Help Curtis publish his book!

Hi, my name is Taryn. I'm fundraising to publish a book I wrote for Curtis Roberts: "My Lifetime Behind Bars." Curtis spent 29 years in prison for three unarmed robberies, receiving a life sentence for stealing a total of $116.

His story is dramatic and redemptive. We believe it needs to get out there into the world! Can you help us see his dream come to fruition?

Curtis' case was so extreme, he became a "poster boy" for the eventual reform of California's Three Strikes Law. His story was shared on an Ear Hustle podcast, which gained 750,000 listeners almost overnight. Ted Koppel, Bryant Gumbel, the PBS News Hour, and many others interviewed him while he was locked away in San Quentin State Prison.

“I think the perception is that we're these monsters in here. I am not a monster,” Curtis said on the podcast. “I'm a stupid idiot that did drugs and stole money. I'm still human, though.”

Curtis was finally released, but God had set him free on the inside long before that. His journey is one of redemption, faith, and unexpected grace amidst horrific events—rape, solitary confinement, and unending disappointment—but also rays of hope.

Here's how we'll spend the money**:

$1100 Professional editing

$600 Typesetting/Formatting for self-publishing

$150 Uploading to publisher

$100 Charge for 20 inside photos

$750 Cover design

$200 Bookmarks + other marketing materials

$100 GoFundMe percentage + transaction fees

**NOTE: These figures have been updated after receiving new quotes