Get to know Lisa…
About Lisa
With a foot on each coast, Lisa Montanaro is part no-nonsense Italian American New Yorker and part sunny Californian. Lisa has a unique background, having traveled the path of a performer who didn’t want to be a “starving actress” so said no to Broadway, worked as an instructor and interpreter of the Deaf to put herself through law school, and became a lawyer specializing in employment law for 9 years. She then “defected” from the practice of law and started her organizing and productivity business on the heels of the September 11 tragedy.
Writer & Author
Lisa has a life-long love affair with the written word. She has been keeping a journal since she was 8 years old, which she has filled with countless pages of prose and poetry. Lisa is a born storyteller. Whether she is conveying the power of someone’s written words through performing in a play or musical or sharing stories with her audiences as a professional speaker through her presentations, Lisa appreciates the power of story and creativity in all its incarnations.
Lisa writes book club fiction featuring complex characters breaking barriers and fighting to truly be themselves despite obstacles in their way – including the time they live in and societal stigmas. Her upcoming debut novel, Everything We Thought Was True, releases on January 27, 2025 by Red Adept Publishing. Her nonfiction writing revolves around productivity, life-work balance, branding, writing, and career issues.
Her debut novel, Everything We Thought Was True, a multigenerational Italian-American family drama, will be released in print and ebook by Red Adept Publishing on January 27, 2025 and subsequently by Tantor Media on audiobook. Her chapter, “The Brand Called You! Personal & Professional Branding for Authors,” was featured in Launch Pad: The Countdown to Marketing Your Book, published by Red Penguin Books in 2023. She is also the author of the book, The Ultimate Life Organizer: An Interactive Guide to a Simpler, Less Stressful & More Organized Life, published by Peter Pauper Press in 2011.
An avid reader since childhood, Lisa enjoys reading for business and pleasure. She’s a supporter of authors, the publishing industry, and libraries and bookstores (especially indie ones!). She is actively involved in several collaborative author-reader online groups, virtual book clubs, and the Bookstagram community on Instagram. Her book reviews can be found on Goodreads, Amazon, NetGalley and BookBub.
Lisa has served as the Webinar Host for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) since spring 2019, and is a passionate member of the Diversity & Inclusion committee. She also serves as the facilitator of the Retro COLAGE group for adult children of LGBTQ parents.
Since 2012, Lisa has been residing in beautiful Northern California with her veterinarian husband, where she is a community theater geek, avid cyclist, dedicated gardener, wine lover, voracious reader, and enjoys spending time spoiling her crazy, but lovable, rescue mutts!
Writer Coach
As a Branding, Business, Mindset & Productivity Coach for writers who is also an author herself, Lisa provides strong support for authors at any stage of their writing career. She helps writers boost confidence and productivity, develop and promote a writer brand, and transition from hobbyist to professional. Visit the Writer Coaching page for more info and to view testimonials from her awesome author clients.
Speaker
They call Lisa a “Pint-sized Powerhouse!” With the stage presence of a performer, the brains of a lawyer, and the heart of a teacher of the deaf—all wrapped up into one to deliver a productive, purposeful, and passionate presentation! Lisa has years of experience as a professional speaker, webinar host, and podcast guest. She’s had the pleasure of serving as the Webinar Host for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) since spring 2019, and often speaks for writer groups and organizations. See more details on the Speaking page. If you’re looking for a speaker for your writer conference, podcast, book club, or any other writing- or reading-related event, contact Lisa to discuss.
Writers Workshops, Conferences & Retreats Attended
Professional Affiliations
Connect with Lisa on These Author Sites
