Allison Zatarain is the author of wellness & self-improvement books Happy Gifting and She’s More Than a Dog as well as a publisher, speaker, and independent music executive. Wedged between the business and artist worlds, she sparks human connection and warmth through creative mediums.

A New Orleans native, Allison’s love of music paved the way to adventure in seven cities across three countries. In her twenties she performed across New York City in the 00’s indie rock band Action Painters. She then earned a Masters in Global Entertainment and Music Business at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. That launched a decade-long music business chapter with the independent wings of Sony Music and Warner Music. During that time she managed bands such as Dum Dum Girls and Raveonettes, ran the small record label Instant Records, and supported global album releases.

A common thread to Allison’s work is the desire to express warmth and positivity through artistic projects. Inspired by the birth of her niece, she produced a series of recordings called “Instant Love: Songs Between Women” in 2017-2018. Dubbed her “ultimate girl power moment,” Allison leveraged her access to global artists and recording studios to record women singing covers of classic love songs to other women. The first of its kind, the series had one mission: for women to feel love for each other on a new and unexplored level.

Her debut book Happy Gifting: A Pathway to Connection With Hundreds of Gift Ideas is a new take on creative human connection. Released in 2023, the book shares the gifting practice she developed to maintain love and friendships during decades of long-distance adventures.

She released her second book She’s More Than a Dog: How Unconditional Love Replaced Three Pills a Day in May 2024. Her most personal work yet, the short book is about love and the healing power of dogs. Allison explains how her dog Ocho unexpectedly helped with a variety of mental health issues, and she wants to share this sweet discovery with the world.

Allison’s move from NYC to Texas in 2022 influenced her transition from music executive to writer and publisher. Along the way she developed a passion for publishing, leading her to develop organizational tools for other up-and-coming writers. She also speaks on the topics of personal and business gift giving, the healing magic of dogs, and overall personal growth.

She currently resides in Northfield, IL, just north of Chicago with her husband and is the proud mom of Ocho the cockapoo, the inspiration for her independent publishing imprint Ocho Doberge.