Odie Hawkins was encouraged by Alex Haley in the 1980's when he told Norman Lear, "I think Odie Hawkins is a very talented writer, a brilliant story teller. He deserves a wider audience." Odie Hawkins working with Alex Haley, wrote the teleplay for "Old Sister". S. Pearl Sharp as Saundra Sharp, wrote the story. "Old Sister" aired on CBS in the "Palmerstown" television drama series. Norman Lear and Alex Haley, based the series on their own childhood. https: //www.imdb.com/title/tt0668946/). Invigorated by Dr. Margaret Burroughs, Budd Schulberg, Louise Meriwether, John W. Bloch, Al Jenner, Robert Lewin, Harlan Ellison and Professor Justin Gifford, Odie Hawkins continues to write. We hear his love for stories in his radio plays (https: //archive.org/details/OTRR_Sears_Radio_Theater_Singles). We acknowledge his diverse experiences in documentaries - "Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp" (Director Jorge Hinojosa) and "Burn Motherf*cker Burn" (by Sacha Jenkins). YouTube provides more insight on this talented, author, musician and actor. More info can be found on his website: www.odiehawkins.co