Recently I stumbled across an old domain name in my browser history — skazochnitsa.ru. The site disappeared years ago, but the name still carries weight. “Skazochnitsa” means storyteller in Russian, and I claimed that title at eight years old. The homepage still makes me smile: “Hi! My name is NASTYA! I’m 8 years old (still […]
Early Digital Footprints Read More »
This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a talk by renowned Russian science popularizer Alexander Panchin at the London Russian Book Fair. As someone whose fiction often explores the boundaries between reality and perception, listening to a scientist who specializes in making complex concepts accessible was both enlightening and inspiring. Panchin’s presentation
Bridging Sciences and Stories: Meeting Alexander Panchin Read More »
There are weeks when the universe feels like it’s conspiring in whispers; April was one of them. On an otherwise ordinary Tuesday my inbox produced a black-and-gold digital seal: Creativitys UK named me their April 2025 Award laureate for Anonymous Letters. A day later I learned that the manuscript also caught the eye of the
Letters, Maps, and a Handful of Laurels Read More »
After months of writing, revising, waiting, and anticipating, I can finally share the news that “Anonymous Letters” is now available to readers worldwide on Amazon. This feels like releasing a bird I’ve been nurturing—watching it take flight brings both exhilaration and a curious sense of loss as the story now belongs as much to its
Into the World – “Anonymous Letters” Now Available on Amazon Read More »
The Eternal City in January offers a particular kind of solitude. Tourist crowds have temporarily receded, leaving space for a more contemplative engagement with Rome’s layered history. I’ve taken a small apartment in Trastevere for the month—my first extended stay in a single location after nearly two years of perpetual movement. Each morning, I cross
Finally in Rome: New Projects Ahead Read More »
There’s a particular quality to Pisan light in December—crystalline, precise, carrying both warmth and chill simultaneously. Though my initial visit coincided with the tail end of literary events, I’ve found myself lingering in this city whose winter character offers a different kind of inspiration than its more famous summer persona. The tourist crowds have thinned
Winter Light and Shadow – A December Evening in Pisa Read More »
Dear readers, I’m thrilled to announce that my new novel, “Anonymous Letters,” is now available! This psychological mystery represents the culmination of ideas that have been gestating since those strange, isolated days of lockdown years ago. “Anonymous Letters” follows Anna, a writer who relocates to the outskirts of Brighton seeking solitude after personal turmoil. Her
“Anonymous Letters” – Entering the Fog of Mystery Read More »
Work on “The Anonymous Letters” continues, and each day brings new discoveries. Sometimes characters act contrary to my plans, as if acquiring their own will. England with its changeable weather, rich history, and deep cultural traditions remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The process of writing the novel reminds me of archaeological excavation: at first,
Anonymous Letters: from concept to realization Read More »
Inspiration rarely arrives through expected channels. I came to Warsaw with literary intentions but found myself instead immersed in the 67th Warsaw Autumn Festival (Warszawska Jesień)—Poland’s premier contemporary classical music event that transforms concert halls, churches, and unconventional spaces across the city into laboratories of sound exploration. The experience has proven unexpectedly nourishing for my
Warsaw Autumn: Contemporary Music & New Literary Sparks Read More »
Within the span of three weeks, I’ve moved between extreme poles of human achievement—from the neolithic engineering of Stonehenge to the futuristic skyline of Shanghai. This jarring juxtaposition, far from being disorienting, has provided unexpected clarity and inspiration as I put the finishing touches on “Anonymous Letters” and begin conceptualizing new projects. The English portion
Stonehenge to Shanghai: Extremes of Inspiration Read More »
