Jack Haligo: Building Worlds, Breaking Barriers

At just sixteen years old, Jack Haligo is already making waves as both an artist and an award-winning fantasy author. Winner of the Golden Literary Titan Book Award for his debut novel Gemotroplis – The Stolen Heart, Jack has proven that passion and perspective can shine brightly even in the early years of a career.

Jack’s creative journey began with watercolour landscapes in 2024, a gentle exploration of nature that soon expanded into something more experimental. He became captivated by dreamcore, nostalgicore, and liminal spaces, art forms that tap into memory, unease, and the peculiar comfort of half-remembered dreams. His sketches often play with curiosity, sometimes offering answers written on the back of a piece, though he admits he prefers to let mystery linger. For Jack, atmosphere is everything. Each painting, each sketch is designed to stir emotion, to tug at the threads of memory and imagination.

But Jack’s creativity doesn’t stop with visual art. He began writing the Gemotroplis pentalogy at just twelve years old. By fourteen, he had completed his first book, The Stolen Heart, a medieval fantasy about orphans Lustre and Rusty who stumble upon a gemstone said to be the heart of a goddess. The discovery sets off a chain of events that tests loyalty, unleashes grief, and raises questions about the cost of power.

Infused with adventure, loss, and self-discovery, The Stolen Heart reflects Jack’s own life experiences. Growing up autistic, he has faced bullying and the struggle of navigating what others call a “normal” life. Writing became both refuge and revelation, a way to shape his thoughts and reflect on right, wrong, and everything in between. His unique perspective as an autistic creator informs every page, giving readers a story that is both fantastical and deeply human.

Jack is also outspoken about the role of creativity in an age of technology. He believes authentic storytelling cannot be replaced by lifeless words strung together by machines. For him, stories must come from the heart, carrying the passion and love of their author. It’s this conviction that makes his work stand apart, especially for young readers and autistic individuals who may see reflections of themselves in his characters’ struggles and triumphs.

Through both his art and writing, Jack Haligo is reshaping how people see autism, not as a limitation, but as a source of unique talent and vision. His goal is simple yet powerful: to share his story, spread awareness, and show the world the magic that comes from seeing differently.

Discover Jack’s work at www.gemotroplis.com and explore his art store here

Follow his journey on Instagram