Laura began writing seriously after the birth of her third child. She publishes both fiction and essays in national literary reviews, magazines, newspapers and online, and has been teaching writing at colleges and universities for many years. In addition, Oliver won an Anne Arundel Arts Council Literary Arts Award/2012 and a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for Fiction. Oliver has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and was a finalist in Glimmer Train’s Very Short Fiction Awards, a Top 25-Finalist in Glimmer Train’s Family Matter’s Contest. Besides publishing The Story Within (Penguin Random House) she has published numerous essays in “Country Living Magazine,” “The Washington Post,” "The Writer Magazine," “Charleston Magazine,” "Portland Magazine," and online at “Beliefnet.” Her fiction has appeared in "The SUN Magazine," "Glimmer Train" and the "Baltimore Review." In addition, she wrote a regular essay for "Annapolis Lifestyle Magazine." Oliver is a contributing author to the book Lasting Transformation: A Guide to Navigating Life's Journey by Abby Rosen Ph D. Oliver’s essays have been excerpted in books such as Remember the Time? The Power and Promise of Family Story Telling by Eileen Kindig and used by motivational speakers.