Anastasiya Sergeyevna GOSTEVA (born 1975, Moscow) received the prestigious first award of the Moscow journal Znamya (Banner) for her short novel "Samurai's Daughter," which is forthcoming from the Moscow English-language magazine Glas. Her poems have appeared in numerous journals including Smena, Arion and Chemistry and Life. Ms. Gosteva was educated in the Physics Department of the Moscow State University, and currently works in the international office of Barin's Realty Company. Her participation in the IWP is supported by the United States Information Agency.