The inspiration for the character of Alex Vause on Orange Is the New Black speaks out for the first time about her relationship with Piper Kerman, her involvement in an international drug-smuggling ring, and the bold decisions and epic mistakes that led to the infamous orange jumpsuit.

“A powerful, surprising memoir about crime and punishment, friendship and marriage, and a life caught in the ruinous drug trade and beyond.”—Publishers Weekly

“In prose that is brilliant (at times breathtaking), Cleary offers us a story of regret and redemption. . . . She writes unflinchingly about her ordeals in the violent and overcrowded prison system.”—HuffPost Books

“Wolters’s accessible and honest memoir opens the door and invites readers in. Patrons won’t meet Alex Vause, the sultry drug-trafficking queen of OITNB. Instead, they’ll meet Wolters—a woman with aspirations, whose missteps take her on unexpected journeys.”—Library Journal

“Can’t-put-it-down entertainment.”—Next Magazine

“A riveting tale, told well and full of lessons. Like many prisoners, she paid a big price for some relatively dumb actions, taken when she was young. . . Her life and loves then, her imprisonment to follow, and her way back to the free world are all detailed here in a voice that is heartfelt and honest, toughening when it needs to be but remaining steadfast.”—Booklist