Aliens & Creativity: Author Jalen Tellis

In this episode of Page to Picture, we sit down with author Jalen Tellis who’s basically ignoring genre rules and doing whatever he wants (as he should). From writing homemade books as a kid to creating bold, multi-genre stories, Jalen blends sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and Westerns into something completely his own.We dive into his latest project, West of Damnation a biblical Western horror set in 1911 featuring vampires, an outlaw, and a redemption story that hits hard. Yeah… it’s as wild as it sounds.Jalen breaks down his instinct-driven writing process (no strict outlines here), how his filmmaking background shapes his cinematic storytelling, and why leaning into your imagination might be your biggest creative advantage. We also get into the deeper themes behind his work, fear of the unknown, human flaws, and why staying in one genre is overrated.If you’ve ever felt stuck, boxed in, or low-key scared to put your ideas out there, this episode is your sign to just go for it. Jalen keeps it real about writing fearlessly, trusting your voice, and creating stories that actually mean something.If you love boundary-pushing books, raw creativity, and hearing how indie authors are shaking things up, this one’s for you.IG: https://www.instagram.com/jalentellisofficial/