A journey in self-discovery: the story of Helix Studios model Kyle Ross.
A coming-of-age novel Twink chronicles the tumultuous life of Helix Studios model Kyle Ross. Written by Taylor Saracen, readers meet a teenage Ross: a skinny, weak, gay adolescent living in rural America, trying to navigate his way through the most difficult time in his life, high school. It is a journey in self-discovery as Kyle struggles to find acceptance from friends and family while also confronting a mother battling life challenges of her own. Being released through 13 Red Media, Twink is available now in select bookstores, Amazon and most e-book retailers worldwide.
The book spotlights several traumatic events in Kyle Ross’ young teen life including his mother losing her high-profile job with American Express in the 2008 banking crisis and his parents’ divorce. The mother’s decision to uproot Kyle and his brothers from his childhood home in Dallas to a small town in Tennessee was particularly distressing, says Kyle.
The Tennessee town they now called home lacked diversity and understanding, which was particularly difficult for a young boy awakening to his homosexuality.
Kyle’s advice to those in the LGBTQ community that are currently living in isolated towns like the one he experienced in Tennessee: “Move to a major city. You will find people out there who are just like you. Come, we’re here.”
Twink is Taylor Saracen’s second novel in 13 Red Media’s “Rise Up” series. Saracen is a former middle and high school teacher who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology and is particularly interested in the plight of youth whose path to adulthood may appear unorthodox to most. “I seek to de-stigmatize those who work in the adult film industry by showing how closely their struggles mirror our own,” she says. “They are a community that has been marginalized and maligned. They deserve better representation.”
