Alison Hammer has been spinning words to tell stories since she learned how to talk. A graduate of the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and the Creative Circus in Atlanta, she lived in 9 cities before settling down in Chicago. During the day, Alison is an SVP Creative Director at an advertising agency, but on nights and weekends, you can find her writing upmarket women’s fiction. Alison is represented by Joanna MacKenzie of Nelson Literary Agency. Her novels, YOU AND ME AND US and LITTLE PIECES OF ME are out now from William Morrow (HarperCollins.) Alison is also half of the writing duo, Ali Brady. Their first two books, THE BEACH TRAP and THE COMEBACK SUMMER were published by Berkley (Penguin Random House) and their next book, CAMP PEOPLE, is coming out Summer 2024, again from Berkley.
Alison was on America’s Funniest People in a 30 second prank involving a toilet plunger, a nail and a water balloon.
Her middle name is Mary, but her Hebrew name is Mayim, which means water. (She picked it herself!)
Alison doesn’t have any pets, plants or kids. But she does have two adorable nephews, Dylan and Alex
Her go-to karaoke songs are The Foundations’ “Build Me Up Buttercup” and Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now”
Alison loves music, and has created playlists to go with each of her books
Alison created a workshop designed to help companies help their employees to be strong writers.
Coming Soon!
What Are You Really Crying About, Best Self Media
My Mother’s Daughter, CoveyClub
En Media Res: It’s Not Just Where the Story Starts, Women Writers, Women’s Books
Five Tips for Writing Every Damn Day, diyMFA
Launching a Debut Novel In Middle of a Global Pandemic, Writer Unboxed
Author’s Interviewing Their Characters, Women Writers, Women’s Books
A 2nd Pandemic Book Release: Piece of Cake and Other Silver Linings, Writer Unboxed
Alison is also half of the writing duo, Ali Brady, along with her BFF, Bradeigh Godfrey. Their debut novel, THE BEACH TRAP (Berkley/Penguin Random House) made several ‘best of summer’ reading lists including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and Katie Couric Media. Their next book, THE COMEBACK SUMMER will be out on May 9th, and CAMP PEOPLE will be coming out Summer 2024, again from Berkley.
Most Wednesdays, Alison shares a line from a current or past project on Instagram. Follow the hashtag.
Join Alison and over 700 other women writers in a support and accountability group. Daily posts provide encouragement and a place to share your daily progress. Become an #EveryDamnDayWriter
Check out Alison’s blog for past posts on writing fiction, advertising and her case against the Oxford comma.
Bring Alison to your company or organization to lead her interactive workshop, Writing With Intent. During this 60-minute interactive session, she uses her experience in publishing and as an award-winning creative director to offer practical tips and advice on how to improve your writing, whether you write advertising copy, real estate listings or briefs. Learn more here.
Looking for Alison’s advertising portfolio? You can find it here.