Alison Owings
Meet Alison
Alison Owings is the author of Mayor of the Tenderloin, the unforgettable biography of Del Seymour, who overcame 18 years of homelessness and addiction to become one of San Francisco’s most respected advocates. Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “a richly satisfying tapestry” and by Booklist as “entertaining and life-affirming,” the book draws on nearly a decade of conversations to tell Del’s extraordinary story.
Owings is also the author of three acclaimed oral history–based books: Frauen: German Women Recall the Third Reich (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and Book Review Editors' Choice), Indian Voices: Listening to Native Americans, and Hey, Waitress!: The USA from the Other Side of the Tray. A former television news writer at CBS News, she lives in San Francisco with her husband.