Aden Polydoros
@adenpolydoros.bsky.social
Horror/SFF Author of THE CITY BEAUTIFUL, WRATH BECOMES HER, and others. Sydney Taylor winner. Finalist for World Fantasy Award, Lambda, National Jewish Book Award. Nonbinary/Trans.
Next books: THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER (9/26), IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU (1/27)
Next books: THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER (9/26), IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU (1/27)
It's honestly wild editing IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU. I wrote the book before GenAi became a thing, and early revisions of the killer AI in my book reflected the many-fingered, many-toothed atrocities of early AI images. Now that's obsolete lol.
January 26, 2026 at 8:20 AM
It's honestly wild editing IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU. I wrote the book before GenAi became a thing, and early revisions of the killer AI in my book reflected the many-fingered, many-toothed atrocities of early AI images. Now that's obsolete lol.
I've been taking acting classes for the last several months, and it's amazing how much I feel they've improved my own writing, both for screenwriting and novels. It's really made me pay much deeper attention into 'Show not tell', characterization, and dialogue.
January 26, 2026 at 8:18 AM
I've been taking acting classes for the last several months, and it's amazing how much I feel they've improved my own writing, both for screenwriting and novels. It's really made me pay much deeper attention into 'Show not tell', characterization, and dialogue.
Just want to throw it out into the universe, but I think THE CITY BEAUTIFUL would make an excellent gothic horror movie with noir elements.
January 23, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Just want to throw it out into the universe, but I think THE CITY BEAUTIFUL would make an excellent gothic horror movie with noir elements.
I always envisioned BONE WEAVER to be the first book of a duology, and never intended for the story to end with Mikhail keeping his throne. 🥲 Always feel a little pang when I see reviews commenting on that ending, and inside, I'm like, "But I wanted to write a sequel!!"
January 23, 2026 at 8:43 AM
I always envisioned BONE WEAVER to be the first book of a duology, and never intended for the story to end with Mikhail keeping his throne. 🥲 Always feel a little pang when I see reviews commenting on that ending, and inside, I'm like, "But I wanted to write a sequel!!"
It feels scary and vulnerable being public about mental health, especially when it's such a stigmatized and misunderstood disorder. But 1.5% of the population has DID, and many people with DID don't realize they have it until later in life or after an adulthood trauma.
January 20, 2026 at 11:15 PM
It feels scary and vulnerable being public about mental health, especially when it's such a stigmatized and misunderstood disorder. But 1.5% of the population has DID, and many people with DID don't realize they have it until later in life or after an adulthood trauma.
One thing that's so interesting to me, after getting diagnosed with DID, is seeing how themes of DID, repressed memories, and identity changes run through my decade-long bibliography.
PROJECT PANDORA: Brainwashed teenage assassins, different identities linked to different code names
PROJECT PANDORA: Brainwashed teenage assassins, different identities linked to different code names
January 20, 2026 at 10:54 PM
One thing that's so interesting to me, after getting diagnosed with DID, is seeing how themes of DID, repressed memories, and identity changes run through my decade-long bibliography.
PROJECT PANDORA: Brainwashed teenage assassins, different identities linked to different code names
PROJECT PANDORA: Brainwashed teenage assassins, different identities linked to different code names
Really excited for IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU, my queer thriller about a killer romance simulator. Can't wait to finish this revision and start sharing. 😊
January 20, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Really excited for IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU, my queer thriller about a killer romance simulator. Can't wait to finish this revision and start sharing. 😊
Like how THE CITY BEAUTIFUL explored Alter's grief, I really wanted the supernatural subplot and atmosphere of THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER to reflect Frankie's own psychological landscape--in this case, the trauma over his abusive childhood, and the way abuse follows.
January 20, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Like how THE CITY BEAUTIFUL explored Alter's grief, I really wanted the supernatural subplot and atmosphere of THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER to reflect Frankie's own psychological landscape--in this case, the trauma over his abusive childhood, and the way abuse follows.
Love how bad ass Frankie is in THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER. He was such a fun, interesting character to write. Even just the way he talks compared to Alter.
January 20, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Love how bad ass Frankie is in THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER. He was such a fun, interesting character to write. Even just the way he talks compared to Alter.
Reposted by Aden Polydoros
This dude is intense and correct
January 15, 2026 at 9:05 AM
This dude is intense and correct
I've been planning to film a found-footage style short based on YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW. Starting to figure out how I want to shoot it by making preliminary, practice footage using improv, and it's really fun working with lighting and camera angles.
January 7, 2026 at 2:12 AM
I've been planning to film a found-footage style short based on YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW. Starting to figure out how I want to shoot it by making preliminary, practice footage using improv, and it's really fun working with lighting and camera angles.
Planning to shoot a short film inspired by YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW. I really love this story; out of all my books, this is the one that changed my life.
December 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Planning to shoot a short film inspired by YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW. I really love this story; out of all my books, this is the one that changed my life.
One thing I really wanted to explore in THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, is the lasting impacts of trauma, both physical and mental. Throughout the book, Frankie suffers PTSD both from his abusive childhood and from his experience in THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
December 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
One thing I really wanted to explore in THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, is the lasting impacts of trauma, both physical and mental. Throughout the book, Frankie suffers PTSD both from his abusive childhood and from his experience in THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
Reposted by Aden Polydoros
Look how stunning!!
I'm so thrilled to reveal the cover art for THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, the sequel to my World Fantasy Award finalist gothic horror, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL! Out June 2026!!
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...
December 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Look how stunning!!
I'm so thrilled to reveal the cover art for THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, the sequel to my World Fantasy Award finalist gothic horror, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL! Out June 2026!!
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...
December 15, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I'm so thrilled to reveal the cover art for THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, the sequel to my World Fantasy Award finalist gothic horror, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL! Out June 2026!!
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...
I always love introducing new characters in sequels. Can't wait for you all to meet Mr. Fox!
#TheCityofSlaughter
#TheCityofSlaughter
December 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I always love introducing new characters in sequels. Can't wait for you all to meet Mr. Fox!
#TheCityofSlaughter
#TheCityofSlaughter
AI isn't talent, it isn't creativity. It is an emulation of natural human talent, a lifeless and unfeeling conglomeration utilized by people who don't have the creativity, the drive, or the intelligence to pursue their own self-growth, and who are incapable of organic creation.
December 4, 2025 at 6:24 PM
AI isn't talent, it isn't creativity. It is an emulation of natural human talent, a lifeless and unfeeling conglomeration utilized by people who don't have the creativity, the drive, or the intelligence to pursue their own self-growth, and who are incapable of organic creation.
Just saw the final cover for THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, and it's more beautiful than I could ever hope for! So moody and intricate. Can't wait to be able to share it!
December 4, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Just saw the final cover for THE CITY OF SLAUGHTER, and it's more beautiful than I could ever hope for! So moody and intricate. Can't wait to be able to share it!
It still worries me, what the impact of being public about this might have on my future career prospects. But I know I'm intelligent and driven, and I really do think that by being out about all this, it can make a difference to people.
DID has nearly the same lifetime prevalence as OCD, 1.5%.
DID has nearly the same lifetime prevalence as OCD, 1.5%.
November 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
It still worries me, what the impact of being public about this might have on my future career prospects. But I know I'm intelligent and driven, and I really do think that by being out about all this, it can make a difference to people.
DID has nearly the same lifetime prevalence as OCD, 1.5%.
DID has nearly the same lifetime prevalence as OCD, 1.5%.
I sold my first book, PROJECT PANDORA, in November 2015. Hard to believe it's been ten years. Ten book deals, seven books published. The first draft of Project Pandora took me a month to write. The first draft of YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW, which will be my tenth pubbed book, took me four years.
November 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I sold my first book, PROJECT PANDORA, in November 2015. Hard to believe it's been ten years. Ten book deals, seven books published. The first draft of Project Pandora took me a month to write. The first draft of YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW, which will be my tenth pubbed book, took me four years.
Dissociative Identity Disorder can't be cured; the main treatment is talk therapy. Aside from wanting to combat the stigma, the main reason I've decided to be open about this on social media, is because I know this is the only step forward for long-term happiness and success.
November 27, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Dissociative Identity Disorder can't be cured; the main treatment is talk therapy. Aside from wanting to combat the stigma, the main reason I've decided to be open about this on social media, is because I know this is the only step forward for long-term happiness and success.
Reposted by Aden Polydoros
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
I think it's special being able to experience different aspects of the gender spectrum and ways of thinking that aren't fixed. Many people are ashamed to talk about DID or live in fear of their secret being discovered. I spent ten years living stealth, and I was constantly afraid. 1/~
August 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I think it's special being able to experience different aspects of the gender spectrum and ways of thinking that aren't fixed. Many people are ashamed to talk about DID or live in fear of their secret being discovered. I spent ten years living stealth, and I was constantly afraid. 1/~
I plan to move to either a blue state or out of the country. Any mutuals have any advice or suggestions? I don't make a lot of money, so hoping to find somewhere affordable, where I can live long-term, that's trans friendly.
August 8, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I plan to move to either a blue state or out of the country. Any mutuals have any advice or suggestions? I don't make a lot of money, so hoping to find somewhere affordable, where I can live long-term, that's trans friendly.
It sometimes feels like life is just wearing down on me. I hope one day it'll get better.
August 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It sometimes feels like life is just wearing down on me. I hope one day it'll get better.