Philadelphia-based novelist Oliver West, born Izel Oliver, always had a passion for writing. Oliver always explored his imagination and twisted ideas as a kid to create stories beyond his wildest dreams. His creativity is a reflection of his experiences. In his younger days, he was forced to be in the foster system, moving from home to home, experiencing mental, verbal, and physical abuse. While dealing with these traumas, he learned how to entertain himself by acting out his thoughts in his room, creating small stories that were entertaining for a child dealing with the problems he faced growing up. He continued to keep himself occupied, especially when he would be on punishment for getting bad grades in school. As he got older, things took a turn for the worse, and he started to walk down a dark path. This caused him to leave his passion and creativity, and Oliver started to live a life of crime, which eventually landed him in prison. This behavior caused him to have to leave behind his oldest daughter and son without a father. Once he was incarcerated, he tapped back into what he loves most and wrote his first book, “6th District.” He is now learning his way through the world of writing and creating relatable stories for all walks of life