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.
What We’re Working On
Alison partnered with Punctuation PR to support the paperback launch of Mayor of the Tenderloin and bring the book to new audiences through a fresh, story-forward campaign.
Together, we’re focused on:
Campaign Development: Designing and executing Books Change Cities, a fall publicity campaign tied to Homelessness Awareness Month.
Media & Community Outreach: Engaging civic leaders, journalists, influencers, and readers who care about housing, justice, and local change.
Event & Partnership Strategy: Coordinating high-impact events with bookstores, nonprofits, and Bay Area companies to spark meaningful conversation.
Author Representation: Supporting Alison in sharing Del Seymour’s unforgettable story—on the page and beyond.
At Punctuation PR, we’re helping Alison make sure Mayor of the Tenderloin doesn’t just reach readers—it moves them.