About Kayla Gerdes:
Hi, My name is Kayla Gerdes, Mother, Small Business Owner, Esthetician, Published Author, Chaos Wrangler, and Storyteller of the gritty, the steamy, and hopefully unforgettable.
I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the heat isn't just in the weather, it's in my books too. I write across genres, from dark romance and twisty thrillers to empowering children's books filled with imagination and heart. My stories are raw, emotional, and often inspired by real-life grit and Southern roots. Whether it's a motorcycle club romance with a bite or a common-sense superhero book for children, I am to leave readers breathless, laughing, or questioning everything, in the best way possible. When I'm not writing, I'm creating content for my TikTok community of 34K+ where I share everyday life, satire, and behind-the-scenes looks at my work (plus a few wild stories for good measure. I believe stories should make you feel something, and maybe even set your soul on fire.
What inspires you to write?
Real life. The messy, chaotic, beautiful, gut-wrenching parts of it. I've lived through things most people wouldn't believe, and instead of letting them break me, I turned them into stories. Writing has always been my outlet, in different ways, my armor and sometimes my way of making sense of things that didn't make sense at all. Whether it's a dark romance rooted in betrayal or a children's book filled with wild imagination, everything I write is fueled by experience, pain, growth, survival, and joy. I believe stories are the most powerful way to turn scars into something that can reach people. And if I can make someone feel seen, strong, or even just a little less alone through my words, then I've done my job.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I'm a mood reader, so my favorites shift depending on the season I'm in, but there are some names I always come back to. Daphne Loveling, Lani Lynn Vale, Tijan, and J.L. Beck never miss for me. I love authors who aren't afraid to get messy, who write characters that are raw, real and a little dangerous. If it's dark, emotional or a little unhinged, I'm in. I love the kind of stories that punch you in the gut and make you beg for more.
Bonus points if the male lead is rough-around-the-edges and the chemistry could burn the pages.
Tell us about your writing process.
Honestly, It's a little chaotic, just like me. I don't always write in a straight line. Sometimes a scene hits me out of nowhere, usually when I'm supposed to be doing something else and I have to drop everything and get it down. Other times, I build that bones of the story first, the characters, the secrets, the tension. I love writing scenes that feel like they're on the edge of unraveling, whether its romance, betrayal, or a full-blown plot twist.
I write like Im watching a movie in my head and trying to keep up. I hear the dialogue, feel the emotions, and when its really flowing, I swear I black out and come to with 5,000 words on the page.
Some days its caffeine and chaos, other days it's silence, snacks, and trying to remember why I started this chapter in the first place. But every word comes from something real, something I've felt, feared, or fought through. I write from the gut, then go back and shape it with intention. My process isn't perfect, but it's mine and it keeps the stories raw, real, and alive.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Oh, absolutely, and sometimes they talk back with attitude. I don't just write my characters; I live with them. they interrupt my thoughts at the worst times, change scenes I had already planned, and say things I didn't even know were coming until words hit the page. I've had characters give me the silent treatment when I try to force something that doesn't fit. I've had others completely hijack the story and drag it in a direction I wasn't expecting, but somehow it's always better when I follow their lead.
So yes, I talk to them. I argue with them. Sometimes I even ask what the hell they're thinking. They're messy, complicated, loud in my head, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
What advice would you give other writers?
Don't wait for perfection. It doesn't exist. Write the messy version. The raw one. The one that scares you just enough to feel real. You can edit later, but that truth, that's what readers cling to. Protect your voice. Everyone will have opinions, some helpful, most loud. Learn to trust your gut. Your story is yours for a reason.
Don't be afraid to take up space. Especially if the world taught you to shrink. Your voice matters. Your experience matters. If writing feels like breathing, its because it's keeping something alive in you. Publishing doesn't make you a writer. Finishing the thing, even when you're tired, unsure, or spiraling in self-doubt, that's where the magic lives.
Keep going, especially when it's hard, because somewhere out there is a reader who needs your exact kind of chaos, comfort, or fire. Don't rob them, or yourself, of that. You're not just writing a book. You're building a legacy.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I chose self-publishing because I want to be in control of my voice, my stories and how they reach the readers. My books don't always fit in a box, dark, emotional, reckless, raw and real. I don't want to water myself down to fit anyone's mold. Self-publishing let me write exactly the way I want with out apology.
For new Authors: Explore all options, do your research, learn all pros and cons. Talk to other writers, read all contracts, and protect your creative freedom. Don't wait forever for someone to "give you permission" to publish. You already have it. Your stories matter. If your gut is telling you to share it, do it, loudly.
The truth is, publishing is a one-size-fits-all. But writing with heart, showing up with grit and believing in what you created, that's universal.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I believe the future of the publishing is headed toward a more hybrid and author-empowered model. With self-publishing tools, print-on-demand, and direct-to-reader platforms like Tiktok, Wattpad, and Instagram, authors now have more control than ever over their creative voice.
Traditional publishing still has its place, especially for wide distribution and prestige, but more writers are choosing indie or hybrid paths to retain rights and stay true to their stories. Audiobooks are booming, and book subscription boxes are even launching their own publishing arms, showing how storytelling and reader experience are evolving. AI might assist with speed and formatting but the soul of a story its emotional truth, will always belong to the writer. At the end of the day, readers connect to heart, not algorithms. The future will favor bold, authentic voices who aren't afraid to break the rules, and I'm here for it.
What genres do you write?: I write across a wide range of genres—dark romance, psychological thrillers, MC (motorcycle club) romance, mafia romance, second-chance love stories, spicy contemporary romance, emotional women’s fiction, erotica (under a pen name), poetry, children’s books, and fun, interactive activity books. My stories aren’t afraid to get gritty, tender, or wild—because life isn’t just one genre, and neither am I.
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Kayla Gerdes Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
