Iolite Leaf Ocean (Leaf) is a self-published author & illustrator from Upstate New York. Ocean had a turbulent upbringing and turned to poetry and illustration as a raw form of self-expression to cope and find strength after feeling ignored, having been diagnosed with chronic depression and autism at a young age. His debut collection's core themes grapple with intense personal struggles, including chronic depression, gender dysphoria, and the painful legacies of a difficult past, juxtaposing these intimate narratives with raw, politically-charged commentary on systemic American inequities, environmental crises, and societal apathy. Punctuated by moments of dark humor, surrealism, and broad existential questioning about life's ultimate meaning, his work gives voice to the silent wars of the mind while ultimately seeking a path toward self-reconciliation, resilience, and the belief that one can find "the light".