Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Vive_HIH_Aleksey

Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 20
46
Haha thanks, I certainly intend to!

47
That's pretty cool, Alixz, and I do remember you mentioning that in the past.

It's a shame about your co-author and you not being able to work things out. I wish you the best in trying to get back to work on the manuscript.

The catamaran trip wasn't part of a book, though I might make it part of one in the future. It's part of my writing group right now, and actually have only just started it. I still have a ways to go before I get to the actual trip; I haven't even written the wedding yet. *groan* I do plan on having some interesting things happen there, such as the discovery of a sunken Spanish galleon, complete with treasure. You know there are a lot of ships with such treasures that have never been found in the Carribean! So I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for them to have found one! Funny we should arrive on skating fiction; one of them is a singles skater, his partner is an American football player in university. I hope to put the skater's life into a novel, along with a character I have as his half-brother; whether they will be related in the books I don't know but it makes for interesting perspective.

Yeah the film with Salchow is incredibly well-preserved IMO and over a minute long! It's really great even if it's silent.

For the historical fiction with the skater and the cursed dress, I actually had in mind that this young lady will have been a pioneer in her time, but since WWI cancelled the figure skating championships, 1914 was the last year she competed, since she was murdered in 1918. I have in mind that she had a chamber orchestra travel with her, performing when she skated, having character-driven programs, and becoming the first female to do some of the jumps that the men were doing at the time. Reading your above message also gave me the idea to perhaps have her invent the layback spin! Since she dies in 1918, and she was only on the scene for a few years, it's quite possible that she would be one of the forgotten pioneers. Cecilia Colledge of Great Britain is credited with the invention of it, but since she wasn't born till 2 years after my past heroine is killed, I see definite possibility for making this scenario work. Colledge is also credited with inventing the one-hand Biellmann spin but it's not named after her; so that kind of thing has happened. I definitely like the idea of this girl being a real star, rather than a "nobody."

This actually is where I am struggling. I want her to be a good skater. I want her brother to have been an officer on the Standart, and later an officer of the White Army, and in fact THE "Officer" to the Imperial Family in Ekaterinburg. I want her husband to be a revolutionary, but she doesn't find out until later. At any rate, she becomes closely acquainted with the Imperial Children, but the issue for me is how could I arrange all that, because of protocol/ettiquette? I actually was wondering what would be the proper placement for these questions I have about that. Could she be a commoner and still be acquainted with the Imperial Children? How could they have met? That sort of thing is perhaps hard to answer.

48
That's very true, guys, and it's great to be reminded of those details!

I actually ran into a similar issue with something I was planning for my writing group, a self-sailed honeymoon of the Carribbean in a large catamaran (after research I decided that was the best kind of ship for the venture and the couple aboard) from April 16th to August 20th. I actually went on a sailing forum and they suggested that I pay closer attention to the schedule I planned out matched with the maps and distances between the various islands. I took that advice and shortened the destinations that they would visit.

I actually have another historical fiction really in the works, it's just a "for fun" scenario I came up with inspired in part by the film "The Ring," a "Sweet Valley High Mystery," figure skating, and the last Imperial Family. One of the first things I did was to research turn-of-the-century figure skating. I knew that jumps were done, a few of them, but only single rotations, but that was all I knew about it. I discovered that music was performed in those days, and used that to my advantage. I also discovered, with the aid of an amazingly well-preserved 100-year-old video of ULRICH SALCHOW himself (great Swedish skater, inventor of the Salchow jump that everyone now does, 10-time World Champion and 2-time Olympic Champion) that they did some pretty great footwork and spins back then too! That video helped me the most by far. I also did research on the geography of the Alexander Palace and its grounds, using the main AP site... Whether I did a good enough job remains to be seen. I have only just started to come to that point. But I plan on rewriting the whole thing soon anyway, with better description and research. The first draft, which isn't even done, was done primarily for fun, like I said. But I do want to take it seriously now.

Here's a link to my thread actually:
http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=13282.0

49
Having Fun! / Re: Romanovs Reflected - Fan Fiction
« on: April 22, 2011, 02:14:58 AM »
It's cute... but I have to say Nicholas doesn't "sound" like the ruler of a country... He sounds even younger than his two youngest children, and they all sound very American at that. But it is cute.

50
Thank you very much, Aleksandr Pavlovich! I greatly appreciate the comment. I remember that post from the screenwriter about The Testament!

One of the works I have in mind is indeed historical fiction, with a touch of horror elements. I set it originally in the time of Peter the Great, and take some artistic liscence to have him marry one year earlier than he did in reality, to a young woman he actually loved. The woman died in childbirth with his firstborn son. Right now I have him named Evgeni, simply because of the name's meaning. I do like the name so I think I will keep it. Anyway, I have him grow up and history plays out in general as it had, but with Evgeni at the forefront or background when it is called for. As his life as heir is filled with so much promise, he is kidnapped by a vampire... What year this happens is not entirely decided. I want him to be young, but also want him to have a reputation for being a great war hero and diplomat with regards to Sweden. He falls in love with and is soon engaged to the King of Sweden's daughter. Before the wedding is to take place, the Tsarevich is kidnapped.

I have found this forum to be a great source for things that authors might take for granted, such as etiquette and other things found in "Their World & Culture." I do hope to pay close attention to such details when I get around to working on this one. I intend the work to be a little like "Interview With The Vampire" which is one of my favorite novels, only instead of dealing with New Orleans history I plan to focus the majority on early Romanov history, then broaden into world history. Hopefully it will work out. He interacts with select descendants, without telling them who he really is, assists them in their reigns as an advisor, whether they want his advice or not. I plan on having him be a forward-thinking person just like his father was, so when he is forcibly turned into a vampire, he broods over what he could have accomplished in his reign, and how much better off Russia and the world would be if he had been allowed to claim his birthright. Here's hoping it goes well!

51
In his diary, Alexei refers to him as G. Fimich.  (I.E Grigory Efimovich)

I haven't read any diary entries from Aleksei mentioning Rasputin, could someone mind directing me to or posting some of the entries?

52
I'm pleasantly surprised to find so many authors on here. I've been writing for over 10 years, and never even tried to be published. The closest I came to completing a novel was 175 (double-spaced) pages, but I dumped it because I felt the story's course was just taking up space. It was about a young Russian figure skater who moves to the United States after suffering tragedy at home in Russia. I actually don't even like it anymore; I'm more compelled by what I have come up with for my writing group. There are two characters I've created, both Russian figure skaters, and they have pretty tragic lives. I think their stories would make great novel material, so someday I hope to actually work on it.

53
Another obscure reference:

I did not see the full episode, sadly have yet to see a single one, but when I watched the SAG Awards in January (seeing as no one posted it yet here I thought it would be cute to be the one) when they showed a clip from "Hot In Cleveland" to announce Betty White's nomination for Best Actress In A Comedy Series, they showed a hilarious clip.

"Anastasia, last surviving daughter of the Romanov family" (or something like that)
Person she said that to: "Really?!"
Betty: "No, I've just always wanted to say that!"

She won the award btw.

54
Having Fun! / Re: Romanov Fiction Ideas
« on: April 16, 2011, 10:03:32 PM »
It's been far too long since I last posted; but I've been browsing, reading, pondering various things!

Anyway I have a big idea for a novel, and am always interested in opinions and advice regarding it:

I like to think of this as "Interview With The Vampire" for russophiles! Peter the Great marries at 15, to a childhood sweetheart, she dies in childbirth with their first and only child, a boy I've decided to name Evgeni (I just love the name and because it means "aristocrat" I thought it appropriate; but I might change it). Peter guiltily agrees to marry Eudoxia in 1689 when Evgeni is a year old. Most things in history play out as it was, just with the inclusion of Evgeni. I plan to focus a lot on the relationship between Evgeni and his brother Alexei. I'm thinking that Evgeni would be much like his father, want to reform Russia and bring it to the modern age. Evgeni is skilled in military tactics and diplomacy, and it will show when the war with Sweden occurs. At one point during the war, Evgeni somehow manages to meet a lovely Swedish Princess, a year younger than he. Now, Evgeni should have been married already, but he has such a modern sensibility to him, that he couldn't bring himself to marry someone he hadn't loved or at least known somewhat well. Peter indulges him, because he loved his mother so. All the same, he would be close to marrying various ladies of society, but when he would get depressed about it all, the weddings would always be cancelled. At last, they make a bargain, stating that if Evgeni hadn't found anyone by a certain age, then Peter would arrange the marriage and would no longer hear objections to it (I'm thinking 20 maximum). When he meets this Swedish Princess, he gets to know and love her, and they begin a passionate love affair despite the distance and tension between their countries. Alexei meanwhile thinks that Peter and Evgeni are ignoring him, and desires his father's approval and affection, so seeks to discredit and sabotage Evgeni (think Rameses and Moses in The Ten Commandments). Alexei discovers the affair by finding a letter in which Evgeni pledges to marry the Princess when the war is over. He presents it to the Tsar, who summons Evgeni. Alexei gloats, but his plan backfires when Peter decides to allow Evgeni and the Princess to wed (such treachery can't go unpunished of course). Anyway, in the midst of the wedding plans, Evgeni is kidnapped by a vampire, and after months of torment, he is turned into a vampire. The vampire who turned him basically keeps him prisoner, but Evgeni breaks free shortly after Alexei's death (who in this story is charged with Evgeni's murder, an act of high treason; I know that wasn't what really happened but I personally like the idea). Evgeni knows he cannot reveal himself as a vampire to his loved ones, but can't stop himself from seeing his beloved Princess is convinced she is insane when she sees him, and dies alone and sick in a convent years later. When he discovers his father is dying, he steals his sword which would have come to him anyway (bit of fiction on my part I'm sure, but it fits nice with the story). He uses it to kill vampires (by means of decapitation), always searching for the one who made him. It has the Romanov crest on it in gold and jewels, which makes it really nice because the victims know who is ending their existence: a Romanov! As he continues along his quest, he decides to assist *select* descendants with running the Empire (he can't help them all or he'd be discovered). He takes various aliases over the years, assists in the coups of Elizaveta, Ekaterina the Great (with whom he has an affair, of course), and Alexander I, assists Alexander I defeat Napoleon, Alexander II institute reforms that Evgeni himself planned on instituting when he would have inherited the throne, and *tries* to help Nicholas II... he takes *some* advice, but not a lot and modifies the advice he does take. When the February Revolution occurs, Evgeni tries to offer comfort as best he can to the family, not sure how well that would work out, how well he would know them, etc. But when the October Revolution happens, Evgeni begins to make his way Eastward, intending to get to Vladivostok and from there, America, where he would be safe. He still looks and acts like a Romanov aristocrat, so Russia would be a dangerous place for him at this time. He ends up in Pig's Meadow in the post-midnight hours of July 17th, 1918. He spies his sire in the forest, with two bodies wrapped in sheets (guess who). Evgeni fights his maker, but his maker runs away. Evgeni cares for the wounded Aleksei and Maria (originally I thought of Tatiana, I might still use her) who both die soon after he found them (depending on the severity of the wounds, no more than 12hrs I would *assume* but maybe more or less than that; my idea's kinda taken from the truck breaking down, the bodies fell out; they'd been merely unconscious rather than dead... not entirely sure though so feel free to pose some points and advice). As Aleksei dies, Evgeni asks him to pray to God for his own soul to be spared from damnation, and vows to have vengeance and justice on the vampire who made him what he is: if it weren't for him, if Evgeni had been able to rule in his own time, he beileves that history would have been entirely different, and the country would not have been in the ruins it was/will be in the coming 70 years. After he gives Aleksei and his sister a very modest burial and private funeral (for their corpses' safety, to prevent them from being desecrated, he does not want a marked grave or anything that would draw attention to the spot where he buries them. He does however put a small pile of stones, as per Aleksei's wishes; such a thing could go unnoticed), Evgeni continues on his way to Vladivostok, and from there, goes to California. I am not entirely sure what happens to him there, because I haven't truly thought about it yet, but I think the democratic feel wouldn't really make him feel "at home." So he heads instead to England. When WWII happens, he enrolls in the RAF as a night pilot, running some kind of stealth missions or something like that. There's all kinds of things that could happen to him up to the present day, but one thing is certain: Evgeni, in a 300ish year span, kills 700 vampires of his sire's bloodline, all by means of Peter the Great's sword. He still can't find his sire. Finally, he decides to write his memoirs, sparing no details about the events of his life, and in the epilogue, writes a formal challenge to a duel to the death. Following the French Dueling Code, he would need a second. I'm not sure who that will be yet, but I'm keeping my mind open. Anyway, there are only two ways the duel can end: by his sire's death, or his own. The novel will end with either one. I really desire the "happily ever after, Hollywood-style" ending, but the alternative is equally appealing... Let's face it, when it comes to hero vampires... they always win... might be innovative perhaps to do the alternative.

Phew, you can tell I've put a lot of thought into this one!

55
I agree Michael.

I think he may have been modest, as Gilliard said, not mentioning his own rights as Tzarevich upon receiving the news of the abdication. He loved his father very much, and was watching his world crash down, as some others have pointed out in similar threads. He may have known more about his rights than he let on, but loved his father and was too affected by his abdication to truly wonder or care what should have been his own rights. I don't doubt he was confused; he'd never witnessed or experienced anything like that before. So I don't think he knew how to react, but I'm sure he didn't want anyone to worry about him; they worried enough about him as it was. I don't think I'm alone in feeling that perhaps he didn't want to make things worse by demanding an explanation as to why he was not allowed to be Tzar.

56
Tsarevich Alexei Nicholaievich / Re: In Honnor of Alexei
« on: July 31, 2010, 11:26:19 PM »
I've made wallpapers and video montages...That's about it for now. I can share them here if you like.

57
Tsarevich Alexei Nicholaievich / Re: Alexei anecdotes
« on: March 13, 2010, 01:50:09 AM »
LOL That's a new one on me! I cracked up! That really brightened my day.

58
Sounds pretty fascinating! Thanks for the reply!

59
Tsarevich Alexei Nicholaievich / Re: Movie Clips of Alexei
« on: January 17, 2010, 05:51:21 PM »
Yeah I don't know about seeing it online, you could search for it, but it's definitely worth checking out. Not only do you see historians comment on the characters and the parallels with history, but you also see the stars talking about the parallels as well. Sir Ian McKellen, for example, comments on Rasputin: "Some people said he smelled. I mean literally."

I think one of the historians was a little mistaken when he said that he told the Imperial Couple that Aleksei was curable... I thought to myself, "Didn't he in fact simply say that he would not die from hemophilia? In which case he was right; he did not die of hemophilia... He was shot and stabbed to death instead, not exactly a kinder fate LOL." Course I might be mistaken but that's just what I thought at the time.

60
Tsarevich Alexei Nicholaievich / Re: Movie Clips of Alexei
« on: January 16, 2010, 10:28:59 AM »
Just a note about the Lord of the Rings documentary. Wormtongue was compared to Rasputin in that documentary, and they featured photographs and some video of the family, hence the credit on IMDB.

Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 20