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[Alexandr Korol]

Even many people now — aristocrats or some successful people on boards of directors — also wear those rings with stones. And yet they tell me: “No, you’re a mage, a black mage.” I say: “Alright, fine. Think what you want.” That’s just how it is — different societies have different associations. Although it’s strange. Why mage? Well, probably too many movies. Ah, I know why. Psychics, those psychic shows — they all wear those kinds of things. So probably people thought that if I put on rings like that, it meant I was like them. But no, I never watched those shows. And of course, I never wanted to be like them. And they usually have to also have some bones, a raven on their shoulder, little mouse paws. But that’s something else entirely — those are different things. Everyone has their own associations, their own ideas.

But I’ll say this, guys — don’t worry. You just need to understand that if, with a pure heart, you sincerely get inspired and discover a beautiful pond where you want to sit by the shore and paint pictures, and then you start showing and telling everyone about it, don’t be surprised when everyone says there’s nothing special about it and they vulgarize it. That’s how society is set up now — to destroy everything, ruin it, devalue it. So what’s the conclusion? It means you shouldn’t share and show things to just anyone if negative reactions hurt you. Or, you have to be ready for those negative reactions and stand your ground. I can’t not publish my books. If 99% of people want something vulgar, jokey, and don’t like my books, I still can’t stop being a writer because of them. After all, there’s that one percent of people who do like my books — because they’re deep too. And for their sake, I still have to hold the line and keep writing and publishing, whatever happens.

Question: How did Big Alexander know that Valentina had spoken with you the day before?

I don’t know. Because when all of this was happening, I was in such a vacuum- like state that I didn’t even have those kinds of thoughts — no doubts, no suspicions. That kind of question comes from a different angle. And at that moment, thoughts like that didn’t cross my mind. Later on, of course, they did, but I never asked him or her: how did he find out, how did he sense it?