An Interview with Adria Bailton

Adria Bailton (she/they) imagines entire worlds and universes to share while spending her days studying atoms, the smallest unit of matter. More of their science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories, where they strive to create characters that reflect their own bisexuality, neurodiversity, and disability, appear in The Colored Lens, ZNB Presents, Constelción Magazine, Wyldblood Flash, and Worlds of Possibility, among others. Her debut YA science fiction novel, Worlds Divide, will be out in April 2026 from Balance of Seven Press. She recently moved from the PNW to New England. Learn more at www.adriabailton.com.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

I’m one of those writers who has been telling stories since I was a child and started writing them down once I knew how to write. I spent a lot of time in my head, telling myself stories. I had a fairly vivid imagination, according to the adults in my life. And I woke up remembering my dreams most days. I took a break from writing for many years while I had other life obligations.

The story of Nina and Corey has been with me since I was a teenager. Different aspects of the story came to me at different times in my life – some from dreams, some from daydreaming, some just through writing and rewriting.

I’ve written many versions of Worlds Divide over the years. Most versions had contemporary settings. The world is different now than it was when I first imagined this story. When I began writing again in 2019, some critique from long ago about ‘teenagers today’ and my own considerations about how cell phones would change much of Corey and Nina’s interactions collided to inspire me to write in one of my most beloved genres, science fiction. With parallel worlds, I could explore both issues – one world to encompass the historical aspect of a world in an era with no (common) cell phones that allowed Nina and Corey to have adventures as I imagined them all those years ago, and another where teenagers behave in a more contemporary manner.

The slipping between parallel worlds gave me an analogy to explore how certain mental illness feels and create a scaffolding for a disability story. Stories that represent these aspects of our lives are more important to share now than ever. I wish I’d had a story like this to understand myself better growing up.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Worlds Divide took years to discover as a title. I struggle with titles. I heard once that the title is the first hook. When I began my querying and submission journey with this book, I needed a title that had meaning. I played up the Romeo and Juliet aspect. Taking a note from so many other accomplished authors, I pondered lines from Shakespeare’s play. The world and different worlds (metaphorically) are frequently referenced within the play. Of course, the different worlds for my characters are a bit more literal. Another author friend and I discussed various lines that contained the word ‘worlds,’ and we riffed on them until I came up with Worlds Divide. Once I thought of it, the title stuck with me.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

All my books have soundtracks! I love music and I love finding songs that embody aspects of what I’m writing – characters, plots, vibes. Listening to the playlists helps me stay in the mindset of the story. When I’ve taken a break from writing, usually after I’ve finished a draft or between rounds of revision, listening to the playlist gets me back in the story.

The playlist for Worlds Divide is around three hours long. It covers songs from 1967 through to 2025 and a wide variety of genres. A song that captures the first chapter and chemistry of Nina and Corey is Connection by Elastica.

Of course, the playlist is full of love songs and angsty songs. Songs from the eighties and nineties help with the vibe, such as Hysteria by Def Leppard, Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx, and Glory of Love by Peter Cetera.

Another important aspect of Worlds Divide is sibling relationships. There are several songs that embody the dynamic and situations Nina and her sisters have. A particular scene between Nina and her younger sister is framed well by Ooh Child. Because they live in a world that’s similar to our current-day world, I have a more recent cover by Milck.

Bigger Than the Song by Brittney Spencer has good vibes for all of Nina’s experiences on a few different worlds, including those with her sisters.

I don’t want to spoil the story, so I won’t get too far into the playlist. But I will mention there are a couple of songs that have an original and a cover in different parts of the playlist, almost like a callback from a different character.

The playlist has changed over the years. In retrospect, I wish I’d kept a log of the songs I removed.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I spent many years in food service. The cafe Nina works at in Worlds Divide is based on the first restaurant I worked at. I enjoyed getting to know regulars at the restaurants where I worked. The best part, though, was my coworkers. One learns a lot about people when working in food service.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I often write from my living room couch. The couch has changed multiple times. My living room has now changed. But sitting by a window, on a comfy seat, is the best writing location.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

When I was young, I often took external criticism too much to heart and also stopped writing for too many years at a time. Advice I would give to my past self is to keep writing – always be writing something. Keep creating, even when there’s a lot going on in life. Writing builds skills. Keep telling stories. I’d also recommend some craft books, but in the kindest way possible. Again, the external criticism I received decades ago still rings in my ears sometimes. This is a part of my neurodivergent brain. The final piece of advice I’d give myself is that some writing advice and feedback is just bad. It’s okay to ignore it. Take the advice that actually helps.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope my characters – my main characters of Nina and Corey, but also their siblings – stick with readers after they finish Worlds Divide. Of course, their story is important. But I want my characters to be people that readers think about for weeks and months after they’ve finished the book.

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