Helix model Kyle Ross has entered the world of publishing with his incredible new book ‘Twink’.
Written by Taylor Saracen, Twink is a coming-of-age novel that chronicles Kyle before he was famous, when he was a skinny, gay teenager 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.
Word to the wise: this is not an erotic novel. It’s designed for young readers who might be going through or have gone through something similar compared to Kyle.
Kyle exclusively chatted with Instinct about Twink, his illustrious adult film career (seven years and running), how he’s been able to successfully transition into a role behind the camera and what’s next for him.
What inspired you to turn your life into a novel?
Some people assume I have the perfect life and haven’t endured any hardship to get where I am but that’s not the case. I wanted to open up and show the world that all of us have had struggles in the past and it’s a part of growing up. I thought this story would captivate readers and be relatable.
We can all relate to being the gay teenager navigating our identity during high school no matter what our weight or looks are. What was your process like and how did you get through it?
I never officially “came out” in high school but I did stop lying to peers and would make jokes about being gay. I liked to test the waters but in the south it was easier to not be blatant about it. I’d joke about not being able to join the wrestling team because I’d get a boner.
If you could do it all again (high school), what would you change and what would you keep the same?
Looking back, I don’t have any regrets because the hardships are what made me into what I am today. I am proud of the person I have become. It would have been nice to feel comfortable with being gay in high school. I wish my old self would have known that it was totally fine because dating would have been fun during my high school days. Taking a boy to prom and getting to brag about being in a relationship might have been cool.
What struggles did your mother face and how did that impact your life as a whole?
Everyone faces struggles in life; for my mom, things went downhill when she lost her high-profile job at American Express during the banking crisis in 2008. My dad made an excellent living, but she was raking it in. For a long time, my mom was considered the bread winner of the family. She got most of her self-esteem and confidence from her job and was proud to spoil the family with lavish things. She was a great mother. When she lost her job, she subsequently lost her mind. Shortly after, she divorced my dad and I think to this day she hasn’t really filled that missing part of her life with new love and opportunities.
At what point did you transition into the world of adult films?
When I turned eighteen, I was living in Dallas and I started to experience the gay world for the first time. I knew gay bars existed, but I hadn’t developed a sense of the gay community until then. For the first time I felt proud of being gay and I especially liked the new attention I was getting. It wasn’t long until I heard about a socialite at the club whom had filmed in porn videos and I thought if he could do it, I could do it.
So, I started looking for a studio to film with. Being less than 120lbs at the time it seemed impossible that I could get a gig as most of the porn I like had thicker jock types. I didn’t know “twink” porn existed. A friend from the club mentioned Helix Studios being a potential fit and I applied online. Next thing I knew I was out on a flight to California!
You have been with Helix for quite some time now. Has it been an overall enjoyable experience for you?
Working with Helix for seven years has been incredible! Initially I started as a model and after a couple years I was hired as an assistant to the technology director. I would pick up anything I could to help out and over time I climbed up the corporate ladder. These days I work operations for Helix and function as the CEO’s right hand. I do the bookkeeping, handle HR for our twenty full-time office employees and run the payroll.
What are your long-term goals, professionally? Do they involve the adult world, or do you wish to branch out of that?
The adult industry has been good to me. I have a comfortable flex job. I set my own hours and take vacation when I want (of course the work needs to be done first) and the money isn’t bad either. I’ve been studying business administration on and off since I graduated high school and as an entrepreneur at heart, Helix has been a dream come true. I truly love facing challenges in this business and being an influence on gay media is exciting to me.
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In closing, what do you hope readers get the most out of from Twink?
Twink is not a fantasy novel like some have come to expect from the name Kyle Ross being printed on it. After all, Kyle Ross is a persona I created and play each day when the cameras turn on. Twink is more a biography of some difficult times. When developing the story with the author I refused to sugar coat anything. It can be a difficult read and I hope young people going through their own struggles growing up can relate and perhaps feel better about their own lives.
To learn more about Kyle’s book, click here.