LYONEL GERDES is a Haitian American author, journalist, poet, and educator born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Growing up in Les Cayes, a coastal city known for its beauty and culture, Gerdes experienced the turbulence of political persecution, which led his family to relocate to Haiti’s capital. In 1975, he migrated to Miami, where his career flourished in education and journalism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gerdes overcame a 40-year writer’s block and published a trilogy of memoirs – Les Cayes, Haiti…, Port-au-Prince, Haiti…, ak Miami, Florida… — which explore his life from his early years in Haiti to his experiences as an immigrant in the U.S. His works reflect the resolve born of his tumultuous childhood and a lifelong pursuit of self-identity. Gerdes’ writing is driven by a deep desire to offer readers new perspectives on life, using his journey as a powerful example of personal and cultural resilience.