian life vids. And another interesting thing is that both Sergeys live in Ufa, located in the Ural Mountains next to Siberia, and this is their virgin visit to the capital of Russia (to be sure, they came back for later vids). All this brings a certain sense of discovery to the Moscow experiences through their fresh eyes. Enjoy!
A Stroll Around Gorky Park – May 9, 2013, Victory Day (Den Pobedi)! One of my fave episodes: How people in Russia relax and enjoy themselves. So nice and sunny over there – it was snowing on May 9 here, in the Catskills, NY. Where did I go wrong?
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Zero Kilometer & Red Square. Red Square hardly needs an introduction. Experience first hand the unique energy of this place through the eyes of Russians visiting it for the very first time. Zero Kilometer is a point from which all roads in Russia begin. It is a symbolic marker located next to the Red Square, at the very beginning of Moscow’s, and all of Russia’s, principal street, Tverskaya Ulitsa. The historic Tverskaya runs from Red Square through the entire Moscow, turning into the highway to Saint Petersburg on the city’s outskirts. This famous street plays an important role in my books, THE EARTH SHIFTER and GOLD TRAIN.
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Secrets of St Basil’s Cathedral. St Basil’s, considered the most photographed building in the world, is full of surprises. Take a peek inside and check out its magnificent frescoes, secret passages and other treasures!
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Moskva River: Enchanting Boat Ride Around Moscow. Lovely spring weather, lots of beautiful, open spaces for people to enjoy, and Moscow’s landmarks. Don’t miss this wonderful free ride!
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Inside the Posh GUM, Red Square, Moscow (Russia’s main department store, pronounced ‘goom’) GUM is a historic and exceptionally beautiful building – a must visit!
Don’t Miss! The Amazing Museum of Cosmonautics & Space Explorers. April 12, 2013 – International Day of Cosmonautics
Rate.
Also watch: A Slice of Real Russia 1 Video Journey
Read:
Gold Train Magical setting: Moscow, Russia
Beautiful Russia 3: Moscow’s Many Faces
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 1
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 2
The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia
Gold Train Blog Tour Centerpiece: Lada’s May Day Interview
Support Lada Ray Blog! Like, subscribe, leave comments!
A Slice of Real Russia 2: Eyewitness Video Journey Around Moscow
We are continuing our multimedia Russian adventure through stories, pics and vids. Today, we’ll be watching several very cool vids from our friends at the Real Russia Video Blog. What I especially like is that these are unedited real Russian life vids; “no fake, no bull,” as the authors, Sergey x 2, advertise. And another interesting thing is that both Sergeys live in Ufa, located in the Ural Mountains next to Siberia, and this is their virgin visit to the capital of Russia (to be sure, they came back for later vids). All this brings a certain sense of discovery to the Moscow experiences through their fresh eyes. Enjoy!
Red Square
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Secrets of St Basil’s Cathedral
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Moskva River: Enchanting Boat Ride Around Moscow
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A Stroll Around Gorky Park – May 9, 2013, Victory Day (Den Pobedi)! So nice and sunny over there – it was snowing on May 9 here, in the Catskills, NY. Where did I go wrong?
..
Inside the Posh GUM, Red Square, Moscow (Russia’s main department store, pronounced ‘goom’)
Don’t Miss! The Amazing Museum of Cosmonautics & Space Explorers. April 12, 2013 – International Day of Cosmonautics
..
Watch: A Slice of Real Russia 1 Video Journey
Read:
Gold Train Magical setting: Moscow, Russia
Beautiful Russia 3: Moscow’s Many Faces
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 1
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 2
The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia
Gold Train Blog Tour Centerpiece: Lada’s May Day Interview
June 15, 2013
Do Amazon and Createspace rip off Indie publishers with failure to correctly report sales?
This post has just come to my attention and I felt it deserved to be re-posted on my blog. It is about missing or under-reported book sales on Amazon/Kindle/Createspace. I have long suspected something like this. Sometimes I would hear from people that they bought my books, but sales numbers would not match up on KDP or CS reports. Unlike the author in this piece, I am not into meticulously tracking each sale, however even I noticed multiple discrepancies – sometimes gross ones – in the past year or two. I even complained about it last year, but received a canned response. It appears that Smashwords is more accurate in reporting sales, although their reports are delayed.
Many indies are too busy to watch their sales, or they may simply give Amazon the benefit of the doubt, while unfortunately, constant oversight is required. This is a very disturbing situation, and only one of many that are troubling where Amazon’s practices are concerned. For example, in last year’s scandal, Amazon was implicated in a massive meddling with indie book reviews. It also manipulated algorithms to give unfair advantage to the Big 6 and to Amazon grandfathered authors. Another example: a friend of mine is a non-fiction indie publisher, who prints her books through her own channels. When her books have been ordered, she mails them to Amazon. She has complained that Amazon has been repeatedly losing her books, reporting them back to her as canceled sales. Her investigation revealed that the problem with lost books was a widespread one.
Whether these kinds of actions are deliberate or are based in terrible accounting/tracking system and lack of organization, this is completely unacceptable. Please read the post below. The author of the post asks everyone to Tweet/FB and otherwise share it. So do I. Awareness is key. Thank you!
Guest post by John. R. Clark, Managing Editor at AgeView Press. Re-posted from http://jeanettevaughan.wordpress.com
When AgeView Press Indie pubbed the book FLYING SOLO in May of 2012, the author, Jeanette Vaughan immediately began tracking sales. She heard from excited friends and family who immediately emailed when ordering their copies. The first sales were off of Createspace’s e-store with the title ID number given to the author. Then, through Amazon, a week later, when the book went live on the site. Finally on Kindle, when the ebook format was completed.
“Where, oh where are my royalties?”
Initially, things appeared kosher. People exclaiming that they had ordered the book, were showing up within a day or two on the electronic royalty reports with a reasaonable accuracy. But by June and July, sales descrepencies were noted by the author from customers claiming that they had purchased the book directly through Amazon, not an Amazon affiliate. Many of these sales were simply not listed.The author contacted Createspace customer support, who gave assurance that all sales were being accurately reported. FLYING SOLO was now also on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Select as well as expanded distribution channels, which included Amazon affiliates in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Sales were being reported to the author from readers and bookclubs in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The first note of apparent discrepancy came when a dear friend of the author ordered three copies of the book from Amazon in June. These books were ordered all at the same time, from Amazon.com direct. Yet, that cluster of three sales was never posted as such. Another instance in early July involved the same issue. Again, a customer ordered three copies, yet no sales were trackable through Amazons channels for three sale purchased on the same day.
During the months of June and July, no expanded distribution channel sales were posted on the royalty report, yet customers were emailing the author letting her know how much the book was being enjoyed overseas.
What should have shown as a surge of sales, as the book peaked, never appeared on the royalty reports. The author was suspect. She contacted Ingram directly, only to be informed that they were not supposed to reveal information to an author directly. So, the Indie publisher, AgeView Press made the call. Ingram showed 16 copies of the book ordered through their system total since May. Those sales never showed on the June or July royalty report. The author filed formal complaints with Createspace customer service, but received only canned letters in response explaining that indeed there was an issue with reports in Expanded Distribution and it was being investigated. Advice to author? Please be patient.
By August, it was clear there were gross in accuracies. The 30 copies ordered from Barnes and Noble never showed up. Few if any sales were listed for August. Yet the author had confirmation of over 4,000 copies in distribution worldwide. The crowning blow came in September. A plan was devised. A friend, agreed to help with the investigation. She ordered a copy of FLYING SOLO on September 7th, taking screen shots of her order and confirmation of payment directly from Amazon. She printed out here receipt showing date and time of purchase. The book arrived on September 13, to San Jose, California. Photos were taken. The sale was complete. Copies of all screenshots and receipts were scanned and sent to the author. By September 20th, no sales were shown at all on Createspaces report. Phoning Createspace, the author was informed that no sales were showing for Amazon for the month for that title. It was time for outrage! What had been suspected, had now been proven. Not once, but twice!
Time to climb up the foodchain. After many phonecalls and emails to Createspace, a Senior customer service “executive” phoned personally and stated he would investigate. Talk about a wacky result. Due to the print on demand status of Createspace books, sometimes they are one or two books ahead. Thus even though your book was printed in one month, but sold in another, a royalty might actually show up in the prior month for that sale. What???
No one expects to get rich off of writing a book. Few and far between are the Oprah Bookclub golden orbs of success. But how are authors to trust a system, happy to take their money for assisting to create and publish a book, which does not thoroughly, detail accurate sales? Simply outrageous. What options does that leave the Indie publishers? How can they possibly track the success of their marketing efforts. Is the publishing world doomed to be controlled by the big six? Are small bookstores and Indie presses to be overrun by powershouse chains which offer the Indie published writer no turf?
How can the press or the author be sure those sales are accurate with no detail? Rise up Indie authors! Repost this story! Tweet it, facebook it. Make it go viral. Print it and send it to your local newspaper and the Associated Press. This abject fraud is outrageous and MUST STOP!
John R. Clark, Managing Editor, AgeView Press
Lada’s 2 cents: I want to note that ironically, on both KDP & CS, one can only track sales if there are FEW sales on the title. Once your book picks up in sales, there is no possibility of tracking them whatsoever – talking from personal experience. This may be the reason very few ever complain about this. They don’t know about the problem because they can’t see it. Due to system latencies, there is a certain delay in reporting on KDP when sales really pick up, but all that should still be sorted out within a day or so. CS is different in that there are normally fewer paperback sales than those of ebooks, but reporting on CS is also done on a monthly basis. To be honest, I myself have never even looked at CS reports – I just collected my royalties whenever they showed up. Perhaps, it’s high time I did.
The only way one can confirm the problem (or not) for sure, is when multiple copies are purchased at once, and the author knows exactly when that happened. For example, the article above was triggered by the fact that B&N has purchased a substantial order of the author’s book, which never got reported.
P.S. According to some, even Steven King complains about under-reported sales/royalties, albeit by his publisher.
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15 Ways Amazon Can Improve Kindle Direct Publishing (davidgaughran.wordpress.com)
June 10, 2013
Beautiful Russia 3: Moscow’s Many Faces
The continuation of the Beautiful Russia Series is here! Today’s highlight is Moscow.
Every September, Red Square hosts International Military Band Festival, Spasskaya Tower, featuring military bands from all over the world. Grand finale of the festival – joint band showcase.
I love this city, where I was born and where I spent some of the happiest moments of my early childhood. What’s more, Moscow is featured prominently in two of my books: the top-rated metaphysical fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER & mystery/thriller GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure).
According to the Russians, Moscow is where Russia’s heart is. Affectionately, it is referred to as “Moscow, the city of white stone” – Moskva Belokamennaya.” Although the present day Kremlin Wall is red brick, the ancient Moscow Kremlin, churches and other buildings were white stone, as seen on the Kremlin picture above, and as you would notice in the many architectural treasures of the Golden Ring of Russia. J.R.R. Tolkien modeled his White City in the Lord of the Rings after Moscow. Read more about the Golden Ring and Tolkien’s White City here.
Moscow’s humble beginnings date back to the 11th century, although a settlement existed centuries prior in what was at the time the unwelcome swamps and cold forests of the north. The rise of Moscow took place when the rich and established ancient Rus cities, like Kiev and Novgorod, were overrun by the Mongol horde. Moscow was too far north and too insignificant in order to warrant a full blown invasion, and so its own obscurity allowed it to become the leader in the fight against the Mongol/Tatar invasion. Little by little, the Russians, led by Moscow, pushed back, eventually taking over all the Mongol and Tatar strongholds on the Volga River, in the Crimea, Urals, and then moving into Siberia.
That period signified the fall of Kiev as the capital of ancient Rus, and the rise of Moscow as the capital of new Russia. And the rest is history…
Moscow was the capital of the Russian Tsardom until Peter the Great built Saint Petersburg, a new city of unrivaled splendor on the Baltic shores in order to give Russia access to the badly needed long-range seaport. Saint Petersburg became the capital of the newly founded Russian Empire. See my post about Saint Petersburg.
In 1918, after the Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin moved the capital back to Moscow. Since 1922, Moscow officially became the capital of the Soviet Union, and simultaneously, of the Russian Federation as one of the 15 republics of the Union. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Moscow remained the capital of the new Russian Federation.
When visiting Moscow, many notice that it looks and feels more than the capital of a single country; in fact, it feels more like the capital of the entire Eurasia…
Let’s check out how true this is, shall we? I just got my hands on a whole treasure trove of new hi-res images. They are very large, and may take a bit longer to upload, but they are worth it! Click on each image to enlarge, to see more detail! Note, all images are copyrighted!
Red Square, in front of St Basil’s Cathedral. Monument to “commoner” Minin and Prince Pozharsky, who led the citizens’ resistance against Polish invasion during the 16th century’s Time of Troubles. The inscription reads: “To Citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky from grateful Russia.”
Inside the Kremlin: Tsar Pushka – Tsar Cannon. The largest ball cannon in the world, but it has never fired a single shot. To me, that’s symbolic…
Night view of the fairytale Moscow Kremlin from the Moskva River
Kremlin Towers and Moskva River Embankment
Night view of the Moskva River. Part of the dramatic action in THE EARTH SHIFTER takes place along the nightly Moskva River Embankment.
*The correct name for “Moscow” in Russian is Moskva. The city is named after the ancient Moskva River, whose name predates Slavic/Rus settlement in these parts.
Night view of St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and the expansive GUM – pronounced “goom” (famous department store facing the Kremlin, which is designed to mirror the Kremlin architecture).
**The name of the Red Square – Krasnaya Ploshad’ - has double meaning: color ‘red’ signifies the red brick of the Kremlin and St Basil’s. But the word krasnaya in ancient Russian meant 2 things: red being one of them, but first and foremost, beautiful. So it would’ve been more accurately translated as ‘Beautiful Square.’ The name was given very aptly as the Red Square is indeed one of the most majestic and formidable public spaces on our planet. I can attest for myself that the energy here is simply amazing to behold.
Red Square – Krasnaya Ploshad – cobblestones and GUM
In GOLD TRAIN, protagonist Jade Snow visits the Kremlin and Red Square while preparing to investigate the mystery of the missing gold of the Russian Empire, together with her Russian journalist friend, Svetlana.
The Kremlin Armory Museum (Oruzheinaya Palata) showcasing various royal items, including arms, coaches, crowns, jewelry, art, outfits and armor.
Russian Tsars’ crowns, opulent royal hats, scepters, medals and orders at the Kremlin Armory
THE EARTH SHIFTER: After Sasha’s inadvertent time travel to the 17th century Russia, she, together with her father and mother, heads to the Kremlin Armory to verify that what she had seen was in fact historically true.
Arbat, Moscow’s pedestrian artists’ street. It is here, on Arbat, Jade and Svetlana hear the shocking prophecy of the clairvoyant Jypsy, Rada, which sets the wheels of GOLD TRAIN’s rip-roaring action into motion.
Moscow, as well as all of Russia, is a multi-faceted amalgamation of its past and present. There were brilliant breakthroughs and beautiful achievements, as well as spectacular falls from grace. The most important thing however that I want to emphasize is that the country as a whole has learned to embrace and welcome its past and present in all of its manifestations. Russians are proud of their history, be it the Russian Tsars, Lenin and the Soviet years, or today’s post-socialist prosperity. This message comes across loud and clear in GOLD TRAIN. Denial never works; acceptance is what makes for a well-adjusted, successful nation.
2013 traditional May 1 Parade – May Day celebration. International Workers Day popularized by the Soviet Union and celebrated widely in Russia, Europe and most countries of the world (except North America… Hmm…someone’s in denial).
2013 May Day Communist rally. The red banners read: “Lenin’s Komsomol.” Komsomol is of course the ‘young communist organization,’ which is part of the Communist Party.
***The Communist Party is the second most popular party in Russia. A very distant second to Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. For example, if Putin of United Russia received almost 64 percent of votes during Presidential Elections, the Communist leader, Gennady Ziuganov, received about 17 percent.
For more about Russian politics, read my articles:
Russia Votes: Crash Course in Russian Politics
2012 Predictions Update: Putin & Russian Presidential Elections
.Moscow equally embraces other sides of life:
Chocolate Cafe, Shokoladnitsa, at the Rio Mall, Moscow, Russia. Yum!
Waterpark Caribia, Moscow, Russia
Partying at the Caribia waterpark
The never-ending, always active Tverskaya Ulitsa – Tverskaya Street – the principal street of Moscow with its multi-lane traffic. It starts at the Kremlin Wall, turning into a highway to Saint Petersburg outside the city limits. Tverskaya is lined up with posh shops, hotels and restaurants and it is considered the most expensive street in Russia.
THE EARTH SHIFTER protagonist, Sasha Elfimova, resides just around the corner from Tverskaya with her father, Professor Maxim Elfimov, and her mother, Olga. Tverskaya is also mentioned in my mystery/thriller GOLD TRAIN.
Tverskaya in the 1950s
My aunt lived on Tverskaya, and when I was little, I stayed with her often. Many of the opulent pre-revolutionary flats had been converted to communal apartments after the 1917 Revolution. Since 1990s, Tverskaya reclaimed its exclusive real estate status, as all its buildings were re-converted back to luxury condos and flats. The tall ornate ceilings, huge rooms, spectacular foyers and old crystal chandeliers make for an amazing living!
In THE EARTH SHIFTER I talk about the history, the communal apartment realities, and the present day of this famous street.
Tverskaya today
Moscow has officially turned 860, and to celebrate, Tverskaya has turned into a pedestrian street!
Tverskaya Street/ Tverskoy Boulevard area are THE address, and home to some of the most magnificent and posh restaurants and shops in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
THE EARTH SHIFTER: to see Sasha off to America, her friends treat her to a farewell lunch at the Pushkin Cafe. Below: images of the spectacular Pushkin Cafe, named after the Russian poet and writer, Alexander Pushkin.
The designers successfully reproduced the ambiance of the early 19th century and the atmosphere surrounding the great Russian poet. Books and other antique pieces on display at Pushkin Cafe.
Beautiful ambiance at Pushkin Cafe
Tverskaya’s landmark: Posh Eliseevsky Market, founded in the 19th century by one of the first Russian non-aristocrat (commoner) millionaires, merchant Eliseev. In the 19th century, many such merchant/industrialist millionaires emerged as Russia’s aristocrat-dominated society quickly transitioned into capitalism with its profit-driven economy, in turn giving rise to the new class of disenfranchised proletarians.
Shopping at the Eliseevsky Market
The famous main building of Moscow University. Built in the 1930′s, it is the largest of the Seven Sisters, similar buildings designed to mirror the Kremlin towers and strategically positioned in a ring around the Kremlin.
Moscow University in the 1970s
One of THE EARTH SHIFTER’s main characters and Sasha’s father, Maxim Elfimov, worked here as professor of linguistics.
Moscow University and its blooming tulips
Complex Vorobyovi Gori (Sparrow Hills) by the Sparrow Hills Park, near Moscow University. Semyon Isayev, famous remote viewer and one of the characters of THE EARTH SHIFTER resides in one of these buildings.
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Moscow, Saint Petersburg & Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia like you’ve never imagined them before, via Lada Ray’s books!
Buy ebooks and paperbacks!
GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) Amazon US UK DE
THE EARTH SHIFTER Amazon US UK DE Barnes&Noble
(Available on all international Amazon & B&N UK sites)
Also read:
Gold Train Setting: Moscow, Russia
Tsars, Oligarchs & Imperial Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 1
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 2
The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia
Gold Train Blog Tour Centerpiece: Lada’s May Day Interview
A Case of Mistaken Identity: Soviet Cars and My Infamy
Beautiful Russia 3: Spectacular Moscow
The continuation of the Beautiful Russia Series is here! Today’s highlight is the capital of the Russian Federation, Moscow.
Every September, Red Square hosts International Military Band Festival, Spasskaya Tower, featuring military bands from all over the world. Grand finale of the festival – joint band showcase.
I love this city, where I was born and where I spent some of the happiest moments of my early childhood. What’s more, Moscow is featured prominently in two of my books: the top-rated metaphysical fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER & mystery/thriller GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure).
According to the Russians, Moscow is where Russia’s heart is. Affectionately, it is referred to as “Moscow, the city of white stone” – Moskva Belokamennaya.” Although the present day Kremlin Wall is red brick, the ancient Moscow Kremlin, churches and other buildings were white stone, as seen on the Kremlin picture above, and as you would notice in the many architectural treasures of the Golden Ring of Russia. J.R.R. Tolkien modeled his White City in the Lord of the Rings after Moscow. Read more about the Golden Ring and Tolkien’s White City here.
Moscow’s humble beginnings date back to the 11th century, although a settlement existed centuries prior in what was at the time the unwelcome swamps and cold forests of the north. The rise of Moscow took place when the rich and established ancient Rus cities, like Kiev and Novgorod, were overrun by the Mongol horde. Moscow was too far north and too insignificant in order to warrant a full blown invasion, and so its own obscurity allowed it to become the leader in the fight against the Mongol/Tatar invasion. Little by little, the Russians, led by Moscow, pushed back, eventually taking over all the Mongol and Tatar strongholds on the Volga River, in the Crimea, Urals, and then moving into Siberia.
That period signified the fall of Kiev as the capital of ancient Rus, and the rise of Moscow as the capital of new Russia. And the rest is history…
Moscow was the capital of the Russian Tsardom until Peter the Great built Saint Petersburg, a new city of unrivaled splendor on the Baltic shores in order to give Russia access to the badly needed long-range seaport. Saint Petersburg became the capital of the newly founded Russian Empire. See my post about Saint Petersburg.
In 1918, after the Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin moved the capital back to Moscow. Since 1922, Moscow officially became the capital of the Soviet Union, and simultaneously, of the Russian Federation as one of the 15 republics of the Union. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Moscow remained the capital of the new Russian Federation.
When visiting Moscow, many notice that it looks and feels more than the capital of a single country; in fact, it feels more like the capital of the entire Eurasia…
Let’s check out how true this is, shall we? I just got my hands on a whole treasure trove of new hi-res images. They are very large, and may take a bit longer to upload, but they are worth it! Click on each image to enlarge, to see more detail! Note, all images are copyrighted!
Red Square, in front of St Basil’s Cathedral. Monument to merchant Minin and Prince Pozharsky, who led the citizen’s resistance against Polish invasion during the 16th Century’s Time of Troubles.
Inside the Kremlin: Tsar Pushka – Tsar Cannon. The largest ball cannon in the world, but it has never fired a single shot. To me, that’s symbolic…
Night view of the fairytale Moscow Kremlin from the Moskva River
Kremlin Towers and Moskva River Embankment
Night view of the Moskva River. Part of the dramatic action in THE EARTH SHIFTER takes place along the nightly Moskva River Embankment.
*The correct name for “Moscow” in Russian is Moskva. The city is named after the ancient Moskva River, whose name predates Slavic/Rus settlement in these parts.
Night view of St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and the expansive GUM – pronounced “goom” (famous department store facing the Kremlin, which is designed to mirror the Kremlin architecture).
**The name of the Red Square – Krasnaya Ploshad’ - has double meaning: color ‘red’ signifies the red brick of the Kremlin and St Basil’s. But the word krasnaya in ancient Russian meant 2 things: red being one of them, but first and foremost, beautiful. So it would’ve been more accurately translated as ‘Beautiful Square.’ The name was given very aptly as the Red Square is indeed one of the most majestic and formidable public spaces on our planet. I can attest for myself that the energy here is simply amazing to behold.
Red Square – Krasnaya Ploshad – cobblestones and GUM
In GOLD TRAIN, protagonist Jade Snow visits the Kremlin and Red Square while preparing to investigate the mystery of the missing gold of the Russian Empire, together with her Russian journalist friend, Svetlana.
The Kremlin Armory Museum (Oruzheinaya Palata) showcasing various royal items, including arms, coaches, crowns, jewelry, art, outfits and armor.
Russian Tsars’ crowns, opulent royal hats, scepters, medals and orders at the Kremlin Armory
THE EARTH SHIFTER: After Sasha’s inadvertent time travel to the 17th century Russia, she, together with her father and mother, heads to the Kremlin Armory to verify that what she had seen was in fact historically true.
Arbat, Moscow’s pedestrian artists’ street. It is here, on Arbat, Jade and Svetlana hear the shocking prophecy of the clairvoyant Jypsy, Rada, which sets the wheels of GOLD TRAIN’s rip-roaring action into motion.
Moscow, as well as all of Russia, is a multi-faceted amalgamation of its past and present. There were brilliant breakthroughs and beautiful achievements, as well as spectacular falls from grace. The most important thing however that I want to emphasize is that the country as a whole has learned to embrace and welcome its past and present in all of its manifestations. Russians are proud of their history, be it the Russian Tsars, Lenin and the Soviet years, or today’s post-socialist prosperity. This message comes across loud and clear in GOLD TRAIN. Denial never works; acceptance is what makes for a well-adjusted, successful nation.
2013 traditional May 1 Parade – May Day celebration. International Workers Day popularized by the Soviet Union and celebrated widely in Russia, Europe and most countries of the world (except North America… Hmm…someone’s in denial).
2013 May Day Communist rally. The red banners read: “Lenin’s Komsomol.” Komsomol is of course the ‘young communist organization,’ which is part of the Communist Party.
***The Communist Party is the second most popular party in Russia. A very distant second to Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. For example, if Putin of United Russia received almost 64 percent of votes during Presidential Elections, the Communist leader, Gennady Ziuganov, received about 17 percent.
For more about Russian politics, read my articles:
Russia Votes: Crash Course in Russian Politics
2012 Predictions Update: Putin & Russian Presidential Elections
.Moscow equally embraces other sides of life:
Chocolate Cafe, Shokoladnitsa, at the Rio Mall, Moscow, Russia. Yum!
Waterpark Caribia, Moscow, Russia
Partying at the Caribia waterpark
The never-ending, always active Tverskaya Ulitsa – Tverskaya Street – the principal street of Moscow with its multi-lane traffic. It starts at the Kremlin Wall, turning into a highway to Saint Petersburg outside the city limits. Tverskaya is lined up with posh shops, hotels and restaurants and it is considered the most expensive street in Russia.
THE EARTH SHIFTER protagonist, Sasha Elfimova, resides just around the corner from Tverskaya with her father, Professor Maxim Elfimov, and her mother, Olga. Tverskaya is also mentioned in my mystery/thriller GOLD TRAIN.
Tverskaya in the 1950s
My aunt lived on Tverskaya, and when I was little, I stayed with her often. Many of the opulent pre-revolutionary flats had been converted to communal apartments after the 1917 Revolution. Since 1990s, Tverskaya reclaimed its exclusive real estate status, as all its buildings were re-converted back to luxury condos and flats. The tall ornate ceilings, huge rooms, spectacular foyers and old crystal chandeliers make for an amazing living!
In THE EARTH SHIFTER I talk about the history, the communal apartment realities, and the present day of this famous street.
Tverskaya today
Moscow has officially turned 860, and to celebrate, Tverskaya has turned into a pedestrian street!
Tverskaya Street/ Tverskoy Boulevard area are THE address, and home to some of the most magnificent and posh restaurants and shops in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
THE EARTH SHIFTER: to see Sasha off to America, her friends treat her to a farewell lunch at the Pushkin Cafe. Below: images of the spectacular Pushkin Cafe, named after the Russian poet and writer, Alexander Pushkin.
The designers successfully reproduced the ambiance of the early 19th century and the atmosphere surrounding the great Russian poet. Books and other antique pieces on display at Pushkin Cafe.
Beautiful ambiance at Pushkin Cafe
Tverskaya’s landmark: Posh Eliseevsky Market, founded in the 19th century by one of the first Russian commoner millionaires, merchant Eliseev.
Shopping at the Eliseevsky Market
The famous main building of Moscow University. Built in the 1930′s, it is the largest of the Seven Sisters, similar buildings designed to mirror the Kremlin towers and built in a ring around the Kremlin.
Moscow University in the 1970s
One of THE EARTH SHIFTER’s main characters and Sasha’s father, Maxim Elfimov, worked here as professor of linguistics.
Moscow University and its blooming tulips
Complex Vorobyovi Gori (Sparrow Hills) by the Sparrow Hills Park, near Moscow University. Semyon Isayev, famous remote viewer and one of the characters of THE EARTH SHIFTER resides in one of these buildings.
Visit Russia:
Moscow, Saint Petersburg & Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia like you’ve never imagined them before, via Lada Ray’s books!
Buy ebooks and paperbacks!
GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) Amazon US UK DE
THE EARTH SHIFTER Amazon US UK DE Barnes&Noble
(Available on all international Amazon & B&N UK sites)
Also read:
Gold Train Setting: Moscow, Russia
Tsars, Oligarchs & Imperial Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 1
Beautiful Russia: The Golden Ring 2
The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia
Gold Train Blog Tour Centerpiece: Lada’s May Day Interview
A Case of Mistaken Identity: Soviet Cars and My Infamy
June 6, 2013
Author Feature 5: Rory Mackay – Eladria
From mystical Scotland, I’m enchanted to welcome metaphysical fantasy author, Rory Mackay, and his debut novel, ELADRIA! Rory is a member of our YA Revolution and spiritual blogger – both huge pluses in my book. 
Congratulations on your new book, Rory! The cover looks great and the story sounds very intriguing!
Blurb
The fate of an entire world is changed forever when Tahnadra’s royal moon is attacked and overthrown by religious terrorists. Only narrowly escaping with her life, teenage Princess Eladria flees to the planet, now a fugitive on her own world. Lost in a hostile and unfamiliar land ravaged by generations of war, Eladria finds herself embroiled in a sinister experiment that threatens to destroy her world and countless others. As the barriers between dimensions rapidly collapse, Eladria learns that she alone can save her world. But her path is filled with obstacles and before long everything is called into question, including the very nature of reality itself.
Eladria is a compelling, character-driven fantasy with elements of science-fiction, philosophy and metaphysics. With its relatable characters and universal themes of life, love and redemption, it’s a book that can be read on multiple levels: as a straight-up fantasy thriller or an engaging reflection on the nature of life, personal identity, society, religion and coming to terms with loss and dealing with our demons.
Book Trailer
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Excerpt
There was no easy way to tell someone their entire world was about to be destroyed. Maybe that was why the old woman dispensed the prophecy in such a bizarrely offhand manner. Two short sentences. Two short sentences that would forever change the young princess’s life.
“On the Fifth Day of Rusaak, darkness will fall. Your entire world will be lost.”
The moment Eladria heard those words, her mind and senses froze and she stared at the woman in a blank stupor. She was certain the entire marketplace had simultaneously ground to a halt, for all went quiet. Of course, it was more likely that in her sudden state of shock, her mind had simply tuned out all background noise. A sudden tightness in her chest forced a sharp intake of air.
Eladria insisted that the seer explain her words, but the old woman was unable to elaborate. “I’m sorry, my Princess,” she mumbled, shaking her head slowly, the color draining from her wizened face. “I can say no more.”
“What do you mean you can say no more?” Eladria demanded.
“It was a momentary flash,” the woman responded, her voice broken and rasping. “It was gone almost the moment it came. The vision was taken from me.”
“Taken from you?”
“It was as though someone, or something, blocked my sight. I don’t understand it. This has never happened before. I’m sorry, Princess, but I can’t continue the reading. Here, I will refund your payment.”
“I don’t want a refund. I want you to explain what you said.”
“I can’t. Please…forget I said anything.”
But Eladria knew she would never be able to forget those words. The moment they left the old woman’s lips they had been indelibly seared into her mind forevermore.
Three days had now passed since Eladria had made that fateful trip to the oracle. She had barely slept since then.
It was early morning and, as daybreak approached, the princess paced her palace balcony in a state of restless agitation. The stars shone down like celestial sentinels overlooking the royal city as it slept. Outwardly everything was peaceful, but Eladria’s mind was a firestorm of unrest.
She had tried to dismiss the warning and chastised herself for paying heed to the ramblings of a deranged old fortune-teller. She didn’t ordinarily believe in such nonsense and wasn’t sure what had prompted her visit to the old woman in the first place. Perhaps it had been out of boredom, or simple curiosity?
She had done some investigation, looking over security logs and intelligence reports, and aside from a series of unusual storms sweeping across the planet, there was nothing out of the ordinary. But try though she might, she couldn’t shift the feeling that things were about to fall apart somehow; that some unspeakable tragedy lay just around the corner.
The princess came to a stop and wrapped her arms around her chest, shivering in the cool morning air. She gazed across the dormant metropolis that sprawled beneath the palace. Above the central plaza with its fountain and winding marble walkways, the city buildings—of varying size and structure—were illuminated as if by a million static fireflies glowing in shades of blue, white and green. The city was built in the hollow of a large moon crater and encased by a vast, translucent bio-dome. Beyond the arching glass barrier, the chalky moon surface gave way to an all-encompassing void of blackness, punctuated by the twinkling of distant stars and the ever-visible planet around which the moon circled. Dawn was creeping in and the first rays of sunlight were now visible, peeking from beyond the far side of the planet.
Eladria knew she wouldn’t have to worry about the seer’s words for much longer, because this was the day she had been warned about: the Fifth Day of Rusaak.
The Story Behind the Book:
This has been quite a journey. I began writing Eladria almost 4 years ago, in the Summer of 2009. It took a whole year to complete the first draft, then another 2 years to complete countless successive drafts. It wasn’t always an easy task writing this book, I came against some stumbling blocks and almost gave up on it more than once! But I’m glad I stuck it out, because it eventually paid off big style.
Eladria is the first installment in a series called ‘The Alanar Ascendant’ which I’ve been working on for years…and years…and years! It’s a supremely epic tale and whilst Eladria can be read as a more or less self-contained book, it also leads into the next book in the series, The Key Of Alanar, which will hopefully be published next year. Maybe sooner, who knows…
Author Bio
Rory is a social science graduate, writer, blogger and artist from Scotland. With a lifelong passion for creative writing and art, Rory knew from a young age that he had stories he wanted to tell and adventures to share. As he grew up and became interested in philosophy and metaphysics, he came to realise the amazing potential of literature and art as a means of sharing ideas, posing questions and exploring the nature of reality in a way that is accessible yet compelling and challenging.
A natural born philosopher and a student of Vedanta, Zen and Taoism, Rory is an animal and nature lover, music junkie, cake enthusiast and generally rather-chilled-out-guy. He sells his art online and writes blogs on creativity, philosophy, spirituality and whatever else inspires him. His debut novel ‘Eladria’ was published in May 2013 by Cosmic Egg Books and he has released two free short stories (‘Artan’s Night’ and ‘The Royal Runaway’) leading into it.
Check it out!
Says Rory: Eladria is now available to purchase from a wide range of online stores, including Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Book Depository (free international postage!), Apple iBooks and more. I’m also selling signed copies from my website — which include a free CD copy of the soundtrack and bookmark.
Eladria Launch post, including book’s free soundtrack!
Author site: Dreamlight Fugitive
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Blog
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Related articles
Interview with Rory Mackay, author of Eladria (adrianlupsa.wordpress.com)
Writing, Drawing & Making Music! An Interview With Rory Mackay! (rohan7things.wordpress.com)
An Intrerview with Writer Rory Mckay (elizagalesinterviews.com)
Book Review – Eladria by Rory B Mackay (rohan7things.wordpress.com)
The Young Adult Revolution Is Here! Self-Publishing Just Found Its Conscience. (rohan7things.wordpress.com)
June 1, 2013
The Envelope Please! The Earth Shifter Mega-Giveaway Results
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!
As many of you know, the Earth Keepers Chronicles 2 & 3: Lemurian Crystal & Atlantis, are on slight delay. I know I promised early release ebook copies to all those who helped me in the past several months. They are coming, and I already have a whole big list of recipients on standby! So please stay tuned, as I’ll announce these releases, along with the list of winners, in the summer.
Meanwhile, I’ve decided to expand my present giveaway in order to properly reward my readers, reviewers, and loyal fans! In addition to the Archos Tablet, I am also giving away the following paperbacks: 2 EARTH SHIFTER paperbacks, 1 GOLD TRAIN paperback, and 1 STEPFORD USA paperback. Each paperback is author signed and comes with 2 of my new, beautiful bookmarks.
Bookmark image
I’ve also bumped to 3 the number of complete sets of my ebooks (Includes: The Earth Shifter, Catharsis, Gold Train, Stepford USA & Green Desert. Lemurian Crystal & Atlantis will be added later).
The drawings took place yesterday, 5/31, at 8 pm EST, and all the names were drawn randomly based on the number of entries.
AND NOW, THE ENVELOPE PLEASE!
SIGNED PAPERBACK Winners:
Sherry Fundin (USA): The Earth Shifter & Stepford USA paperbacks
Jason Collins (London, UK): The Earth Shifter & Gold Train paperbacks
COMPLETE SET OF EBOOKS winners:
Sofia Siberia (Lebanon)
Sherry Fundin (USA)
Laura Thomas (USA)
*Note: all ebooks come in PDF format (a mirror image of paperback format, with real page numbers and artwork where applicable) downloadable to your choice of e-reader or computer (instructions included). If you already have any of my ebooks, you are absolutely welcome to gift them to a friend of your choice so they could also enjoy!
And now, the big moment we’ve all been waiting for…
Winner of THE GRAND PRIZE: ARCHOS TABLET, 8o G9 Turbo with Wifi, 8″ Touchscreen (value $349):
Mr. Blues (CA, USA)
CONGRATULATIONS, WINNERS!
**I’ll be in touch with each of the lucky winners by email to arrange for the delivery of your prizes.
Read more about:
The Earth Shifter Launch giveaway
Related articles
The Earth Shifter, Earth Changes and Alternative Economy: Special Interview with Lada Ray (futuristrendcast.wordpress.com)
Shamans, Shifters & Remote Viewers: The Earth Shifter Read by the Author (ladaray.wordpress.com)
May 29, 2013
Shaman, Mysterious Brunette, Russian Oligarch, CIA Guy…What Do They All Have in Common?
Dear readers, 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! I’ve recently received several awesome reviews for Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert, Catharsis, and The Earth Shifter. In the end of this post I’ve included excerpts from the two latest reviews of THE EARTH SHIFTER by Sherry Fundin and Mr. Blues.
Also, 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
Links to all my books: bookstore
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?
Many world-renowned authors have been famous for relying on talking names in order to establish from the start the intent and direction of their characters, or alternatively, to mislead, adding a layer of intrigue by ironic, or convoluted, name usage. From names like Professor Lupin, Drako Malfoy & Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter to Jack Sparrow, Will Turner & Elizabeth Swan in Pirates of the Carribbean, the names that carry a message and tell a story are popular the world over.
As comparative linguist and toponymist (researcher and interpreter of the origin and meaning of names), I love working with names of all kinds! Toponymics is my lifelong hobby as I enjoy being able to tell loads about a person or a place by their name. A good toponymist must have a keen eye and ear that can discern the hidden; a good command of history, mythology and ancient languages helps a lot. It is clear to me that authors like J.K.Rowling and Dan Brown (fellow linguists) happen to be very good toponymists.
It’s a super-useful skill for an author to be able to use talking names, and it’s equally great for a reader to know how to interpret such names, as this adds a whole new – and significantly deeper – level of understanding to a read. I’ve developed my own categorizations of the literary talking names, which I will share with all in a separate article pretty soon. I use the miracle of talking names extensively in my writing, and you will find them throughout both The Earth Shifter and Accidental Spy books. Today, I’ll share some of THE EARTH SHIFTER talking name secrets.
Sasha Elfimova
Protagonist, Sasha (Alexandra) Elfimova and her father, Professor Maxim Elfimov. I gave my main characters a rather loaded & multi-layered family name. Elfimov… It’s an unusual and rare name, although it belongs to a very distinguished Russian family. Apart from its Russian ending, what else do you see? Perhaps the word elf? This is the most obvious thing many notice.
However, if you dig deeper, you’ll see something else: elfim is a European transliteration of the famous Hebrew word elohim (both contemporary & ancient/ biblical). It means “God,” but it can also be translated as “powers.” Very few people realize that the word elf is derived directly from elohim, or elfim. It is rather fitting for Sasha – the powerful Mind & Time Shifter – to possess this kind of a family name.
As a side note, it is interesting that the connection between “elf” and “God” is completely lost in modern languages. The “elves” are often interpreted as these little creatures that can be helpful, but are oftentimes rather naughty or unpredictable. They hide in little corners and do things surreptitiously in the dead of the night; sometimes they are even assigned a negative role. It pays to be a linguist: philologist Tolkien certainly knew what he was doing when he attributed god-like powers, such as being able to part waters and show the light in the darkest hour, to his elves in the Lord of the Rings.
Oh yeah, the typical Russian last name ending: ov (or ova for females). “Ov” equals “of” in English. This is an EXTREMELY ancient word, preceding both contemporary Russian and English languages (as you see, it sounds practically the same in both) and originating from the primordial European language that gave birth to ancient Celtic and Rus. In those days you referred to people by first name, and a location, or a family, they came from. So if you came from Hampshire, you’d be “Jack of Hampshire.” Or if you were a son of Jack, you might have been “of Jack,” which eventually became “Jackson” in English. In Russian language, “of” became attached to the name, thus forming one word. In this case, Elfim-ov would mean literally of God.
Professor Maxim Elfimov
Of course, I couldn’t resist giving the Elfimovs talking first names as well. Sasha is an equally popular Russian name for both girls and boys (this also has special significance, as this character signifies the divine yin-yang union of the opposites). Maxim (emphasis on “i”) is another typical Russian name. It comes from Latin and means “the highest.” So, fully interpreted, Maxim Elfimov’s name means “the highest particle of God.”
Siberian Shaman Tengis. He is a tiny Asian man who can see into other dimensions with his squinty eyes, who smokes his perpetual pipe, can turn into a wild bear – literally – and carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Some readers have told me that they consider him the most formidable character in the book. No argument from me here, and I gave him a name to match! Unsurprisingly, “Tengis” means “precious” in the Turkic language family.
Red, a mysterious and all-powerful brunette with hidden agenda, who’s infinitely more than anyone knows… Oh yeah, that’s Red all right! Just three letters, but the name carries the impact and mystery to match the character and it hints indirectly at what or who she is. But you would have to read until the end to find out the truth… Yet even then, you’ll only know half of it, as layer after layer of this enigma gets slowly peeled in future Earth Shifter books…
Win
Win and Kei Lee. The Chinese-American twins, who are a wild card in the book. Which one of them is the second half of the Key? Which one will help Sasha to create the Earth Shift? Kei is a Chinese name that hints at the “key,” and “Win” is short for “Winston” (Win is a big fan of Winston Churchill and loves to win ). It is a Western interpretation of a famous Chinese name, Wei (Does Wei resemble “way” to you?). Hint: the twins were originally named Wei and Kei by their parents, but Wei decided to get westernized…
Russian Oligarch Boris Konukovsky. I had a blast with this name! The moment I came up with the concept of the book, the name just popped into my mind. While The Earth Shifter carries a disclaimer that all names are used fictitiously and any resemblance is purely coincidental…but how could I resist something that was staring me straight in the eye!
Boris Berezovsky
In truth, Boris Konukovsky is an amalgamation of the two infamous oligarchs, first of whom is Boris Berezovsky, till recently, a fugitive in London. Don’t be surprised – lots of international criminals are given asylum in the UK, including Icelandic bankers who’d bankrupted Iceland, as well as the Chechen terrorists. Berezovsky recently hung himself in his London estate, and after his death it came out that he continuously wrote to Putin asking for forgiveness and begging to allow him to return home.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
The second oligarch is Mikhail Khodorkovsky, in the past, CEO of Russia’s largest and most successful oil company Yukos, presently in jail on charges of money laundering, tax evasion, conspiracy and ordering contractual killings.
Both oligarchs were involved in attempted conspiracies to overthrow or corrupt the existing Russian government. Both, especially Khodorkovsky, were suspected of being the Rothschilds/NWO front men and “Trojan horses.” A large part of the FSB investigations into their activities throughout the 1990s/2000s is classified, but even the little that has been leaked is pretty damning. Of course, you won’t hear any of this in the Western media.
Oh yeah: a nice touch in The Earth Shifter is the name of Konukovsky’s oil company: NORUS. Do you see what I see? NO-RUS… Food for thought, especially taking all the above into account.
Aloysius Drakley, Assistant Director of the CIA. Oh my, where do I begin! The moment I created this pivotal character, I knew he would be called Aloysius. A farmer’s son hungry for power, who’ll stop at nothing to get to the top. The somewhat archaic name Aloysius, used mostly in the the US South in the past, it is of Germanic origin and means “fame and war.” Initially, I gave this character a straightforward last name “Darkley,” but I wasn’t entirely happy with the overwhelming bluntness such name conveyed and tried to find something more subtle, albeit unsuccessfully, until… one day I inadvertently misspelled “Darkley,” resulting in “Drakley.” This was one of those “happy mistake inventions,” as this new name immediately snapped in place. “Drakley” hints at several different things, without naming them directly… Do you see?
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NEW REVIEWS
Excerpt from Sherry Fundin’s amazing review @fundinmental.com:
WOW! Lada Ray’s blend of history, current events, mythology and fantasy left me in awe. They were the Key of Destiny. They would multiply their power and propel Earth forward or they would destroy it. They are the Earth Shifter. As Sasha drifted off to sleep, she dreamt of the end of Earth. Tengis and Maxim looked at each other. She had the Vision. Time was running out.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
Originally, it was the cover that made me notice the book. It was not only beautiful, but made me wonder what the book was about. Combining history, science-fiction and the paranormal makes this a unique read.
The storyline reads like the current events of today. The Mayan calendar with the date 12-21-12. The end of the world. Armageddon. The Society operates like our politicians today, above the laws of us commoners. The misuse and manipulation of power overwhelms the headlines today. It seems they feel as if it is their right and they deserve whatever it is they are after, bar none. Sound familiar?
Lada Ray’s writing, the depth and detail of Russia and its history intertwined with the fantasy of the Earth Shifters, takes you on a fantastic journey towards Earth’s end or it’s new beginning. I was lost, as I dove into Sasha’s story, only coming up for a breath of air as I raced through the final pages. I was crushed when I reached the end, wanting so badly to continue reading. I can hardly wait for Book II… Read full review here!
Excerpt from the Amazon review by Mr.Blues:
Prophetic and Irresistible. I was impressed by this prophetic novel, which at times felt like a mystical guide to various mysterious past and future events in our unfolding history! Already within a few months of release, several events happened in our world that were foretold by Lada Ray’s vision! A comet has recently exploded over Russia, shaking up the world. Hmm… a spooky coincidence? Or a warning, just like predicted in the book?
I enjoyed the fluid writing and gripping plot that had me reading right through the unexpected and explosive conclusion. There are plenty of twists that I didn’t see coming… But what really distinguishes this book from most is a treasure trove of valuable mystical and metaphysical information, as well as the wonderfully spiritual tone of the whole story. The book has a very intriguing ending, and I can’t wait for the sequel to find out what happens next to Sasha, Kei, Win, and Shaman Tengis!
Also, many thanks for the most recent reviews by John Paul Davis, the bestselling author of The Templar Agenda (Gold Train & Stepford USA), reviewer Sherry Fundin (The Earth Shifter, Stepford USA, Green Desert), and a reader from California, Mr. Blues (The Earth Shifter, Catharsis), as well as to all of my other fantastic reviewers!
Buy links for all my books: BOOKSTORE
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