Allison H. Dickens was a Senior Editor at the Penguin and Random House Publishing Groups. She co-created the XYZ line of books for twenty-somethings while at Ballantine/Random House, and oversaw the Ballantine Reader's Circle program. She has also worked in magazine publishing and for an independent publisher. Wanting a more family friendly schedule, she left full-time publishing in 2008, becoming a freelance editor and workshop instructor. In 2022, she relocated to London, England, where she continues to work with authors on all aspects of developing their writing.