A graduate of the University of Montana law school, P. R. Oliver is an attorney in Billings, Montana. He was an Army brat, born in California and raised in Virginia. He attended Washington and Lee University and received degrees from Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia.

Before attending law school, P. R. spent twelve years in the computer business in various capacities and he lived or worked in the places he writes about in Citizens Ununited. He is married with three grown children and lives in a log home outside of Billings on twenty acres where he and his wife raise Angus cattle, horses, and chickens. He says raising farm animals and farm chores are not as easy as they sound and he has developed a deep respect for farmers and ranchers.

He is a member-owner of This House of Books since June 2017.