Taliesin De Launey
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Taliesin De Launey

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Taliesin J. De Launey is an indigenous-Australian writer of epic and dark fantasy, known for weaving together wild adventure, deep lore, and emotional resonance. Born in 1991 in Lismore, New South Wales, he is the son of a Wiradjuri-Croatian mother and a Scottish-English father. Raised in a turbulent household, Taliesin found early refuge in books and video games. It was his grandmother—his first teacher—who taught him to read and sparked his lifelong passion for storytelling. Though his formal education was often disrupted, Taliesin completed high school in 2008 and has since cultivated a self-directed education in literature, philosophy, and writing. He draws creative influence from classic and modern fantasy greats, including Jack Vance, Robert E. Howard, Roger Zelazny, Andrzej Sapkowski, Brandon Sanderson, and J.K. Rowling. Based in New York City from 2017 to 2025, Taliesin spent seven years volunteering in high-risk communities, supporting anti-violence initiatives, addiction recovery, and literacy programs. His professional background includes more than eight years in copywriting and marketing, where he helped generate thousands of book sales and millions of dollars in charitable donations for social causes. In 2025, Taliesin returned to his home country of Australia and is now based in Sydney, where he continues to pursue his humanitarian work. Taliesin is best known for his debut fantasy novel, The Living Light: From Gods to Ashes, brought to life in audiobook form by Grammy Award–winning narrator and producer Stefan Rudnicki. He is also the author of Darkmaw: Grim Fantasy, a serialized short story collection available on Substack and Amazon. At heart, Taliesin is a storyteller obsessed with that electric moment of discovery—the kind you felt the first time you knew you were a fantasy lover. He writes to chase that feeling, to share it, and to keep the adventure going. Connect with Taliesin and discover more of his work on Substack at Fantasy Stories, Comedy and Horror by Alucard.
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