Writer/author Marilyn Tower Oliver has published over 300 articles in newspapers and magazines including the Los Angeles Times and Valley Magazine where she has been a contributing editor for the past 18 years.  She has also published 9 books for teens published by Enslow Publishers and Lucent Books.  Her 2003 biography of the prophet Muhammed was listed as an outstanding book for teens by the New York Public Library.
Born in Long Beach, California, she attended Stanford University on a scholarship where she was graduated with distinction with a major in Spanish.  She also received a Master's degree from Stanford and received a Stanford Board of Trustees scholarship.
A longtime resident of the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles, she is a widow with two adult children.  Her hobbies include metalsmithing and fine jewelry design and fabrication, collecting antique dolls, valentines and paintings, and opera.  She produced and co-hosted "Opera! Opera! Opera!" , a cable tv show airing in Los Angeles. 

ON WRITING
"My early attempts at getting published were poetry, and I was lucky in that the first three pieces I sent out were accepted.  Since that time, like all writers, I have had my share of rejection.  I think that if you're never rejected, uyou're probably writing without esting you edge.  Sometimes it's good not to play it too safe."

"As a free-lance writer I have written articles on a variety of topics--antiques, collectibles, real estate, leisure activities, ethnic concerns, especially those of Latinos and some celebrity profiles.  Writing has led to many new friendships and some interesting adventures."

"Writing for young readers is a very demanding discipline because one has to be able to explain a complicated supject in an interesting way without sacrificing accuracy.  It's more about communication than about stringing fancy words together.  I've learned that the most important thing is to respect the reader's intelligence and to organize and write in such a way as to encourage the reader to come to his or conclusions."

BOOKS
"Natural Crafts"  inspired by my children
"Gangs, Trouble in the Streets"
"Drugs: Should They Be Legalized"
"Prison Issues"
"Alatraz Island in American History"
"Gay and Lesbian Rights" (I'm not gay, but believe all people deserve rights, a legacy from attorney dad.) The book won a prize.
"Muhammad"
"Henry VIII"
"Attilla the Hun"

  WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
"Oliver writes in a straightforward, objective style, presenting both sides of some emotionally charged topics."   Prisons. from  School  Library Journal

"A sold and balanced look at the last prophet.  The author includes such controversial episodes of Muhammad's life...and carefully posits the other side of the story."Muhammad  fromSchool Library Journal

"Oliver's attention to the inner workings of gangs and the difficulties young people have when they want to leave one are especially useful."  Gangs, Trouble in the Streets    from Booklist

"Oliver gives an overview of the history of European and America prisons....and presents the arguments of critics from both sides of the issue before asking readers to decide."  Prisons   from The Horn Book

"This  books by Marilyn Oliver was really great to research with on my class project! It had all the info I need in one great book!  a reader from Amazon.com

"Timely and forthright.  Concise and well documented, this title provides a good introduction to a current and controversial issue"  Gay and Lesbian Rights   from School Library Journal

"Quotes from both primary and secondary sources and a balanced approach make this a valuable resource.  Attila the Hun  from School Library Journal

"Oliver puqes readers' interest aboth emotionally and intellectually."  Gay and Lesbian Rights,  from Book List

"This Title is well researched an documented.  Great for reports as well as for lleisure reading."  Alcatraz
from School Library Journal