Larisa (Lara) Gelya

Camel from Kyzylkum. So grateful to my readers—you are the driving force that keeps me going! laragelya.com Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B09Y7GTZQS/ Barnes & Noble: rb.gy/lz7rzg Audio copy: rb.gy/lfcob5 #camelfromkyzylkum #laragelya #refugeenarrative

My gladiolus is blooming, May 2026. #flowers #may2026 #nature #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

Not everyone in your life is meant to stay forever. #peopleinyourlife #lgelya #laragelya

The Desert Rose - A true symbol of resilience, survival, and unexpected grace. Strong, beautiful, and impossible to ignore. #nature #flowers #DesertRose #florida #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

@MarkSullivanBks Hi Mark, I have a question for your: have you work with Dennis Brooks, Reader Promoter & Book Visibility Strategist - #testimonials" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">gold-parrot-10ph2w5.mystrikingly.com/#testimonials?

Extremely grateful that the @BushHoustonLit recommends BENEATH A SCARLET SKY as one of their top 10 reads to keep you company while sheltering in place: bushhoustonliteracy.org/blog/2020/3/25… palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20200326/…

Literary Titan calls Camel from Kyzylkum ‘a testament to indomitable spirit.’ Diane Donovan says it ‘deserves attention not just from memoir readers, but armchair adventurers'. Get your copy now: Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B09Y7GTZQS/ #camelfromkyzylkum #memoir #soviethistory

Traditional fire knife dancing at the Kaanapali Beach Resort, Maui Island in Hawaii, May 2025. It was a story told in flame. #fireknifedancing #traditionaldancing #kaanapalibeachresort #mauihawaiiI #hawaiilife #travel #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

Le-Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. Rising out of the sea like something from a dream, Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the most magical places in the world. We traveled there in May of 2023. #lemontsaintmichel #Normandy #france #travel #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

Magical sunset in April in SW Florida. #sunset #nature #Florida #magic #lgelya #laragelya #iphonephotography

That’s a Snowy Egret—a very common and elegant bird in Florida. They’re often seen walking slowly along boardwalks, shorelines, or shallow water hunting for small fish. #SnowyEgret #birds #florida #laragelya #lgelya #followerseveryone

My beautiful My beautiful Amaryllis in bloom. in bloom. April 2026, SW Florida. Big, bold, and a little theatrical—amaryllis doesn’t just bloom, it puts on a show. #amaryllis #flowers #nature #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

Swallows Nest Castle, Crimea, Ukraine (under Russian occupation now). Visited this beautiful place for so many times! One of my favorite places on our planet! #SwallowsNestCastle #yalta #crimea #ukraine #BlackSea #gothicstructure #travel #lgelya #laragelya #folowerseveryone

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America and the largest outside of Asia, spanning 24 bustling blocks in the heart of the city. #SanFrancisco #California #Chinatown #travel #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

So, you said you're afraid of alligators? Here is the one in our pond in Florida, March 21, 2026. #Alligators #wildlife #florida #NatureScenery #lgelya #laragelya #followerseveryone

A Journey of Six Lands - Camel from Kyzylkum. Available in kindle, paperback, and audiobook formats. Author Website: laragelya.com Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B09Y7GTZQS/ #camelfromkyzylkum #laragelya #book #memoir #refugeenarrative #SovietHistory #immigration #followers

Heron at the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge near Naples, Florida. March 10, 2026. #NationalWildlifeRefuge #TenThousandIslands #Naples #Florida #Nature #wildlife #March2026 #lgelya #laragelya #iphonephotography #followerseveryone

February 2026 on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Sarasota. Set along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Sarasota area is a lively coastal community with year-round sunshine. #sarasota #GulfCoast #florida #travel #february2026 #lgelya #laragelya #iphonephotography #followerseveryone

Dear Angela! Thank you for the heartfelt blog post about my memoir, *Camel from Kyzylkum*! #AuthorSpotlight #LaraGelya #CamelFromKyzylkum #ImmigrantStories #Memoir #Resilience #NewBlog #followerseveryone angelagwilliams.com/blog/author-sp…

Tailor in Esna, Egypt. November 2022. Esna is a historic city on the west bank of the Nile in Upper Egypt, located about 55 km south of Luxor. We traveled there in 2022. #tailor #esnacity #Egypt #travel #lgelya #laragelya #iphonephotography #followerseveryone

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. Crater Lake was born from fire and collapse, when ancient Mount Mazama erupted and fell into silence nearly 8,000 years ago. We traveled there in 2024. #CraterLake #NationalPark #Oregon #MountMazama #volcano #nature #travel #lgelya #laragelya

Lisbon (Lisboa in Portuguese) is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is a major economic, cultural, and historic center known for its colorful streets, red-tiled roofs, and 300 days of sunshine per year. #Lisbon #Portugal #travel #nature #lgelya #laragelya #Tagus