The Romanov Legacy III: Return of the Tsar reimagines the survival of Alexei and Anastasia Romanov as they navigate exile, forbidden identities, Soviet assassins, and the dangerous possibility of restoring Russia’s fallen monarchy. How did your vision for The Romanov Legacy evolve as you developed the story across three books?

I had the general concept in mind from the beginning when I wrote the first draft as a single novel that served as the basis for this work. I had to imagine how such a scenario would unfold. One of the mysteries of the historical accounts of the assassination of the family left them in Yekaterinburg, all dead, but in reality, not all the bodies were found after the assassination. One of the obstacles for the Romanov followers was that if they rescued the family, how would they get them out of the country given the location of their final days? My research showed that the final order by Lenin to execute them happened because the White Army was approaching Yekaterinburg from the west and would soon overrun the city. The Bolsheviks couldn’t risk them falling into the hands of the white Army. So there was an opportunity for a rescue. I had to come up with a reasonable alternative to the historical end. But then where would they go? It turned out historically that a few of them could be extracted and then find safety with the White Army nearby.

How has Alexei’s character evolved throughout the trilogy, particularly as he prepares for the possibility of becoming Tsar?

Alexei was quite young at the beginning of the story, but he had to grow up quickly due to his circumstances. I attempt to show how he would mature rapidly under such conditions. Across the three volumes, I attempt to show how he would grow into the role of a young leader, gaining skills and insight as he traveled east. He had to overcome great odds which gave him impetus to become the leader he is by the end of the story.

How does the novel explore the relationship between inherited authority and the responsibility to earn the trust of others?

As he grew up he had the chance to observe how his father failed during the end of WWI and the capture of the family. He learned from his father’s mistakes to rely on others for advice and to learn from people in all walks of life. He was not brought up in the same aloof and isolated life his father experienced, in which he did not mix with his people. He learned to listen to others and learn from their counsel.

Now that The Romanov Legacy trilogy is complete, are there other historical events or alternate-history possibilities you would like to explore in future writing?

Of course. I considered whether to continue the series with further exploits of the tsar and his family but decided this was a good place to end the tale. But I had several other projects to work on. On another historical fiction story I’ve been working on since then, also set in Russia in the 1970s, is Lena’s Secret War, a thriller of another kind.

Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon