Chris Hammer was a journalist, covering both Australian politics and international affairs, for over thirty years. In Australia, he was chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, current affairs correspondent for SBS TV, and a senior political journalist for The Age. As foreign correspondent for SBS TV's flagship current affairs program Dateline, he reported from more than 30 countries on six continents.
Hammer holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University. He published his first novel in 2018, but had previously published a number of volumes of travel writing, for one of which he was shortlisted for a Walkley. His second novel followed in 2019. Both novels attracted the attention of significant awards.