About Jalen Tellis

Jalen Tellis: Author & Screenwriter

Jalen Tellis is a visionary storyteller—an author, filmmaker, and screenwriter whose work cuts across genre lines with fearless intensity and emotional depth.

Born in Chicago in 2003 and based in California, Jalen began creating stories at a young age, filming short videos on his iPhone and uploading them to YouTube. What started as creative curiosity evolved into a commanding artistic voice that now spans science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller, and socially-driven drama. He is a wholly independent artist—self-taught, self-published, and self-produced—committed to telling powerful, boundary-pushing stories on his own terms.

Jalen Tellis writes with urgency and vision. His novels and novellas are fast-paced, cinematic, and deeply human, often weaving speculative worlds with grounded emotion and psychological tension.

Notable Books Include:

Incursion (2025): A gripping sci-fi thriller following a YouTube conspiracy theorist who uncovers an extraterrestrial invasion hidden in plain sight. Reviewers have called it “electric” and “relentless.”
Samurai Reborn: The Black Samurai (2024): A dark fantasy novella that reimagines the legend of the samurai through the lens of Black identity, power, and revenge. The book was nominated for multiple Indie Ink Awards, including Best Novella and Best Cover Design.
Behind Closed Eyes—each exploring the surreal, the frightening, and the emotionally charged.

Jalen doesn't rely on outlines or templates. He builds entire narratives in his head and allows them to pour onto the page with raw energy. The result? Stories that hit hard, move fast, and stay with readers long after the final page.

Beyond the page, Jalen Tellis is an emerging filmmaker whose short films blend genre horror with urgent, socially conscious themes. Drawing from his own life and community, he crafts narratives that tackle issues like poverty, health care disparity, and systemic violence—often through a supernatural or psychological lens.

Featured Works:

In development: Mammon, a feature-length horror film delving into the dark heart of American greed, spiritual rot, and the masks people wear.

Creative Philosophy and Influence

Jalen’s creative work is often rooted in personal experience—his father’s stroke, his own sleep paralysis, and the complex dynamics of identity, fear, and survival in a world that often overlooks young Black voices. These lived truths shape his stories and give them an edge of authenticity that resonates across media.

He cites inspiration from visionary directors like Christopher Nolan, Jordan Peele, Zack Snyder, Matt Reeves, and M. Night Shyamalan, and draws influence from Authors like Stephen King, whose grassroots storytelling fueled Jalen’s early filmmaking journey.

Above all, Jalen’s work is defined by emotion, speed, originality, and an unwavering commitment to telling stories that matter.

Recognition & Reach