— The region has shifted a lot in recent years, and perhaps some readers know this place better than most because they grew up here. How has it changed lately?
— The author jokes that today she might sound like an old lady, but the truth is in the air. The area has transformed dramatically. Once everyone knew everyone because neighbors ran nearby shops, and now many of those shops are gone. People must leave the neighborhood to buy household chemicals, groceries, or everyday items. As the transformation of Patriarch’s Ponds into a European style quarter began to unfold, many locals began renting or selling apartments. Restaurants cropped up, then more, and the area turned into a dining hub.
But for a lifelong resident, this shift carries mixed feelings. The author still longs for the days of simple, ordinary groceries and a straightforward life. In gatherings with friends, complaints about life at Patriarch’s Ponds are common, and friends tease that nothing ever changes for her. Yet she believes she has earned the right to speak up because she has watched this district evolve through many seasons. The modern Patriarch’s Ponds suits a carefree party scene well, but it falls short for a quiet family life with children. She still loves the early morning calm when the patriarchs rise.
— Is it true that the work titled Unprincipled captures the true life of this region?
— The response is that the story mirrors the author’s own aims rather than serving a sweeping social portrait. The hero pursues everyday, understandable questions about love, commitment, and what it means for someone to be serious. These moments could belong in narratives about Patrick and Chistye Prudy. Other short stories might feature similar characters, yet they do not mirror the author’s own experiences exactly.
— The heroine Vera often tries to win back Roman. How realistic is it for a beautiful, accomplished, self-assured woman to be so obsessed with a man?
— The author asks the same question of screenwriters and smiles. She would like to believe such a love story can exist today, when many people focus on themselves rather than others. In conversation with Yura Kolokolnikov, who played Roman, they mused about why he pursued Vera in the first place.
— How would you explain why the hero wants to marry Roman?
— It is a highly charged moment, and the genre invites humor. Yet the question remains why not. After living together for two seasons, there comes a moment of reckoning when someone finally says, enough is enough. The hero craves certainty and believes that with Roman there is a chance to sleep and wake beside someone he intends to share life with.
If a screenplay were being written, how would the story unfold?
— Short stories pose a challenge for a full arc or a long hero’s journey. These pieces are sketches from life, and if a girl’s goal is to win a man, the essential task is to understand why she acted, why she fell for a man who could not propose.
— Then what about the name of the hero, associated with his alter ego Albina? How is he?
— The hero has carried this twist since the first season. Once the author went to a bar expecting Albina, yet Albina did not appear; the author arrived instead.
Have there been people who reveal a second personality under the influence of alcohol?
— The author believes everyone carries an Albina inside. Sometimes that side is released at home in front of the TV with a glass of wine, sometimes it comes out in public. When someone drinks, a change of consciousness can take place. A person who is quiet and modest may become easier to talk to, while someone who is loud may not need a drink at all. In short, it is better not to drink. The Albina episodes illustrate what can happen when a person who avoids drink briefly succumbs to it in a story that reveals how quickly a night can shift.
— Will Albina appear in the film adaptation as well?
— Yes, Albina is central to the project and without Albina, the adaptation would miss a crucial element.