William Sydney Porter was born in North Carolina in 1862. Widely known by the pen name of O. Henry, he began writing his first short stories, of all places, while serving time in prison (for embezzlement). After he was released from prison, he began publishing, and was mostly recognized for his short stories, which shaped an entire genre and became a cornerstone of the modern short story; all stories must conclude with a surprising twist. Five of his most known stories were adapted by five different directors into a movie in 1952, titled O. Henry’s Full House. The O. Henry Prize is an award given annually for prominent short story writers.