Chris Wilson is a writer, artist, activist and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Chris was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 17. While imprisoned, he earned his high school diploma and earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology. He also authored a master plan for all he expected to accomplish or acquire in his life. This plan served as the inspiration for his book, The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose. Today, Chris resides in Baltimore, MD, where he earned an MBA from the University of Baltimore and runs several businesses—including a multi-service social enterprise.

Bret Witter is a professional co-author, primarily of nonfiction books. He has written seven New York Times bestsellers since becoming a full-time writer in 2007 (plus one uncredited in 2003). His books have sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide and spent almost two years on the New York Times bestseller list. He lives in Decatur, GA.

I’ve committed my life to self-improvement and helping others. Years ago, when I sat in a cell and wrote up my original master plan, my intention was to rebuild my life and help others do the same. Essentially, I wrote The Master Plan to chronicle the journey from failure to redemption and to remind readers of all ages and backgrounds that a life that shows mistakes—even terrible mistakes—should not determine one’s future.

I imagine a world where people are living their best lives, and everything I do—writing, art  making, public speaking, activism—advocates for that vision. This book is evidence that anyone can turn their life around, provided they put the work in. My story is also proof that both despite and because of someone’s background and experiences, they have something valuable to offer. That’s what I hope readers take away.

This book is my life’s work and my goal is to get it into as many hands as possible. Publication has made created opportunities for me to travel all over and promote the book’s message, especially to young people in schools and men and women who are incarcerated. In a more existential sense, publishing the book has brought me closer to my own truth in terms of what role I play in the world and how I can be of service to others. It’s an amazing feeling.