Stephen Daly

Generative AI is burning our planet, numbing imaginative thinking and robbing creatives of work. There’s not much I can do about it other than saying I will not support any creative that uses it and will unfollow anyone that does. I mostly follow other artists on my socials and it’s so disappointing to AI slop used day in day out. If you are doing that for engagement then this is one less person who will see it. Please don’t ask people to give you money for your art while you undermine the career of other artists and boil through water resources as you do so. Use your creativity and hire artists.

Cover Reveal! We are thrilled to reveal the cover for THE LAST DEATH POET, by debut author Stephen Daly (@stephendwriter ), publishing April 2026. 🐦‍⬛ The Last Death Poet is a gripping LGBTQI+ YA novel set in Belfast, where the theme of queer identity intertwines with the ghosts of the city’s political past and the dark forces of Irish mythology, creating a gripping and unforgettable story with a paranormal twist. 🐦‍⬛ ‘Combining myth, magic and modernity, THE LAST DEATH POET marks the launch of a sparkling and necessary new voice in queer fantasy writing.’ - Melinda Salisbury 🐦‍⬛ Cover Art @adamscarvalho About the book: When Michael is uprooted to his mum’s hometown of Belfast, he isn’t just hoping for a fresh start. He’s determined to discover the truth about his dad’s mysterious absence. But from the moment he arrives, he’s plagued with visions of the city’s troubled past. Reunited with his extended family, Michael begins settling into his new life and even meets a boy who helps erase the painful memories of his ex. But as the visions grow stronger and more intense, the only person he can really confide in is his new friend Meg. As Meg delves into the supernatural source of the visions, Michael begins to question whether events of the past are linked to his dad’s disappearance. Can he use his powers to find his dad before he’s gone forever? #TheLastDeathPoet #YAFiction #QueerYA #LGBTQBooks #OwnVoices #IrishMythology #BelfastStories #ParanormalYA #QueerLit #yareads

Well it’s @_thebookseller official. Delighted to announce that my debut novel The Last Death Poet will be published by the incredible @rocktheboatnews in April 2026. A huge thank to my agent, Silvia Molteni for making it happen and Melinda Salisbury who mentored me as I wrote the first draft. It’s a total pinch me moment to know I’m going to be a published author. People are going to be able to read my supernatural queer young adult book set in Belfast and that’s wild. I’ve been head down in edits for the last couple of months and I’m feeling all the emotions all the time but today I’m celebrating this news. It’s real. I’m an author. Follow (or keep following) @stephendwriter for updates on the book, cover reveal will be soon…. #author #debut #queerwriters @2026debuts

How do you figure out who you are when everything around you tells you who to be? Some thoughts on the pressures and restrictions teens, especially LGBTQ+ teens face in being themselves that I explore in The Last Death Poet. #author #queerstories #lgbtq

Getting to chat to a queer Belfast book group about my queer Belfast book was an absolute dream. Thank you so much @bookxslutz and @paperxclipsbooks for having me to chat about The Last Death Poet. #queerbooks #bookclub #author

Had a brilliant couple of days at @nornconbelfast speaking on panels and chatting to brilliant authors and lovely readers. Thanks for having me! #book #sff #fantasy #scifi

The Book Witches Recommend.... ✨ Join David and Sami, Tik-Tok's Book Witches and their panel for the best recommends of queer reading. Stephen Daly, David Green, and Siobhán Murphy with The Book Witches.

It's Ireland, but Not As We Know It... Lisburn room at 1:00pm What are the challenges of setting speculative fiction in the real world? How realistic do we need our urban fantasy to be? What scientific twists can we add? And, of course, is there fun in destroying it? Join Stephen Daly, Peadar Ó Guilín, Jozeb Writes, and Byddi Lee, moderated by Gwen Frazer-Dennison.

Had a great time being interviewed by @joshsilverauthor at @waterstoneskensington surrounded by friends old and new. Thank you so much to everyone came out to support, ask questions and buy copies of The Last Death Poet. The book has been out for one month and it’s been the best! Back in Belfast now and diving into book two 🖊️ #thelastdeathpoet #author #books #lgbtq #queer

‘The Last Death Poet’ by Stephen Daly is our new Book of the Week ✨ A gripping, supernatural coming-of-age story set against the shadows of Belfast’s past. When Michael moves to his mum’s hometown, he’s searching for answers about his father’s disappearance - but instead finds himself haunted by visions that feel all too real. Atmospheric, emotional and full of intrigue, ‘The Last Death Poet’ blends queer love, family secrets and the supernatural into a story about confronting the past before it consumes you. #TheLastDeathPoet #StephenDaly #QueerFiction

Still beaming from my Margate book launch. So many friends pitching in and helping me celebrate The Last Death Poet in the town in which it was written. Thank you to @rubyrare for hosting and the super talented @shellygrotto and @fatherjcdrag for bringing Margate drag energy to the night. A massive thank you to @amyzingredmond and @margateartsclub for having me and helping out and of course to @themargatebookshop for all your support and for selling the book. I love Margate and it meant everything to be back celebrating. Pics by @maxthings__ and @pompomcolley @rocktheboatnews #drag #margate #book #author

Today we were delighted to catch up with the lovely (recently departed from Margate) @stephendwriter who popped by to sign copies of his debut novel, 'The Last Death Poet.' He's currently making the round of Kentish independent bookshops to get this title in front of young readers! We are all very excited by this book, a YA "propulsive and gripping" LGBTQ+ coming of age story set in Belfast (with a supernatural edge!) Come by and grab a signed copy and support both a debut author and an independent bookshop in one purchase!