chaikovskiy

surprise!
          
          i decided to crawl out of my summer hibernation hole and finally share the prequel chapter i wrote for "NOVYYE SAINTS" last summer. you can find and read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/1653955897-novyye-saints-onc-2021-winner-%E2%9C%93-00-prequel-chapter
          
          it's still a bit wild to think i first published that novella over five years ago... i've since graduated secondary school and university (and definitely grown in my writing abilities), but i admit i still sometimes think about the adventures i got to take with the mouse, the priest, and the bear. and who knows? maybe i'll return to angelovsk/gorod krestov to write some more stories soon...
          
          until then--best wishes,
          - elle ♡♡

THE BELLS OF RYAZAN is officially submitted to the 2026 wattys!!
          
          you can starting reading the full, COMPLETED novella if you haven't already right here: https://www.wattpad.com/1608384171-the-bells-of-ryazan-epigraph.
          
          happy reading + writing, everyone!
          -  elle ♡♡

well, it's finally here, the last chapter of THE BELLS OF RYAZAN: https://www.wattpad.com/1643906023-the-bells-of-ryazan-xv-the-moon-and-her-messenger.
          
          thank you everyone who read all the way to the end, and those who shared their support in the form of votes, follows, and comments. i began writing this story shortly after studying "the tale of the destruction of ryazan" for my final slavic literature class. i have now graduated and plan to submit BELLS to the 2026 wattys while considering how i might expand it into proper, full-length novel.
          
          also, a special shout out to the yapping yefimas, who encouraged and kept me laughing when i needed it. this story is unofficially dedicated to them.
          
          warm wishes to all,
          -  elle ♡♡

after a month and a half wait (rip sorry) the latest and second-to-last chapter of THE BELLS OF RYAZAN is finally here!
          
          you might want to grab your emotional support item and or something to throw at me for this one, because there is turmoil and tough choices to make as yanay and evpaty struggle to survive the aftermath of the tatars' destruction of ryazan. the chapter also contains a content warning, so be sure to check that before you read. as always, you can find it in an inline comment at the start of the chapter linked here: https://www.wattpad.com/1626951710-the-bells-of-ryazan-xiv-along-silver-shores.
          
          in other news, the final chapter should also be out in just a few days, as the wattys deadline is july 23. i totally feel ready to submit, and have been even doing some line/continuity editing in previous chapters. this is only the first draft of BELLS (and i am currently revising an expanded novel version as promised!) but i still would like to throw it into the contest ring because why not!
          
          okay that's truly all for now. happy reading + writing, all!
          
          until next time,
          -  elle ♡♡

hello, everyone!
          
          so sorry for a month without news or updates! i recently graduated university and have been busy trying to figure out what is next for me but things have settled a bit meaning i have finally been able to get back into writing!!
          
          the second to last chapter of THE BELLS OF RYAZAN should be out sometime this week and the final chapter will be published before the wattys deadline on july 23. if you want to stay updated with all my writing projects and news, you can always find/follow me on instagram @ellechaika: https://www.instagram.com/ellechaika/. 
          
          take care, and, as always, happy reading + writing!
          -  elle ♡♡

so i did not make it to round three of the 2026 open novella contest, but here is a quick list of pros and cons for that
          
          pros:
          - i will be expanding "the bells of ryazan" to qualify and complete in the wattys!
          - as a result, you get more "bells" chapters, including this week's, titlted "bargaining," which you can find here: https://www.wattpad.com/1623750239-the-bells-of-ryazan-onc-2026-xiii-bargaining.
          
          cons:
          - disqualified from the 2026 onc for being more than 40,000 words
          - potential struggle writing/expanding the story to be a novel
          - new watty's deadline in july
          
          that's all for now! don't be afraid to let me know how your onc experienced ended up this year. i would love to catch up and chat. and good luck to all the students out there who are entering exam periods and or job searching! we've got this <3
          
          take care + happy reading and writing!
          -  elle ♡♡

so the newest chapter of "THE BELLS OF RYAZAN," titled "because of our sins," is published and, well, you just might kill me for the transgressions i've committed against your favorite characters... 
          
          before reading please also be sure to check out the content warning in the in-line comment at the start of chapter! the content is quite intense because it depicts the historical horrors of the siege of ryazan and some unsettling themes. that being said, you can find and read the update here: https://www.wattpad.com/1622295403-the-bells-of-ryazan-onc-2026-xii-because-of-our.
          
          take care + happy reading and writing!
          -  elle ♡♡

the newest update to "THE BELLS OF RYAZAN" is... bloody, to say the least. the battle of ryazan has begun, but first our dear yanay must pay a visit in the living realm to our favorite tatar captive, yalavech. find and read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/1620373018-the-bells-of-ryazan-onc-2026-xi-the-passion-of.
          
          also only fifteen more days until the onc is over and like i'm lowkey panicking?? for the first time ever, i think my entry is going to be over word count! i guess this is just an opportunity to expand and enter "BELLS" into the wattys... but we'll see!
          
          take care + happy reading and writing,
          -  elle ♡♡

this is your official invitation to the wedding ryazan has been waiting for during the last nine chapters...
          
          the newest update to "THE BELLS OF RYAZAN" features everything from the rites to the feast to tender conversations by firelight come evening. you won't want to miss this chapter and you can find and read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/1619456553-the-bells-of-ryazan-onc-2026-x-bound.
          
          take care + happy reading and writing,
          -  elle ♡♡

if you like any of the following things in your chapters:
          - heartfelt prose that is sung instead of spoken
          - feminine rage
          - brothers who cannot decide whether they want to kill or slap one another
          - + some political scheming 
          
          then the newest chapter of "THE BELLS OF RYAZAN" may be for you! you can find and read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/1616582462-the-bells-of-ryazan-onc-2026-ix-the-fate-of-all.
          
          also it looks like "BELLS" might end up over the open novella contest word count...  so wattys entry coming soon, perhaps? i have until the april to figure it out, and i will be sure to let you know. until then, take care + happy reading and writing.
          
          best,
          -  elle ♡♡