Aleksandra Zielińska

(b. 1989) – a writer, playwright, screenwriter and illustrator.

She is the author of the short story collection “Kijanki i kretowiska” (Tadpoles and Molehills) and the novels “Przypadek Alicji” (Alicja’s Case), “Bura i szał” (Bura and Frenzy), “Sorge“, “Grzybnia” (Mycelium), “Syreny mają ości” (Mermaids Have Fishbones).

She graduated from the Jagiellonian University and completed a graphic arts course at the Faculty of Art at the University of the National Education Commission in Kraków. He is a beneficiary of the Creative Grant of the City of Kraków in the field of literature, a scholarship from the International Visegrad Fund and the Young Poland programme held by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

She debuted in 1998 in “Krakowski Magazyn Kulturalny” with the short story “Chłopiec i śmierć” (The Boy and Death). Her works have also been published in “Fahrenheit”, “Magazyn Fantastyczny”, “Twórczość”, “Miesięcznik Znak”, “Pismo” and in many horror anthologies, such as “Trupojad. Nie ma ocalenia” (Corpse Eater. There Is No Escape, 2007), “Pokój do wynajęcia” (Room for Rent, 2008), “Nawiedziny” (The Haunting, 2009), “City 1” (2009), “City 2” (2011), “15 blizn” (15 Scars, 2011), “13 ran” (13 Wounds, 2012), “17 szram” (17 Gashes, 2013).

Her debut novel Alicja’s Case was nominated for the Conrad Award in 2014. The next one, Bura and Frenzy, brought her a nomination for the 2017 Witold Gombrowicz Literary Award. In that same year the Wisława Szymborska Foundation chose Zielińska for the Adam Włodek Award-Scholarship, to assist with the writing of Sorge. That personal story, reflecting on themes of grief and loss, was published two years later. Zielińska has also published the short story collection Tadpoles and Molehills, nominated for the Gdynia Literary Prize (2018). 2025 saw the publication of her most recent novel, Mermaids Have Fishbones, where the author returns to the themes of women’s trauma and family bonds.

Zielińska is a member of Harda Horda, a literary collective of female fantasy authors from Poland. Together they have written a series of short story anthologies published by Sine Qua Non; this so far includes “Harda Horda” (The Proud Horde, 2019), “Harde Baśnie” (Proud Tales, 2020), “Harde Bestie“ (Proud Beasts, 2024). She has also participated in other literary projects. Her texts have been published in Fundacja Agory’s charity publication “Nadzieja” (Hope, 2020); the plant-inspired short story collection from Związek Pisarzy ze Wsi (Association of Rural Writers) “Kwiatki polskie” (Polish Flowers, 2021); and the anthology “Ziarno granatu. Mitologia według kobiet” (The Pomegranate Seed. Mythology According to Women, 2022), for which she wrote a short story based on the figure of Cassandra.

She completed a screenwriting course at the Warsaw Film School and a playwriting course at the Centrum Dramatu Najnowszego (Centre for Contemporary Drama) at the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre. In 2021 she participated in the international Ekran+ programme at the Wajda School. Her plays have been staged at theatres including the Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Kraków, Teatr Baj, Teatr Lalki i Aktora in Wałbrzych and Teatr Maska in Rzeszów. Zielińska is a member of the literary team at Studio Munka, and writes audio plays for children and adults.