Professional Bio

“Lauretta Hannon is the funniest woman in Georgia.”
-Southern Living

Lauretta Hannon is the author of The Cracker Queen—A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life (Gotham Books, April 2009) and a commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, where her stories reach 25.5 million listeners. Since 2000 she has also been known for her Georgia Public Radio stories, many of which celebrate strong, authentic Southern women (Cracker Queens). Her memoir became a Southern Indie Bestseller three weeks after its release and in 2010 was named one of the Top Twenty-Five Books All Georgians Should Read, according to the Georgia Center for the Book.

A contributing writer to Maria Shriver’s Women’s Conference and Cobb Life Magazine, Lauretta has also worked as the vice president of an advertising agency, university executive, newspaper columnist, fortune teller, independent radio producer, cocktail waitress, and longtime writing instructor. As a marketing consultant, she has advised clients as diverse as Drexel University and The League of Women Voters.

Throughout her marketing career she was nationally acclaimed as the most award-winning communications expert in higher education and captured more than 200 awards for her work. In 2009 she left her day job in order to pursue a fulltime writing career. Today she is in-demand as a keynote speaker and performer and offers writing seminars through her Down Home Writing School. In 2010 she became a Hambidge Fellow upon completion of a writer’s residency at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences.

In her town of Powder Springs, Georgia, she has been active with the Seven Springs Historical Society and Museum. As the author of Images of America: Powder Springs (Arcadia, 2004), she documented the vibrant history of a town in the midst of rapid growth and development. In 2009 she received an award from the State Archives for her work documenting the African-American history of the town.

In addition to serving on the boards of Georgia Women of Achievement and Kingdom Communities, she is on the advisory board of the Investing in People Foundation.

Lauretta lives with her husband in an old house in Historic Downtown Powder Springs. More importantly, she writes in a 12’x12’ shed in the back yard. Most of all, she laughs.