Get to know Lisa…

Lisa Lucca has been writing most of her life and writes passionately about life, love, family and living true to who you are. She is a #BlogHer17 Voice of the Year Honoree for her piece Two Roofs, One Home, and her essay Ashes of A Purple Heart won First Prize on WOW-womenonwriting.com.

Lisa’s work has been published on sites such as GoodMenProject.com, Midlifeoulevard.com, SweatpantsAndCoffee.com, and she was a monthly blogger for GayDadProject.com. 

Lisa is co-author of a memoir she created with her partner, Mark, You Are Loved…an email memoir and her memoir, Ashes to Ink, focusing on her relationship with her gay father who came out during her adolescence in the early 1970s. She and Mark moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to New Mexico in 2018.

Lisa’ radio show – Live True with Lisa Lucca – airs Fridays at 10:00 am MT. She interviews artists, writers, community members and interesting people living true to who they are in a creative way, and offers insight and information to craft a meaningful life. To learn more about Lisa, visit her website.                    

Quirky Questions

If you could share 3 words with your teenage self, what would they be?

Love you more.

What is a talent that comes naturally to you?

Seeing situations from a different perspective. It is one of the reasons I was drawn to life coaching. I love helping others see things in a more positive light or with a sense of possibility.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who lie.

What is something that you never thought you’d do?

Live in the South. I was there for five years and felt like a fish out of water a lot of the time.

If you had to describe yourself in just 3 words, what would they be?

Insightful, true, magic.

What is a TV show that everyone in your circle raves about, but you didn’t like?

Game of Thrones.

If a stranger scrolled through your camera roll, what would they learn about you?

I love to take pictures of nature!

What’s your least favorite season?

Winter. Growing up in Chicago, the bitter cold would freeze my nostrils shut and take my breath away. As a result, I moved to California and now live in Southern New Mexico in the warm desert. I do love autumn best. A bit of a cool breeze is nice after a hot summer, and the changing of the leaves is extraordinary.

Which do you prefer: hotel, lodge, or bed & breakfast? Do you have a memorable story about one of your stays?

We actually prefer to stay in AIRBNBs. When we travel together, we love to live in the place we visit –  to cook there, relax, and have space to spread out. One of our most memorable stays was in rural Tuscany eight years ago in a 300 years old stone house. It was quirky and a bit musty, but we loved the views and the neighbors who invited us for coffee. They didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak Italian but we had a great time! They are still our friends (with translation help from their daughter’s Egyptian boyfriend who speaks both languages!) and will be having lunch with them tomorrow while we are back in Italy.

 

Writing Questions

What books did you grow up reading?

Little Women and Charlotte’s Web were my faves, which explains why books about relationships are still my favorites.

What has been the most influential book you’ve ever read? What was it that impacted you so profoundly?

I couldn’t possibly pick one, but…Eat, Pray, Love, Bridges of Madison County, Wild, Uncovered, and Tuesdays with Morrie are all stories that moved me with the very specific voice of the narrators. I am deeply influenced by stories of love, loss, redemption, and personal transformation.

Have you ever wanted to write under a pen name?

I actually began writing memoir under a pen name and eventually adopted the name legally. I took my last name – Lucca – from the place of my ancestors in Italy on my grandmother’s side. It is a place I felt drawn to all my life and where I feel most myself. I’m actually writing this from there in a lovely stone cottage near the Lucca walls.

What are the negatives (if any) that accompany putting your work out into the world?

Especially for memoirists, it requires a vulnerability that can be quite daunting. Some people look for ways to judge others, even if they don’t have the courage to expose their own truths. Having people I know read my work can be even more challenging than strangers, though it has been quite healing to share my personal story.

Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself? 

Yes, it has made me feel brave and proud. It is not an easy task to finish a book and put it into the hands of readers. One of the most rewarding feelings is to have someone be touched by your words and share their appreciation for sharing your story. (Like you, thank you!)

What ritual or therapeutic practice helps you get into the right headspace to write? 

I like to pull out old photos and listen to music from the time I am writing about.

What is the most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

Puke it out. Just get the words on the page and edit later.

What does “living your best life” look like for you?

Being true to who I am in a creative life of self expression – saying yes to all forms of creativity and sharing it in a rich community of like-minded people.

What is your best writing quality? Bragging is encouraged.

I’m not afraid of putting the raw truth on the page even if it doesn’t put me in a favorable light.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

My family, who were not always supportive and were uncomfortable about me writing about them, have been very supportive in recent years. My memoir, Ashes to Ink, centers on my dad and he would have supported the work, though not some of the words I had to say about our relationship. I have surrounded myself with a beautiful community of writers and I suggest all writers find a tribe to encourage and support them.

Enjoy an inspiring conversation w/ Lisa on Soulful Series: