Waide Aaron Riddle

*1985 PLAYGIRL MAGAZINE model*

Waide Riddle is a Bradbury, Hemingway, Andromeda, and Literary Global Book Award-winning author, poet, and filmmaker and a proud SAG-AFTRA member.

His short story, "They Crawl On Walls," was a 2023 Kirkus Book Reviews Pick.

Born in Kingsville, Texas, and raised in Spring Branch, Houston. He now resides in Los Angeles.

His poems and short stories are archived at the 9/11 Memorial Museum/NYC, UCLA Library of Special Collections, Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance, Poets House/NYC, USC ONE Institute, and the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

As a filmmaker, Mr. Riddle's short film "Two Men Kissing" premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and the North Carolina International LGBT Film Festival.

His short film, "The Lines In Their Faces," was shot at the Historic French Quarter Restaurant in West Hollywood and was included in the 2014 Palm Springs Film Market. It was an Official Selection at the 2021 Tampa Bay Film Society Film Festival and the 2023 Short Films Matter platform.

His short, black-and-white, silent film "Something Wicked Dwells (2011)" was the winner of four European Golden Cups and the Official Selection of over 20 international film festivals; including Short Films Matter.

Waide's short film "Lost Hills, CA. (2010)" was an Official Selection at Austin LGBT International Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, North Carolina International LGBT Film Festival and the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

In 1985 and 1987, Waide was featured in the pages of Playgirl Magazine. In November of '85, he was photographed for Playgirl by legendary photographer Steven Arnold for the magazine's portfolio special entitled: Men As Art.

In 1987, Waide was cast in a supporting role in the low-budget classic cult horror film, "The Necromancer," directed by Dusty Nelson, where he plays the ultimate geek. Distribution by Vinegar Syndrome Productions & Film Distributors.

In 1999, Waide had a 'small bit' in the classic Brad Pitt film, The Fight Club, directed by David Fincher.

Waide was a features writer for the NoHo Arts District from 2015-2020.

Waide's paperback books "The Little Boy In The Little Red Dress (2023)" and "Meet Me At Third And Fairfax! (2023)" were Bronze Award-Winners at the Un-Bordered LGBTQ International Film & Literary Festival.

His poems, "Washington Park," "The Power Of Summer!," "Beautiful Blue," "The Halloween Lullaby," "I Am A Poet!," "The Green That is Ireland," "Summers In Spring Shadows," "Romantic, San Francisco is..." and "Dance to The Beat of The Beach Boys" have been published online by SpillWords Press. Waide's short horror story, "Barney and His Angel," has also been published by SpillWords Press.

Waide was a contributing writer for the following collections: "Best Gay Love Stories 2005" (Alyson Books), "Speculative Poets of Texas 2015" "(Juan Perez Press), "The Horror Zine Summer Digest 2012," "California Bards Socal Poetry Anthology 2025: An Anthology of Poetry by Southern California Poets" (Local Gems Press), "Harmonic Verse Christmas Poetry 2025" (Local Gems Press), and "Remember When..." (Local Gems Press 2026).

His short story, "Wicked Willows," won Best Short Fantasy and was published in the February 2024 issue of the European literary journal The Andromeda.

Waide was a guest author at the 2025 San Francisco Book Fair.

His short film, "A Snowy Day in New York City," was an Official Selection at the 2026 Golden Gate Film Festival, Los Angeles.