Authors: Jean Genet

In Biography and Memoir, Avant-garde

By Willie Earl

Reading Genet isn't widely common in prison, and unacceptable in the macho male psyche even, because of his homosexuality. But the power and prominence of the man is also undeniable.

Authors: Jean Genet

In Biography and Memoir, Literary, Avant-garde

By Willie Earl

The original title is "Miracle de la rose," and it's the first work by Genet I'd ever read at the time. It was in his native language and I was stuck in a cell with nowhere to go. Actually taught myself to read French with this book. Can't speak it to save Baby Jesus. But being from Alabama where we practice our own form of English, I make do.

Authors: Sister Souljah

In Literary, Urban Fiction

By Willie Earl

In 1999, when she made her debut as a novelist with THE COLDEST WINTER EVER, Souljah said that she was the pioneer for starting "a renaissance, or what Chuck D of Public Enemy would call a revolution, of reading. "As of March 2016, Souljah was on the New York Times Bestseller List three times. THE COLDEST WINTER EVER was widely acclaimed for making the second wave of the genre known as street literature more popular (the first wave having been lead by Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines in the 1960s and '70s).

Authors: Sidney Sheldon

In Suspense Thriller

By Willie Earl

"Though it's changed a couple times over the decades, Sidney Sheldon is probably my all-time favorite author in the storytelling department. And this book I like for a whole host of reasons, many of them pretty obvious." —Willie Earl Scott, entrepreneur and creative genius

Authors: Sidney Sheldon

In Suspense Thriller

By Willie Earl

"There dozens of Sheldon novels to choose from, but this one reminds me of my sister and the family. I'll leave it at that." —Willie Earl Scott, entrepreneur and creative genius