Oliver is an award-winning author, poet and writer/performer. He is also one of six kids, and was brought up on a council estate in rural Derbyshire, by his single-parent dad. When Oliver turned eight, his dad took him and his siblings to a Horse Fair where for the first time he encountered a peregrine falcon. Oliver was allowed to handle and fly the falcon, and ever since he has been a keen admirer of peregrine falcons. This memory played a big part in the creation of Saving Anwen. Another big source of inspiration was Oliver's partner, Gwen. The couple moved to Denbigh, where the story is set, in 2023, and attended the annual Medieval Festival at Denbigh Castle, which features food stalls, displays, demonstrations, battle re-enactments and falconry. As they were walking along, Gwen said, “Wouldn’t this make an amazing setting for a children’s story?” Oliver looked around for a moment, said “Gwen, you’re a genius,” and the rest (as they say) is history.