Upcoming Events and Speaking Engagements
March 26-28, 2026
Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop
Lisa is thrilled to be a faculty presenter for the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop at the University of Dayton in Ohio. She’ll be presenting The Brand Called You: Personal and Professional Branding for Authors, participating in an author panel, and doing a book signing of her novel, Everything We Thought Was True.
Upcoming Author Visits with Book Clubs
- April 16, 2026 – In-person author visit to discuss Everything We Thought Was True with Jones & Friends Book Club in Sacramento.
Book Club Events
Lisa loves meeting with Book Clubs in person, or virtually via Zoom for an Author Chat. Visit the Book Clubs page for upcoming Book Club Events and to schedule a Book Club Visit for your group through Adventures by the Book.
Podcast Interviews
Lisa was delighted to be a guest on the Authors Talking Bookish Podcast with hosts Donna Carbone and Hope Gibbs. They were fantastic hosts! In this episode, they discussed the significance of Lisa’s Italian American culture and how it influenced her novel, LGBTQ rights and family structures, characters’ point of view and showing vs. telling in fiction.
- Episode 049
- July 1, 2025
- Podcast Website (with full show notes)
- Watch on YouTube
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
Lisa loved being in conversation with Dara Levan on Instagram live! There was so much laughter in between discussion of serious topics. They talked about their personal and professional backgrounds and how they influence being a novelist, cool and unexpected things they have in common, and lots more.
- April 9, 2025
- Watch on Instagram
Lisa was interviewed by Michelle Glogovac on her podcast My Simplified Life.
- Episode 284
- March 6, 2025
- Listen here
- Watch here
Lisa was interviewed by Abigail Perry on her podcast LitMatch.
- February 27, 2025
- Listen here
Lisa was interviewed by Karen Osborne on her video podcast “What Are you Reading? What Are you Writing?”
- Episode 229
- January 22, 2025
- Watch here
Lisa was a guest on the Author Express podcast interviewed by Kristi Leonard.
- Episode 105, The Dual Timelines & Unique Perspectives of Lisa Montanaro’s Debut Novel.
- December 11, 2024
- Listen here
Newsletter Interviews
Awesome Gang Interview with Lisa: Where Awesome Book Readers Meet Awesome Writers
I’m thrilled to share this great interview that appears on the Awesome Gang website, which uses the tag line “Where awesome book readers meet awesome writers.” I loved the questions they asked and hope you enjoy getting a peek behind the curtain of my author journey, writing life, and reading world. Click here to access the interview on their site. Or head over to my blog, where I included it in its entirety (I know how busy you all are and how sometimes clicking over to another site is a hassle… ha ha!).
Author Confessions: The Facts Behind the Fiction! Do you love knowing the story behind the story of a novel? Lisa was honored to be featured in this interview by K Linden Stewart where she pulled back the curtain to get the inside scoop. Read the article.
Lisa was delighted to be featured in Nancy Fagan’s Smartweed & Ginger Newsletter. Nancy is a writer and nurse, and a fellow member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Her questions were unique, creative, and fun!
Check out Elaine Stock’s interview of Lisa in her Substack newsletter. Elaine asked Lisa insightful questions about turning fact into fiction, how Lisa uses her performing background as a fiction writer, and more. Read it here.
Personal Essays
“When Your Father Reads Your Novel Inspired by his Life”
Lisa was thrilled to see the first personal essay published about the story behind the story of her debut novel, Everything We Thought Was True. This essay is a love letter to her father, whose life served as inspiration for the concept of her novel.
Published by https://booksbywomen.org. Read the essay here.
Past Events and Speaking Engagements
Adventures by the Book New Year Pitchfest
Participants rang in the New Year by meeting an incredible lineup of 16 authors, including Lisa! Each author gave a quick overview of their book and there were book giveaways.
Stories on Stage Davis
A scene from Everything We Thought Was True was performed by professional actress, Lori Russo, at Stories on Stage Davis at Sudwerks Brewery on December 14th. Lisa performed a short story by a local author at Stories on Stage in March 2025, but this was the first time she saw a live performance of words she’d written! (Of course, if you want to hear a fantastic performance of her novel by a professional actress, listen to the audiobook version of her novel, narrated by Annalee Scott!)
Writing Family Secrets: Drama, Discovery & Mystery
Lisa presented Writing Family Secrets: Drama, Discovery & Mystery for the Historical Fiction Affinity Group of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).
Meet the Authors at the Harrison Public Library
Lisa was delighted to head back to the Harrison Public Library in her hometown of Harrison, NY to participate in its 8th annual Meet the Authors event on Saturday, October 18 from 1-5 PM Eastern. The event featured panel discussions with authors, as well as book signings of their novels
Writers Network
Lisa presented on September 15, 2025 with Publishing Paths for Today’s Strategic Writer for the Writers Network hosted by Adventures by the Book.
Journey to Becoming an Author
Lisa was delighted to be a guest author of the Recycle Book Club hosted by Prolific Writers on September 17th. She discussed her novel, Everything We Thought Was True, her author journey, writing process, and other questions attendees asked.
Minnesota Writing Worksop
Lisa presented Turning Fact Into Fiction: Mining the Truth to Influence Your Writing for the 2025 Online Minnesota Writing Workshop on September 5th.
On August 9th Lisa presented Writing About Family Secrets: Drama, Discovery, and Mystery for the California Writers Club San Joaquin chapter via Zoom. Watch the presentation here.
Lisa was the Author for the Day on July 11, 2025 for the Global Girls Online Book Club on Facebook. She took over the group for the day with posts about her novel, her author journey, books she loves, and all things books-related!
Lisa hosted an Author Talk at the Mary Stephens Library in Davis, CA on Monday, June 23rd. She was in conversation with Cerrisa Kim. And great news… Everything We Thought Was True is now part of the library’s circulation and available to borrow!
Lisa presented An Authorpreneur Crash Course: Making Sense of the Business, Financial and Legal Side of an Author Career for the popular Inkers Con 2025 Digital Conference, organized by Allesandra Torre and aimed at helping authors indie publish.
Lisa shared a table with the Queer Sacramento Authors Collective at the Sacramento Pride Festival on June 14, 2025.
On June 7, 2025, Lisa shared a table with the Queer Sacramento Authors Collective at Davis PrideFest.
On May 31, 2025, Lisa was one of the authors exhibiting at the Sacramento Book Festival.
On May 22, Lisa presented for The Publishing Workshop hosted by The Write Practice online writers community, where she shared tips and strategies for branding yourself as an author and publishing in today’s market.
On May 5th Lisa presented a writing workshop at the beautiful new independent bookstore, Bedford Books, in Bedford, NY. Her topic was Write What You Know: Memoir, True Novels & Personal Essays, and also discussed her novel inspired by her family’s story.
Lisa was thrilled that the Harrison Public Library, her hometown, hosted her for an Author Event on May 3rd. Lisa discussed her novel, Everything We Thought Was True, with Christine Adler, former president of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. And great news… the novel is now part of the library’s circulation and available to borrow!
Lisa was thrilled to present at the Turning Fact Into Fiction: Mining the Truth to Influence Your Writing at the 2025 Writing Workshop of San Francisco, hosted by Chuck Sambuchino on April 12th, https://
Lisa presented “Publishing Paths for Today’s Strategic Author” for the Sacramento chapter of the California Writers Club on April 4th
Lisa participated in Writing Demystified at A Seat at the Table bookstore in Elk Grove, CA on Thursday, April 3rd . Lisa and Jason Denzel discussed all things writing, editing, marketing, and publishing. She also read a scene from her novel, and signed books.
Lisa did a reading of a scene from her novel as part of the Queer Sacramento Authors Collective “Milk and Cookies Reading” at the Lavender Library in Sacramento. Read more about the event here.
Lisa was the featured author for the Bookish Road Trip Facebook Group. She shared insider information about her novel and her writing journey, engaged with readers, did a book reading, and gave away a copy of her book to a lucky winner! She was in conversation with Hope Gibbs, a fellow Red Adept Publishing author, on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Be sure to become a member of the fabulous Bookish Road Trip Facebook group to watch the interview and see Lisa’s posts all about her novel!
Lisa was thrilled to perform at Stories on Stage Davis on March 9th at Sudwerks Brewery in Davis, CA. She narrated an edgy piece written by local author Rachel Howard. What a privilege to perform great literature live!
Lisa was one of three featured authors on the Dime Grinds series hosted by the Henderson Writers Group in Las Vegas on March 2, 2025. Tonya Todd served as moderator.
Lisa was a participating author in the Bookish Road Trip’s Book Love Tasting & Giveaway Event on February 20th. She read from her book and gave away a free paperback to a lucky winner! Be sure to become a member of the fabulous Bookish Road Trip Facebook group to participate in the future!
Lisa was the featured author for the Northern California Writers Retreat Book Journey Club on February 19, 2025. Lisa attended the retreat in 2018 and worked on her debut novel while in attendance! She was interviewed by editorial and publishing consultant, Heather Lazare, founder of the retreat, on the journey to bringing Everything We Thought Was True into the world. If you missed it, you can tune by joining the Book Journey Club, which gives you immediate access to past recordings and notifies you of upcoming author events.
Lisa held the book launch for Everything We Thought Was True at the Avid Reader bookstore in Davis, CA on January 30th. Over 50 people attended for an author chat, book reading, and celebration. Cerrissa Kim served as moderator and discussion partner. The Avid Reader sold out of 23 copies, but will be getting more in stock! Contact them to order and let them know if you want your book personally signed by Lisa.
Lisa hosted a Virtual Book Launch Party for her debut novel, Everything We Thought Was True, via Zoom on January 27, 2025. Sharon Kurtzman, author of The Lost Baker of Vienna, releasing summer 2025, served as discussion partner and moderator. About 100 people attended and it was a fantastic event!
Ready, Set, Launch: Developing a Successful Book Launch Plan – Presenter, California Writers Club Sacramento Chapter – May 3, 2024. Lisa presented to the California Writers Club Sacramento Chapter at their monthly meeting. Her topic was “Ready, Set, Launch: Developing a Successful Book Launch Plan.” The attendees were writers at all different stages of a writing journey, writing in many different genres. She loved the questions, conversation, and camaraderie.
Bookish Road Trip Road Show: The Countdown to Book Marketing – October 26, 2023. Lisa was a featured panelist discussing author branding and marketing, and a sneak peek at how she is prepping for the launch of her debut novel next year.
2023 Women’s Fiction Writers Conference (WFWA) 10th Anniversary Conference, held in Chicago from Sept 20-23, 2023 and attended by authors, agents, editors, and publishing industry professionals. Lisa was the moderator of the Opening Keynote, where she had the pleasure of interviewing her writer friend Nancy Johnson, author of the best-selling novel, The Kindest Lie, in an intimate conversation about Nancy’s author journey. Lisa also presented The Brand Called You! Personal and Professional Branding for Authors as a breakout session.
The Power of the Author Newsletter: Building Your Mailing List to Stay Connected to Readers, Webinar Presenter, Women’s Fiction Writers Organization – September 16, 2021, www.womensfictionwriters.org
A Conversation with Literary Agent Nikki Terpilowski for Women’s Fiction Day, June 8, 2021
The Brand Called You: Personal & Professional Branding for Authors, Webinar Presenter, Jericho Writers Summer Festival of Writing – June 2021, JerichoWriters.com (members only)
Clubhouse Book Talk: Writers & Productivity During the Pandemic
Hosted by literary agent Carly Watters, April 2021
The Brand Called You: Personal & Professional Branding for Authors, Webinar Presenter, Women’s Fiction Writers Organization – January 2021, Womensfictionwriters.org (members only)
Understanding Diversity: Avoiding Harmful Depictions in Your Writing, Webinar Host & Presenter, Women’s Fiction Writers Organization – October 2020, Webinar replay (available to public)