Lada Ray's Blog, page 95
January 30, 2013
THE EARTH SHIFTER: Favorite Themes & Characters
First, The Earth Shifting news. The ebook is now available at the following retailers:
Barnes & Noble Nook Smashwords
Amazon US UK CA DE ES IT FR JP BR
Goodreads page Shelfari page LadaRay site
Coming very soon to Kobo, Diesel, Apple, Sony and others. Paperback is coming in the Spring 2013. Please stay tuned!
Following the golden rule of writing, I write about the things I know. Today, I want to talk about THE EARTH SHIFTER’s favorite themes and characters:
Fantasy
In The Earth Shifter, I set out to create a whimsical, yet highly structured, and totally new and original fantasy world, which simultaneously draws on real history and geography, metaphysics and spirituality, geopolitics and secret government spy wars, as well as on psychology and character development.
One of my favorites is “the Shifters” theme. In the words of the mythical EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES: “There are four types of Shifters. Mind Shifters can access any thoughts, even the hidden ones; Matter Shifters can turn into anything, as well as transform objects into something else; Time Shifters can bend and jump time; and Space Shifters can compress space, appearing at different places at once. The power of the true Shifters is such that they can manipulate events on Earth. To prevent that from happening, the true Shifters are carefully watched from birth and they are never told about the real extent of their powers until they are deemed ready.”
Sasha Elfimova, my favorite magical teenager, possesses a generous dollop of shifting powers, which allow her to travel in time and project into other people’s minds. Sasha is a Mind and Time Shifter, and there are no secrets her mind can’t unlock in this world. But even she can’t access those thoughts that have been shielded from her by the powerful old shaman Tengis.
Sasha’s time shifting power is something else altogether. She discovers it at the age of 13, when in her sleep she inadvertently travels to 17th century Russia to meet young Peter the Great and manages to help him in his predicament. I will let you in on my big secret: Sasha’s time shifting capacity may come quite handy when the ultimate struggle for the Earth’s future and Humanity’s survival begins in earnest in books 2 and 3!
History
Dear readers, you know that I am a big history buff. Continuing with the GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) theme, there is a lot of Russian, and world, history in THE EARTH SHIFTER, which blends organically with the present, also providing foundation for the karmic future of mankind. You could say that a lifetime of research and study went into creating the historic, geopolitical and metaphysical themes of the book.
The Tunguska Meteorite Explosion and its aftermath
Some of my favorite historical themes are: The Tunguska Meteorite explosion in the 1908 Siberian taiga, which provides the fantasy/sci-fi basis of the book. Also, the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, as well as the end of the Russian Empire in 1916, complete with the colorful and enigmatic character of Grigory Rasputin.
Geopolitics
Again, continuing with the GOLD TRAIN theme, geopolitics is an integral part of the story. We are introduced to the clandestine efforts of the CIA and Russian Intelligence, and to the secret war conducted by remote viewers, “the psychic warriors,” as they were known. We meet the likable retiree and doting grandfather, Semyon Isayev, who is also Sasha’s godfather. But soon we learn that he is so much more! Dubbed the “best remote viewer in the world,” throughout his high-powered career the “modest” Major General Semyon Isayev had managed to thwart some truly earth-shattering attacks by his country’s former enemy.
Remote Viewing
Semyon’s sole desire is to be a good husband, father and grandfather, and he only wants to spend the rest of his days in peace. But his Cold War past and his formidable remote-viewing talent will not leave him alone, as once again he is thrust into the very thick of the secret psychic war, the prize of which is the ultimate dominion over the Earth.
We are introduced to the secret US government science facility in Hoboken, NJ. Brewing here are the breakthrough science experiments and new technology, as well as the ultimate Market Crash Team, which manipulates the movements of the stock market.
We also meet the CIA Assistant Director, Aloysius Drakley. Along the way, the mystery is revealed: who is really pulling the strings in the USA and globally?
Oh, yes! How could I forget one of the most important characters, the Russian oligarch, Boris Konukovsky! I’ll let you in on another secret here. While my book carries a disclaimer that all characters are fictitious or used in a fictional way and any resemblance is purely coincidental, I think anyone familiar with recent Russian history will recognize this one. Guilty as charged! Boris Konukovsky is the composite of two infamous Russian oligarchs: Vladimir Khodorkovsky (presently in jail) and Boris Berezovsky (presently a fugitive in London). The oligarch’s story in the book is inspired by real events, which will be recognizable to those who’ve been following the Russian developments of the past 2 decades. But only THE EARTH SHIFTER reveals what the oligarch and his cronies are truly after…
Spiritual/Metaphysical Theme
Last but not least, one of my absolute favorites, the spiritual and metaphysical theme of the book is very strong and includes striking events and settings, including the mystical shores of the Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia and the legends of the Earth Keepers. We witness the Comet of Karma’s journey through Outer Space and travel to the fascinating and mysterious Underworld, one of the entrances into which is conveniently located in Manhattan, NY.
One of my favorites is the Realm of the Keepers, which holds many secrets and which is located between Heaven and Earth. This ethereal realm is where the Keepers of the Earth gather to monitor mankind’s progress and where the ultimate fate of the world is to be decided.
Again, many metaphysical themes are steeped in history via the stories of the Buddha, Jesus, the Shifters, and the Key of Destiny. These themes will continue and intensify in THE EARTH SHIFTER books 2 and 3, as well as in the companion series entitled the EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES. Book 1 of the chronicles, Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians is now available on Amazon. I am currently working on books 2 and 3 – Lemurian Crystal and Atlantis, which are coming in the Spring 2013.
Favorite Characters
As Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, I love all my characters, villains and heroes alike. I am with Dostoyevsky on that, but there are some characters that are especially dear to my heart. Who are they?
Sasha
Of course, the protagonist, Sasha Elfimova, as well as the twins, Win and Kei Lee. All three are so different, yet they are united by one invisible string we usually refer to as DESTINY.
Win Lee
Kei Lee
Also, the Siberian Shaman Tengis, who is the example of a true spiritual and world leader our planet so desperately needs.
Shaman on Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia
I adore the offbeat, sultry and mysterious Red and her even more mysterious mother. As many characters in the book, these two are not at all what they seem. What are they really?
Anne Hathaway would be perfect as Red!
I also love the very human character of the remote viewer, Semyon Isayev. My favorite historic character is Grigory Rasputin.
One of history’s enigmas: the mysterious monk, Grigory Rasputin
Finally, I have to confess that I am simply in love with one character, and perhaps, many women would agree with me. 
It is Sasha’s father, Professor Maxim Elfimov. I made him a comparative linguist, giving him my original profession, which allows him to see the whole world in its spacial and historical scale. Maxim is a handsome, absent-minded academic, a loving husband and devoted, if overprotective, father. However when the overwhelming personal tragedy strikes, he doesn’t hide or sulk, but rises to the occasion, becoming a true Protector and hero.
Professor Maxim Elfimov
I have to say that on some level I envy Sasha with that honest-to-goodness white envy. As a child, she had the best father a girl could wish for. And this is my dream: if every child on Earth had a father like Maxim, our world would be a much better place to live in!
I hope you consider reading THE EARTH SHIFTER. It may shift your world! 
Explore the world of THE EARTH SHIFTER:
The Book Setting: A Walk Through Manhattan (pics and new excerpt)
The Epic Journey Begins: characters/setting/excerpts galore
THE EARTH SHIFTER Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
Excerpt 2 Excerpt 1
Are you a blogger, an active social media participant, or simply a reader/fan? Consider entering THE EARTH SHIFTER Super-Giveaway!
ARCHOS Tablet Giveaway (value $349) ENTER HERE
My Favorite EARTH SHIFTER Themes & Characters: Fantasy, History, Geopolitics, Metaphysics
First, The Earth Shifting news. The ebook is now available at the following retailers:
Barnes & Noble Nook Smashwords
Amazon US UK CA DE ES IT FR JP BR
Goodreads page Shelfari page LadaRay site
It is coming very soon to Kobo, Diesel, Apple, Sony and others!
Paperback is coming in the Spring 2013. Please stay tuned!
Following the golden rule of writing, I write about the things I know. Today, I wanted to talk about THE EARTH SHIFTER’s favorite themes and characters.
Fantasy
In The Earth Shifter, I set out to create a whimsical, yet highly structured, and totally new and original fantasy world, which simultaneously draws on real history and geography, metaphysics and spirituality, geopolitics and secret government spy wars, as well as on psychology and character development.
One of my favorites is “the Shifters” theme. In the words of the mythical EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES: “There are four types of Shifters. Mind Shifters can access any thoughts, even the hidden ones; Matter Shifters can turn into anything, as well as transform objects into something else; Time Shifters can bend and jump time; and Space Shifters can compress space, appearing at different places at once. The power of the true Shifters is such that they can manipulate events on Earth. To prevent that from happening, the true Shifters are carefully watched from birth and they are never told about the real extent of their powers until they are deemed ready.”
Sasha Elfimova, my favorite magical teenager, possesses a generous dollop of shifting powers, which allow her to travel in time and project into other people’s minds. Sasha is a Mind and Time Shifter, and there are no secrets her mind can’t unlock in this world. But even she can’t access those thoughts that have been shielded from her by the powerful old shaman Tengis.
Sasha’s time shifting power is something else altogether. She discovers it at the age of 13, when in her sleep she inadvertently travels to 17th century Russia to meet young Peter the Great and manages to help him in his predicament. I will let you in on my big secret: Sasha’s time shifting capacity may come quite handy when the ultimate struggle for the Earth’s future and Humanity’s survival begins in earnest in books 2 and 3!
History
Dear readers, you know that I am a big history buff. Continuing with the GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) theme, there is a lot of Russian, and world, history in THE EARTH SHIFTER, which blends organically with the present, also providing foundation for the karmic future of mankind. You could say that a lifetime of research and study went into creating the historic, geopolitical and metaphysical themes of the book.
Some of my favorite historical themes are: The Tunguska Meteorite explosion in the 1908 Siberian taiga, which provides the fantasy/sci-fi basis of the book. Also, the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, as well as the end of the Russian Empire in 1916, complete with the colorful and enigmatic character of Grigory Rasputin.
Geopolitics
Again, continuing with the GOLD TRAIN theme, geopolitics is an integral part of the story. We are introduced to the clandestine efforts of the CIA and Russian Intelligence, and to the secret war conducted by remote viewers, “the psychic warriors,” as they were known. We meet the likable retiree and doting grandfather, Semyon Isayev, who is also Sasha’s godfather. But soon we learn that he is so much more! Dubbed the “best remote viewer in the world,” throughout his high-powered career the “modest” Major General Semyon Isayev had managed to thwart some truly earth-shattering attacks by his country’s former enemy.
Semyon’s sole desire is to be a good husband, father and grandfather, and he only wants to spend the rest of his days in peace. But his Cold War past and his formidable remote-viewing talent will not leave him alone, as once again he is thrust into the very thick of the secret psychic war, the prize of which is the ultimate dominion over the Earth.
We are introduced to the secret US government science facility in Hoboken, NJ. Brewing here are the breakthrough science experiments and new technology, as well as the ultimate Market Crash Team, which manipulates the movements of the stock market.
We also meet the CIA Assistant Director, Aloysius Drakley. Along the way, the mystery is revealed: who is really pulling the strings in the USA and globally?
Oh, yes! How could I forget one of the most important characters, the Russian oligarch, Boris Konukovsky! I’ll let you in on another secret here. While my book carries a disclaimer that all characters are fictitious or used in a fictional way and any resemblance is purely coincidental, I think anyone familiar with recent Russian history will recognize this one. Guilty as charged! Boris Konukovsky is the composite of two infamous Russian oligarchs: Vladimir Khodorkovsky (presently in jail) and Boris Berezovsky (presently a fugitive in London). The oligarch’s story in the book is inspired by real events, which will be recognizable to those who’ve been following the Russian developments of the past 2 decades. But only THE EARTH SHIFTER reveals what the oligarch and his cronies are truly after…
Spiritual/Metaphysical Theme
Last but not least, one of my absolute favorites, the spiritual and metaphysical theme of the book is very strong and includes striking events and settings, including the mystical shores of the Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia and the legends of the Earth Keepers. We witness the Comet of Karma’s journey through Outer Space and travel to the fascinating and mysterious Underworld, one of the entrances into which is conveniently located in Manhattan, NY.
One of my favorites is the Realm of the Keepers, which holds many secrets and which is located between Heaven and Earth. This ethereal realm is where the Keepers of the Earth gather to monitor mankind’s progress and where the ultimate fate of the world is to be decided.
Again, many metaphysical themes are steeped in history via the stories of the Buddha, Jesus, the Shifters, and the Key of Destiny. These themes will continue and intensify in THE EARTH SHIFTER books 2 and 3, as well as in the companion series entitled the EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES. Book 1 of the chronicles, Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians is now available on Amazon. I am currently working on books 2 and 3 – Lemurian Crystal and Atlantis, which are coming in the Spring 2013.
Favorite Characters
As Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, I love all my characters, villains and heroes alike. I am with Dostoyevsky on that, but there are some characters that are especially dear to my heart. Who are they?
Of course, the protagonist, Sasha Elfimova, as well as the twins, Win and Kei Lee. All three are so different, yet they are united by one invisible string we usually refer to as DESTINY.
Also, the Siberian Shaman Tengis, who is the example of a true spiritual and world leader our planet so desperately needs.
I adore the offbeat, sultry and mysterious Red and her even more mysterious mother. As many characters in the book, these two are not at all what they seem. What are they really?
I also love the very human character of the remote viewer, Semyon Isayev. My favorite historic character is Grigory Rasputin.
Finally, I have to confess that I am simply in love with one character, and perhaps, many women would agree with me. It is Sasha’s father, Professor Maxim Elfimov. I made him a comparative linguist, giving him my original profession, which allows him to see the whole world in its spacial and historical scale. Maxim is a handsome, absent-minded academic, a loving husband and devoted, if overprotective, father. However when the overwhelming personal tragedy strikes, he doesn’t hide or sulk, but rises to the occasion, becoming a true Protector and hero.
I have to say that on some level I envy Sasha with that honest-to-goodness white envy. As a child, she had the best father a girl could wish for. And this is my dream: if every child on Earth had a father like Maxim, our world would be a much better place to live in!
I hope you consider reading THE EARTH SHIFTER. It may shift your world!
Explore the world of THE EARTH SHIFTER:
The Book Setting: A Walk Through Manhattan (pics and new excerpt)
The Epic Journey Begins: characters/setting/excerpts galore
THE EARTH SHIFTER Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
Excerpt 2 Excerpt 1
Are you a blogger, an active social media participant, or simply a reader/fan? Consider entering THE EARTH SHIFTER Super-Giveaway!
ARCHOS Tablet Giveaway (value $349) ENTER HERE
January 28, 2013
Book Review: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap by Paulette Mahurin
Emphatic FIVE STARS! Powerful Message!
Paulette Mahurin’s The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap is an eye-opening book with a very powerful message, and I read it with great interest.
First, an admission: I am a diligent history student because as the greats of old would tell you, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This is why all my books have a thoughtful and meticulous historical underpinning seamlessly worked into the narrative. Paulette Mahurin masterfully weaves into her book the historic references of the late 19th century. Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency in Great Britain is the main reference throughout the book, but also mentioned are the controversial Dreyfus conviction for espionage in France, Booker T. Washington, The aggressive US Monroe Doctrine expansion to South America and as a mere wisp, prejudice against Jews in both Russia and USA.
All these historical acknowledgments are much more than mere nods to well known past events. They serve to bring the entire world into the small Nevada town, which is the center of book’s action, and they also serve to underline that prejudice, ignorance and small-mindedness have no borders and are equally suffocating and harmful whether they are directed against a famous writer, a simple woman, a race, a religion, or against entire nations. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and so, this small Nevada town gets involved in raging world affairs through telegrams received via local post office, while playing out their own quiet drama, where gossip and malicious persecution of someone different becomes a sport.
I was impressed by the character of Mildred Dunlap. She is hardly a good-looking woman, with money and a wonderful heart, who helps her neighbors financially despite being the subject of constant gossip and black envy throughout her uneasy life. Mildred allows herself only one indulgence – her long-time secret love affair with her female cousin Edra. But the aftershock of the Oscar Wilde conviction in Britain threatens to change the status quo as the two women start fearing that they may become the subject of persecution themselves. I found the book development done exceptionally well and I found myself rooting for Mildred.
The author is part of the medical profession and I was very impressed how accurately various medical conditions were worked into the story line and how much they enhanced the book. The shocking and memorable culmination of the story is also about a medically-related mistake costing someone their life – but no spoilers!
The story also underlines the karmic consequences of one’s actions as in the end everyone reaps what they’ve sawed! Highly recommended!
P.S. Paulette Mahurin, the wonderful, compassionate and loving soul that she is, donates all profits from the book sale to the animal rescue. In her own words: “All profits from The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap are going to animal rescue, the first and only no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County, CA (Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center).” Please consider buying her book and supporting the animals in need!
You can purchase the book and you can read my review here:
Amazon US Amazon UK (paperback) UK (ebook)
January 27, 2013
The Earth Shifter Giveaway Results
We have winners!
Congrats to all who won and many thanks to all who participated in the giveaway! Archos Tablet Super Giveaway is still underway and a new awesome giveaway for my biggest supporters and reviewers is coming soon! Check my blog for more, updates coming very soon.
But back to our results! The Earth Shifter giveaway for Kindle or Smash ebook formatting / manuscript editing / 3 sets of Accidental Spy ebooks (Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert) has ended on 1/26/13.
Winners:
Ebook formatting with my formatter, Mike of DWD http://dynamicwebdesign.net84.net/:
Entry #125 Allen
Professional Editing with my editor, Beth Lynne of BZ Hercules:
Entry #49 Paul H.
3 sets of Accidental Spy ebooks (Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert):
Entry #24 Wil
Entry #10 Mary E.
Entry #71 Sherry F.
See full results here: LadaRay.com/TheEarthShifterGiveaway
Congrats, winners!
January 21, 2013
The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: A Walk Through Manhattan
You may have read my post about Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia. This is post two in The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting series. Last Thanksgiving we took a fabulous walk around Manhattan, NY, visiting The Village and Hell’s Kitchen, where part of The Earth Shifter action takes place. It is the location of Red’s Underworld Club with the secret entrance into the real, honest-to-goodness Underworld. While depicting Underworld Club I drew on my real Manhattan experiences and observations.
It was dusking, still I couldn’t resist taking some pics with my iPhone since the setting was so right. Judge for yourself!
We are walking towards Hell’s Kitchen. Only in Manhattan! A weird, narrow “wedge” building next to the Madison Park. I thought it went so well with Red’s theme.
More Madison Park area:
I thought this was sooooo Red! This building and the amazing colors as they came out on my iPhone camera reminded me of Red’s Underworld castle as I imagined it.
In reality, this is a church…
A very progressive church. The sign says: “Organ Meditation,” which to me is also soooo Red.
We are walking through Greenwich Village, which we call simply “the Village.”
This could be Red’s motorcycle.
A Village shop.
I love the detail on the Village buildings.
There are so many hidden gems here, which are easy to overlook, but if you have a keen eye, you are in for a treat. Illuminated with the surreal light of the dusk, these pictures remind me of Red’s Underworld castle and garden.
Red is one of the coolest characters in the book, and this is her world!
By the way, I structured the book in such a way that Red”s real identity remains an enigma till almost the very end. I dare you to guess what she really is while reading the book! But no spoilers, please!
Ah, finally, Hell’s Kitchen!
These sentinel-like iron guards also remind me of Red’s Underworld Night Club.
Hell’s Kitchen is nothing like it used to be!
From The Earth Shifter:
On Friday, Kei met Red at the corner of 47th Street and 9th Avenue. She wore skinny jeans, high heels, and a sleeveless black tunic with sequined accents, which highlighted her dark hair and eyes, and made her look positively ravishing.
“We are going to an underground night club, fittingly called Underworld,” she explained. Kei didn’t care whether they were going to Underworld, or to the end of the world. He was ready to follow her anywhere.
The Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan was once where prostitutes, drug addicts and other rather unsavory characters found refuge because it was cheap. Now of course, the entire Manhattan was so gentrified that even here you wouldn’t find a shoe-box-sized apartment for less than $3,500 a month.
It was only 6:30 p.m. and still early by the nightclub goers’ etiquette. Red knocked three times on a nondescript, metal door painted dark brown, which was buried in a walk-down. At eye level, the door had a small window with jail-like grates. There was movement behind the door and the non-smiling face of a burly dude, who belonged in a Pro Wrestling rink, appeared behind the grates.
“We are cl…,” he started. Suddenly, his expression changed and he hurriedly opened the door, muttering apologetically, “Yes, of course, come in, come in—welcome, my Lady.”
“Thank you, Heraldo,” Red replied regally, making her way past the huge bouncer. Kei followed, throwing cautious glances at the towering mountain of muscle guarding the door.
“I am actually not of age…yet,” admitted Kei when they were safely out of the bouncer’s earshot.
“Not to worry,” said Red, smiling. “It’s covered.”
At this hour, the bar was still dark with only a couple of people sitting in high chairs with drinks in their hands. There was no one else—not even a bartender—around. The whole place gave out the air of forlornness typical of nightclubs before patrons pile in and the show begins.
“Light, please,” said Red into thin air, making herself comfortable at a tiny table for two, located not too far from the dance floor.
The moment she finished her sentence, the candles set in whimsical cast iron candle holders burst into flame around them, giving the space an immediate feeling of mystery and magic.
“My Lady, what an honor to serve you!” A slick waiter, dressed all in black with white gloves, materialized in front of them with a bow. “What can I offer my beautiful queen and her handsome prince?”
“You are such a joker, Emmanuel,” murmured Red. “The usual—for two.”
“Of course, my Lady.” He melted into darkness, as if he never existed.
“Wow,” said Kei. “What is this place? They haven’t even asked for my ID, and they treat you like a queen…”
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s great, but how is that possible? You are no more than twenty, right?”
“Something like that,” said Red, smiling serenely.
“Then, how come they know you so well here? Are you a celebrity of some sort? Should I know you? Of course,” Kei continued his monologue, “of course, how silly of me! You must be a celebrity—just look at you! You are so beautiful. I am just surprised I can’t remember you from a movie or a magazine.”
“Let’s eat, shall we,” replied Red with a mysterious smile, as a whole procession of servers, directed by Emmanuel, brought out their dinner.
Somehow, the table they sat at started expanding to accommodate all the dishes being laid out before their eyes. Kei closed his eyes, and rubbed them vigorously. When he opened them again, everything seemed back to normal.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel was describing the bounty on the table. “Exquisite eggplant caviar—goes wonderfully with the Russian pancakes; fresh vegetarian pate—just in from our French suppliers; artichoke and olive salad; assorted cheeses from Holland, France and Greece; guacamole and rainbow-hummus platter, created by our chef especially for you; Middleastern salad; jasmine basmati rice with pine nuts, and of course…,” with these words Emmanuel conjured a large carafe filled with dark red liquid, solemnly placing it on the table. “Fresh from the vines of Tuscany, just as you like it, my Lady.”
Kei’s eyes widened. Having grown up in a Chinese family, he never tried wine before. At sixteen, he still had much to learn about the world around him.
“Very nice, Emmanuel, you’ve outdone yourself,” said Red approvingly.
The waiter and the servers bowed and vanished into the darkness.
“Let’s begin, shall we?” said Red. “I am starving.”
“Wow, this is quite a spread,” commented Kei. “Wine, my Lady?” He tried to sound mature while picking up the carafe to pour some wine into Red’s goblet.
“Yes, please,” she said with the same smile, pushing her goblet closer to Kei. She had to reach all the way to the middle of the table to do so, and again, Kei got a distinct feeling that the table was actually much larger than it visually appeared.
He chased the thought away, preparing to pour the beautiful dark liquid into Red’s goblet, and hoping—praying—that he’d be able to handle the wine.
“It’s actually not wine—it’s grape juice, from the best vines of Tuscany,” she explained in response to his unspoken fears.
“Oh…” Kei’s hand twitched and he spilled a drop of dark red liquid. The drop kept expanding, forming a blood-red stain on the snow-white tablecloth.
Red glanced at the drop, and then back at Kei. “I’m really not much of a drinker, and you are not of age yet.”
“Right,” said Kei, inadvertent relief spreading through his veins. He confidently poured the juice into goblets. No more spillage.
In the near future, I am planning posts about other Earh Shifter settings, including Moscow (Tverskaya and Moscow University), Princeton, NJ, Battery Park City and New York Chinatown. I’ll be filming Chinese New Year in Chinatown and will post it both here and on my Youtube channel. Stay tuned!
Read other great posts:
THE EARTH SHIFTER characters/setting/excerpts galore
The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
There is still time to enter THE EARTH SHIFTER Giveaway! Drawing for kindle formatting/editing/Accidental Spy Adventures ebooks is next Saturday 1/26! Don’t miss it!
Win ARCHOS Tablet
Win Kindle formatting/Manuscript editing/3sets of Accidental Spy ebooks
January 14, 2013
The Next Big Thing Blog Hop
This is my first time participating in a blog hop and it promises to be fun! I’ve been tagged by two awesome writers and bloggers back in the end of 2012, but had to delay answering their questions due to the launch of my new metaphysical YA fantasy/thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER.
These are the bloggers/authors who have tagged me. Please check out their blogs and books!
Chloe Carstairs – Chloe Gets a Clue
Q&A:
1.What is the title of your new book? What’s next?
The title of my new novel is The Earth Shifter. It is book one of the Earth Shifter trilogy. I am starting to work on book two, with anticipated release of Winter 2013-14.
In addition, I am also creating a companion series to The Earth Shifter. It is called Earth Keepers Chronicles. The first in the series, Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians is a novelette, now available as an ebook everywhere. I am presently working on books 2 and 3: Lemurian Crystal and Atlantis to be released in Spring 2013. Later in the year, Catharsis, Lemurian Crystal, and Atlantis will also be released together as Earth Keepers Chronicles: Origins. These metaphysical/dystopian fantasies are about our shadowy ancient history, the Lemurains, Atlanteans, and origins of humanity. More Earth Keepers Chronicles are planned for 2014 and beyond. Stay tuned.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
In 2005, after I’d decided to leave my high-powered Wall Street career, I immersed myself in the in-depth study of spirituality and metaphysics. I picked up a number of books at the Princeton Barnes&Noble, the town where I lived back then, and was checking them out. The young man at the counter handed me a receipt.
“Your autograph, please,” he said.
As I was signing the receipt, he suddenly added, “May be worth a lot one day.”
I stared at him because it really seemed like an odd thing to blurt out just like that. It sounded more like a message meant for me, and so in that very moment, a light literally went on in my head.
I imagined the Comet of Karma, the Keepers, the Protectors, the secret society, various mystical characters, creatures and power players, and in the midst of it all, two very different teenagers residing on the opposite sides of the planet. Theirs would be an unenviable task of saving the world, if they managed to come together before it was too late…
I started fleshing out The Earth Shifter. In it, I sought to combine a lifetime of research and study of the metaphysical world, my various travels, experiences working in finance, interest in geopolitics, history, and my vision of humanity’s probable futures.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
This is a complex book with multiple characters and various settings, new ideas, and lots of interesting information. It is categorized as fantasy historical, fantasy contemporary and visionary/metaphysical. Other applicable categories: YA crossover, geopolitical/spy thriller, quest.
The Earth Shifter is a true YA crossover, suitable for most readers, early teen through adult.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
The cast would have to be international. The protagonist, Sasha Elfimova, is Russian, although she speaks very good English. She would have to be played by a 16-17 year old Russian girl, who is tall, light-haired, blue-eyed and has a bit of an angelic look, yet is strong and very powerful when she has to be. Perhaps a younger Keira Knightley would have the right look and personality. The twins, Win and Kei, are Chinese teens living in New York Chinatown, so they would have to be played by Chinese-Americans. The cast would have to include Russians, Chinese, Siberians, Americans, Brits. The nine Keepers could be interesting since they include representatives of various cultures spanning the entire globe.
I have a dream: one day I would love to make a movie based on The Earth Shifter. It could be so much fun selecting the right actors for the roles!
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The Comet of Karma, the Earth Keepers, the Protectors, a global secret society, the Shifters, and three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late…
6. Is your book self-published or represented by an agency?
I am an Indie author and as such, I self-publish in the USA. However, I may be looking to work with traditional publishers in other countries soon.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
This is kinda funny: it took me several years to flesh out all the characters, settings, ideas, and to write one half of the manuscript. The rest, I wrote and polished in one month. Talk about inspiration and acceleration!
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I usually try not to draw comparisons; I simply like to create new, original characters and stories. In my books, I aim to both entertain and educate/ enlighten.
That said, one of my readers/reviewers just emailed me his impressions. I quote: “The scope is on the measure of Asimov, Tolkien, and any of the great writers I have encountered.”
I don’t know what he’ll end up writing in his review, but I hope it’s a good one.
9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The Earth Shifter carries this dedication:
To my international family and friends,
who inspired some of my characters,
and to all those
who boldly go toward their destiny…
More about this in my answer to question 2.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Definitely the Shifters with power over mind, matter, time and space. Also, I think the readers would love my mystical, yet poetic, descriptions of the Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia. If you like spy thrillers, you’ll enjoy the chapters about remote viewers – psychic warriors, as they were called – and the clandestine war between Russian and American intelligence. Check out the real story of Grigory Rasputin, one of history’s big enigmas. Also, you may find the character of the infamous Russian oligarch, Boris Konukovsky, very interesting. And last but no least, check out the mysterious character of Red and her Underworld castle. You will never guess what she really is! To find out, you’ll have to read the book!
Many thanks to Darlene and Chloe for thinking of me! In turn, I would like to pass the torch and hear what these fine writers are up to. You may talk about a recently published, or a future book – your choice. Just link your post to mine and enjoy!
J.J. Collins JJCollinsAuthor
Jason Sullivan Different Outcomes
M.C. O’Neill RoyalManaBall
Karen Robiscoe Charron’s Chatter
And here is this meme’s origin: http://www.andreajarrell.com/blog/2012/10/5/the-next-big-thing-my-creative-side-project.html
Read more about THE EARTH SHIFTER
Don’t forget to enter these awesome giveaways!
Win ARCHOS Tablet
Win Kindle formatting/Manuscript editing/My ebooks
P.S. I have created the Next Big Thing badge you see on top of this post. Feel free to use it in your posts, and if you give me credit, all the better!
December 31, 2012
THE EARTH SHIFTER Launch & ARCHOS TABLET Super-Giveaway!
Join the epic EARTH SHIFTER quest, and enter a new world!
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Yes, it’s finally here!
Priced at an affordable $2.99, THE EARTH SHIFTER ebook is now live at:
Amazon US UK CA DE ES IT FR JP BR
THE EARTH SHIFTER Goodreads page
Barnes & Noble Nook Nook UK (Note, I’ve de-linked BN links due to the fact that the Nook site is experiencing technical difficulties and ebooks don’t seem to be uploading right. As they fix it, I’ll re-link the book.)
It is also coming shortly to Apple, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, and other ebook retailers. All buy links, as usual, will be posted at my official website LadaRay.com. For those who have asked me, paperback is planned for 2013, date TBD.
Synopsis:
Mankind would never know how close it came to annihilation on June 30, 1908. Somewhere in the murky depths of the Cosmos, the Comet of Karma is born. When all hope fades, it is sent to planet Earth, its sole mission to wipe out a failing civilization. It has happened before, and it can happen again. Except this time, the Earth Keepers would not interfere.
The Comet of Karma tasked with destroying a failing civilization… The Earth Keepers endowed with supreme powers over the planet and agonizing over the ultimate decision… The Protectors risking their lives to keep the world intact… A beautiful brunette with hidden agenda, who is infinitely more than anyone knows… Two ambitious and unscrupulous men, who’ll stop at nothing… Global secret society bent on usurping power on Earth… A woman, ready to betray in order to save her son… Old spy organization with a secret human weapon… The Shifters, with power over mind, matter, time and space…
And three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become mankind’s salvation—the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY. They will open a new era for Humanity, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late.
Book category: fantasy historical, fantasy contemporary, YA crossover, geopolitical/spy thriller, visionary/metaphysical, epic/quest
THE EARTH SHIFTER is a true YA crossover suitable for most readers, teen through adult.
Word Count: 103,900. Page count: 400
Explore the world of THE EARTH SHIFTER:
The Epic Journey Begins: characters/setting/excerpts galore
THE EARTH SHIFTER Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
THE EARTH SHIFTER Release Countdown: Excerpt 2
THE EARTH SHIFTER: Excerpt 1
..
ANNOUNCING!
As mentioned above, THE EARTH SHIFTER is priced at only $2.99 (or Euro/UK equivalent) as an ebook so that as many people as possible could easily afford to read and enjoy it. My immediate goal is to sell 15,000 ebooks in a relatively short period of time.
This giveaway is a thank you to my readers and fans for their readership and support. No purchase is required; I am equally grateful to all those who would buy and enjoy my book, and to those who would help me promote it by spreading the word. This is because I strongly believe in THE EARTH SHIFTER message, and in its value to the readers! Therefore, all of you will be able to benefit from this giveaway.
I am giving away several very valuable prizes. All giveaways can be entered simultaneously. Enter one giveaway or all! There is no limit to the number of entries. The more entries, the more chances to win! Sky is the limit!
GRAND PRIZE
ARCHOS 8o G9 Turbo with WiFi, 8″ Touchscreen Tablet, value $349
It includes: Android 4.0 ‘Ice Cream Sandwich,’ HD, and amazing multimedia!
I love my ARCHOS Tablet! If you are an avid reader, this is your solution! With ARCHOS, you can download ebooks in any format, including
THE EARTH SHIFTER Launch & ARCHOS TABLET Mega-Giveaway!
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Yes, it’s finally here!
Priced at an affordable $2.99, THE EARTH SHIFTER ebook is now live at:
It will be up on Amazon US tonight and on B&N Nook and Amazon UK, DE, IT, ES, etc., on January 1-2, 2013. All buy links will be added here.
Amazon US UK DE FR ES IT
Barnes & Noble Nook
It is coming shortly to all other ebook retailers as well. All buy links, as usual, will be posted at my official website LadaRay.com. For those who have asked me, paperback is planned for 2013, date TBD.
Announcing!
The giveaway will go live at 11 pm New York time, tonight, December 31, 2012!
As mentioned above, THE EARTH SHIFTER is priced at only $2.99 (or Euro/UK equivalent) as an ebook so that as many people as possible could easily afford to read it. My immediate goal is to sell 15,000 ebooks in a relatively short period of time.
This giveaway is a thank you to my readers and fans for their readership and support. No purchase is required; I am equally grateful to all those who would buy and enjoy my book, and to those who would help me promote it by spreading the word. This is because I strongly believe in THE EARTH SHIFTER message, and in its value to the readers! Therefore, all of you will be able to benefit from this giveaway.
I am giving away several very valuable prizes. Enter one giveaway or all! There is no limit to the number of entries. The more entries, the more chances to win! Sky is the limit!
GRAND PRIZE
ARCHOS 8o G9 Turbo with WiFi, 8″ Touchscreen Tablet, value $349
It includes: Android 4.0 ‘Ice Cream Sandwich,’ HD, and amazing multimedia!
I love my ARCHOS Tablet! If you are an avid reader, this is your solution! With ARCHOS, you can download ebooks in any format, including Kindle, Nook/epub, PDF, and others. Unlike with e-readers, you are not limited to a specific retailer and can enjoy your books from various sources! I also love the fact that it doubles as a lightweight, super-compact wifi PC, and that I can watch my fave YouTube vids on the go! There are so many other awesome functions this tablet includes that I haven’t even scratched the surface!
In fact, I loved my Archos Tablet so much that I purchased the second one, in order to award it to one of my readers/fans after THE EARTH SHIFTER release! It is currently sitting in its original box, unopened, ready for you to claim your prize!
Here it is:
How to enter ARCHOS TABLET Giveaway
*ARCHOS Tablet Giveaway has an open date and the winner will be chosen after 15,000 copies of THE EARTH SHIFTER ebook have been sold. Preliminary drawing date is April 17, 2013 (finalized date will be announced). There are several easy ways to enter:
1. This is especially for the readers of THE EARTH SHIFTER! Please answer my 2 questions: 1) In the end of the book, where does Red meet with her mother? 2) Who does Sasha attempt to rescue during her LAST time travel? Correct answers will get 10 entries. Please email your answers to Lada at LadaRay dot com. DO NOT post your answers in the comment section!
2. Copy and post THE EARTH SHIFTER book banner (together with its link) to your website homepage or blog side-bar, and get 20 entries. Please provide a link to your website/blog in the comment section of this post, or by emailing Lada at LadaRay dot com.
3. Reblog this post, and get 5 entries. Please provide a link to your reblog in the comment section of this post. Note: If you have a non-wordpress blog, but would still like to reblog, you are welcome to copy part of this post to your blog, providing the link to the rest on my blog. All entries will be given equal consideration!
4. Copy THE EARTH SHIFTER event on Goodreads – here is the event link - and post it under events on your Goodreads page. Post the event and invite 250 friends – 2 entries, invite 500 friends – 4 entries, 750 – 6 entries, 1000 – 8 entries. Every additional 250 invited – 2 entries. Please provide a link to your GR event post in the comment section of this post, or by emailing Lada at LadaRay dot com.
5. Mention/tag this post on your Facebook page, and get 2 entries. Please provide a link to your Facebook post in the comment section of this post, or by emailing Lada at LadaRay dot com.
6. Add THE EARTH SHIFTER on Goodreads, and get 1 entry. Link to the book’s Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Very flexible and convenient! Enter one or all! The more you enter, the more chances to win!
NOTE: 1 (one) ARCOS Tablet will be given away. ARCOS Tablet Giveaway is open in the USA only (sorry for the inconvenience). All other giveaways are open worldwide.
Prize 2
Premium Ebook Formatting for Kindle or Smashwords (choose one) provided by my book formatters, Mike and Maddy of DWD. One lucky winner will receive Kindle or Smashwords formatting of any ebook of up to 100,000 words! It is very easy to enter. The winner will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter. Drawing: 1/22/13. **Click here to enter.
Prize 3
Professional editing of 25 pages of your manuscript by my editor, BZ Hercules – 1 winner will be selected. (Note: the winner, please submit your 25 pages double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point font only.) The winner will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter. Drawing: 1/22/13. **Click here to enter.
Prize 4
A complete set of Accidental Spy Adventure Series ebooks: Gold Train (Russia Adventure), Stepford USA (US Adventure), Green Desert (Prequel novelette). Up to 3 lucky winners will be selected depending on the number of entries; the more entries the more copies will be given away. It is very easy to enter. The winner will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter. Drawing: 1/22/13. **Click here to enter.
**Note, due to the fact that WordPress platform does not support Rafflecopter, I am hosting the Ebook Formatting, Editing, and Accidental Spy Series Giveaways at my official author website, LadaRay.com. The giveaway is just one click away!
ENTER HERE!
(All links for this giveaway will go live at 11 pm New York time, tonight, December 31, 2012.)
But that’s not all!
As a heartfelt “thank you” to my biggest fans and supporters, those who have been most active in helping me promote THE EARTH SHIFTER, will become some of the first readers of the following upcoming ebooks: LEMURIA & ATLANTIS. Projected release: February – March 2013. These are books 2 and 3 of the enchanting new series of novelettes/novellas, EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES, which I am creating as companion and prequel to THE EARTH SHIFTER. You may have read the first in the series, the top-rated CATHARSIS (Legend of the Lemurians). Check it out:
All about CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians
These people, who’ve been most active in helping me promote THE EARTH SHIFTER, will receive FREE early edition copies of the LEMURIA & ATLANTIS ebooks in the format of their choice, incl. kindle, epub, PDF for PC, etc. This part of the giveaway is open worldwide!
Thank you for your interest and participation
and I hope you enjoy
Explore the world of THE EARTH SHIFTER!
THE EARTH SHIFTER Epic Journey Begins: stats/synopsis/characters/setting/excerpts galore
THE EARTH SHIFTER Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia
THE EARTH SHIFTER Release Countdown: Excerpt 2
THE EARTH SHIFTER: News and Excerpt 1
..
From my family to yours: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Princess Lily, contemplating the meaning of the holidays in her favorite red holiday shawl.
December 27, 2012
THE EARTH SHIFTER Epic Journey Begins!
THE EARTH SHIFTER official launch: December 31, 2012!
On this date, the ebook will be released simultaneously on: Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Smashwords. Other retailers will follow shortly. All buy links will be posted here, on my blog, and on the Book Store page of my official author website LadaRay.com.
On December 31, I will also announce a Mega-Giveaway, with prizes ranging from free ebooks and free editing to Kindle and Smashwords formatting, which I promise, will suit everyone’s tastes.
However, the Grand Prize will be something very, very special! It will be something you’ll definitely, definitely want!
Intrigued? Please join me on 12/31/12, and find out more!
ANNOUNCEMENT 1/2/13:
Join the epic EARTH SHIFTER quest, and enter a new world!
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Yes, it’s finally here!
Priced at an affordable $2.99, THE EARTH SHIFTER ebook is now live at:
Smashwords Barnes & Noble Nook Nook UK
Amazon US UK CA DE ES IT FR JP BR
THE EARTH SHIFTER Goodreads page
It is also coming shortly to Apple, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, and other ebook retailers. All buy links, as usual, will be posted at my official website LadaRay.com. For those who have asked me, paperback is planned for 2013, date TBD.
Without further ado, introducing THE EARTH SHIFTER !
BOOK STATS:
Category: novel, historical fantasy, contemporary fantasy, YA crossover, geopolitical/spy thriller, visionary/metaphysical.
Word count: 103,889 words; Page count: 400 pages
THE EARTH SHIFTER is a true YA crossover, suitable for most readers, teen through adult.
SYNOPSIS:
Mankind would never know how close it came to annihilation on June 30, 1908. Somewhere in the murky depths of the Cosmos, the Comet of Karma is born. When all hope fades, it is sent to planet Earth, its sole mission to wipe out a failing civilization. It has happened before, and it can happen again. Except this time, the Earth Keepers would not interfere.
The Comet of Karma tasked with destroying a failing civilization…
The Earth Keepers endowed with supreme powers over the planet and agonizing over the ultimate decision…
The Protectors risking their lives to keep the world intact…
A beautiful brunette with hidden agenda, who is infinitely more than anyone knows…
Two ambitious and unscrupulous men, who’ll stop at nothing…
Global secret society bent on usurping power on Earth…
A woman, ready to betray in order to save her son…
Old spy organization with a secret human weapon…
The Shifters, with power over mind, matter, time and space…
And three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become mankind’s salvation—the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY. They will open a new era for Humanity, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late…
BOOK SETTING:
Siberia, Russia: Sacred Lake Baikal; the site of the 1908 Tunguska Meteorite explosion
Moscow, Russia: Tverskaya Street; Moscow University; NORUS headquarters; Russian Intelligence
Manhattan, NY: Chinatown; Hell’s Kitchen; Battery Park City
New Jersey, USA: Princeton; Secret US government facility in Hoboken
Geneva, Switzerland
Mystical realms of Heaven and Earth: Outer Space; Keepers Realm; Underworld
MAIN CHARACTERS:
(Keep in mind, many here are not what they seem, read at your own risk!)
Sasha Elfimova, a Moscow teenager
Professor Maxim Elfimov, Sasha’s father
Olga Elfimova, Sasha’s mother
Tengis, aka the Old Man of Siberia, Siberian shaman
Win and Kei Lee, twins who live in NY Chinatown
Dao-ming and Chang Lee, twins’ parents
Red, mysterious and all-powerful brunette
Semyon Isayev, famous remote viewer
Boris Konukovsky, Russian oligarch
Aloysius Drakley, Assistant Director of the CIA
Yuun Lin, Feng Shui master, friend of the Lee family
Dasha and Professor Richard Clarke, friends of the Elfimov family
Young Peter the Great
Grigory Rasputin
The Shifters
The Society
Keepers of the Earth
EXCERPTS GALORE!
From the Earth Keepers Chronicles:
SHIFTERS
There are four types of Shifters. Mind Shifters can access any thoughts, even the hidden ones; Matter Shifters can turn into anything, as well as turn objects into something else; Time Shifters can bend and jump time; and Space Shifters can compress space, appearing at different places at once.
This is how Buddha was able to stop the charging elephant (mind shifting). This is how Jesus was able to multiply bread to feed the hungry (matter shifting). People swore that they saw the famous Time and Space Shifter, Count Saint-Germain, disappear and re-appear at different historic times and places.
The power of the true Shifters is such that they can manipulate events on Earth. To prevent that from happening, the true Shifters are carefully watched from birth and they are never told about the real extent of their powers until they are deemed ready.
The misuse of even one of these powers can be a huge problem. If more than one Shifter power is abused, the consequences can be catastrophic. Of course, despite all precautions, sometimes the Shifters discover who they are on their own, and sometimes they abuse their powers. This is what happened to Hitler, who was a powerful Mind and Matter Shifter, and who misused his powers for evil.
Ever since, the Keepers have been determined never to let this happen again.
PROTECTORS
The Protectors, also called Bogatyrs, are a special caste of gifted and courageous humans, whose entire life’s mission is to assist the Key of Destiny. As likely to be a soldier as an accountant, the Protector can literally be anyone, and you may never pick him or her out of the crowd.
These people may go through life not realizing their true destiny until the moment they are called to service. Then, their real nature becomes their only nature, and they fulfill their soul’s promise.
They are brave and dedicated, and if necessary, they will sacrifice their lives in order to protect Humanity from itself. In the past, many Protectors died to prevent mankind’s annihilation. Most perished in obscurity, as those they saved never found out about their heroism, the only memory of their deeds being preserved in these chronicles.
But no end is in sight for the Protectors’ sacrifice, as Humanity of Planet Earth enters the era of its ultimate struggle.
REMOTE VIEWERS
Remote viewing is a version of space shifting, which can be done without leaving your chair. On the surface, such an exercise appears an expedient shortcut, and easier than true space shifting, therefore, relatively large numbers of humans have been able to perform it.
In the Twentieth Century, intelligence services of then Cold War rivals, USA and USSR, had opened training centers for gifted remote viewers to deploy them as psychic spies. Over the years, psychic warriors, as they were known, managed to glean secret data from their adversaries, which was impossible to obtain any other way.
After the end of the Cold War, remote viewing programs were all but dismantled. However, at the dawn of the new millennium, psychic warriors were again in demand, some working for governments, others for major global corporations, and the rest, for secret organizations. Many remote viewers made pretty good money, exploiting their gifts for profit or someone’s global ambitions.
However, as with misuse of any power, there is always a steep price to pay.
KEEPERS
Before recorded history, before Humanity, since times immemorial, Earth Keepers have been watching over our planet. Mankind has inherited the venerable institution of Keepers from its ancestors, the Lemurians, who were designated the first Keepers of earthly civilization soon after their arrival from the dying planet Catharsis, located on the outskirts of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Marked at birth and endowed with supreme powers, each new Keeper is called to duty when the previous one passes. The nine chosen ones have always been, and continue to be, Earth’s record keepers and moderators, and when the time comes, ultimate decision makers.
THE EARTH SHIFTER: Now live!
Join the quest:
THE EARTH SHIFTER Launch and ARCHOS TABLET Mega-Giveaway!
P.S. Want to become one of THE EARTH SHIFTER’s first reviewers? Email @ Lada at LadaRay.com, or leave a comment with your email!
THE EARTH SHIFTER Epic Journey Begins on 12/31/12!
THE EARTH SHIFTER official launch: December 31, 2012!
On this date, the ebook will be released simultaneously on: Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Smashwords. Other retailers will follow shortly. All buy links will be posted here, on my blog, and on the Book Store page of my official author website LadaRay.com.
On December 31, I will also announce a Mega-Giveaway, with prizes ranging from free ebooks to Kindle and Smashwords formatting, which I promise, will suit everyone’s taste.
However, the Grand Prize will be something very, very special! It will be something you’ll definitely, definitely want!
Intrigued? Please join me on 12/31/12, and find out more!
Without further ado, introducing THE EARTH SHIFTER !
BOOK STATS:
Category: novel, fantasy/scifi, geopolitical/spy thriller, visionary/metaphysical, YA crossover.
Word count: 103,889 words; Page count: 400 pages
THE EARTH SHIFTER is a true YA crossover, suitable for most readers, early teen through adult.
SYNOPSIS:
Mankind would never know how close it came to annihilation on June 30, 1908. Somewhere in the murky depths of the Cosmos, the Comet of Karma is born. When all hope fades, it is sent to planet Earth, its sole mission to wipe out a failing civilization. It has happened before, and it can happen again. Except this time, the Earth Keepers would not interfere.
The Comet of Karma tasked with destroying a failing civilization…
The Earth Keepers endowed with supreme powers over the planet and agonizing over the ultimate decision…
The Protectors risking their lives to keep the world intact…
A beautiful brunette with hidden agenda, who is infinitely more than anyone knows…
Two ambitious and unscrupulous men, who’ll stop at nothing…
Global secret society bent on usurping power on Earth…
A woman, ready to betray in order to save her son…
Old spy organization with a secret human weapon…
The Shifters, with power over mind, matter, time and space…
And three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become mankind’s salvation—the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY. They will open a new era for Humanity, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late…
BOOK SETTING:
Siberia: Sacred Lake Baikal, the village of Polyanka, Shaman Rock, and the site of the 1908 Tunguska Meteorite explosion
Moscow, Russia: Tverskaya Street, Moscow University, NORUS headquarters, Russian Intelligence
Manhattan, NY: Chinatown, Hell’s Kitchen, Battery Park City
New Jersey: Princeton and Secret US government facility in Hoboken
Geneva, Switzerland
Mystical realms of Heaven and Earth: Outer Space, Keepers Realm, Underworld
MAIN CHARACTERS:
(Keep in mind, many here are not what they seem, read at your own risk!)
Sasha Elfimova, a Moscow teenager
Professor Maxim Elfimov, Sasha’s father
Olga Elfimova, Sasha’s mother
Tengis, the Old Man of Siberia, Siberian shaman
Win and Kei Lee, twins who live in NY Chinatown
Dao-ming and Chang Lee, twins’ parents
Red, mysterious and all-powerful brunette
Semyon Isayev, a famous remote viewer
Boris Konukovsky, Russian oligarch
Aloysius Drakley, Assistant Director of the CIA
Yuun Lin, Feng Shui master, friend of the Lee family
Dasha and Richard Clarke, friends of the Elfimov family
Young Peter the Great
Grigory Rasputin
The Shifters
The Society
Keepers of the Earth
EXCERPT GALORE!
From the Earth Keepers Chronicles:
SHIFTERS
There are four types of Shifters. Mind Shifters can access any thoughts, even the hidden ones; Matter Shifters can turn into anything, as well as turn objects into something else; Time Shifters can bend and jump time; and Space Shifters can compress space, appearing at different places at once.
This is how Buddha was able to stop the charging elephant (mind shifting). This is how Jesus was able to multiply bread to feed the hungry (matter shifting). People swore that they saw the famous Time and Space Shifter, Count Saint-Germain, disappear and re-appear at different historic times and places.
The power of the true Shifters is such that they can manipulate events on Earth. To prevent that from happening, the true Shifters are carefully watched from birth and they are never told about the real extent of their powers until they are deemed ready.
The misuse of even one of these powers can be a huge problem. If more than one Shifter power is abused, the consequences can be catastrophic. Of course, despite all precautions, sometimes the Shifters discover who they are on their own, and sometimes they abuse their powers. This is what happened to Hitler, who was a powerful Mind and Matter Shifter, and who misused his powers for evil.
Ever since, the Keepers have been determined never to let this happen again.
PROTECTORS
The Protectors, also called Bogatyrs, are a special caste of gifted and courageous humans, whose entire life’s mission is to assist the Key of Destiny. As likely to be a soldier as an accountant, the Protector can literally be anyone, and you may never pick him or her out of the crowd.
These people may go through life not realizing their true destiny until the moment they are called to service. Then, their real nature becomes their only nature, and they fulfill their soul’s promise.
They are brave and dedicated, and if necessary, they will sacrifice their lives in order to protect Humanity from itself. In the past, many Protectors died to prevent mankind’s annihilation. Most perished in obscurity, as those they saved never found out about their heroism, the only memory of their deeds being preserved in these chronicles.
But no end is in sight for the Protectors’ sacrifice, as Humanity of Planet Earth enters the era of its ultimate struggle.
REMOTE VIEWERS
Remote viewing is a version of space shifting, which can be done without leaving your chair. On the surface, such an exercise appears an expedient shortcut, and easier than true space shifting, therefore, relatively large numbers of humans have been able to perform it.
In the Twentieth Century, intelligence services of then Cold War rivals, USA and USSR, had opened training centers for gifted remote viewers to deploy them as psychic spies. Over the years, psychic warriors, as they were known, managed to glean secret data from their adversaries, which was impossible to obtain any other way.
After the end of the Cold War, remote viewing programs were all but dismantled. However, at the dawn of the new millennium, psychic warriors were again in demand, some working for governments, others for major global corporations, and the rest, for secret organizations. Many remote viewers made pretty good money, exploiting their gifts for profit or someone’s global ambitions.
However, as with misuse of any power, there is always a steep price to pay.
KEEPERS
Before recorded history, before Humanity, since times immemorial, Earth Keepers have been watching over our planet. Mankind has inherited the venerable institution of Keepers from its ancestors, the Lemurians, who were designated the first Keepers of earthly civilization soon after their arrival from the dying planet Catharsis, located on the outskirts of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Marked at birth and endowed with supreme powers, each new Keeper is called to duty when the previous one passes. The nine chosen ones have always been, and continue to be, Earth’s record keepers and moderators, and when the time comes, ultimate decision makers.
THE EARTH SHIFTER: coming 12/31/12!
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