Author

Lisa McMann

Lisa McMann splits her time between Tempe, AZ, Sacramento, CA, and Vancouver, BC. She is married to fellow children’s author, Matt McMann (Monsterious series, coming 2023), and they have two adult children. Her son is artist Kilian McMann and her daughter is actor Kennedy McMann.

Lisa was born in Holland, Michigan, and she lived there until 2004, when she moved to Arizona with her family. Her first book, Wake, came out in 2008.

In her spare time, Lisa likes to take walks along Tempe Town Lake and on the Arizona State University campus, shop at local stores, and cook. She also enjoys watching TV and movies, and loves to read fantasy, realistic fiction, memoirs, and books about cooking.

Lisa is the author of over two dozen books for young adults and children. Some of her most well-known books are The Unwanteds series for middle grade readers and the Wake trilogy for young adults. She hopes to keep writing books for a long time.

Some FAQs:

How many books will be in The Forgotten Five Series?

Lisa isn’t sure yet, but she’s already working on book four! She hopes there will be at least seven. You can help this become a long series by telling your friends to read it—the more readers, the better chance the publisher will want more books.

Will there be more Unwanteds books after Dragon Fury?

Dragon Fury, the 7th book in the Unwanteds Quests series, is also the 14th and final book in the Unwanteds world. There will not be any more Unwanteds books, but Lisa is busy writing other things for the same age group to keep you entertained. Clarice the Brave is available now. It’s the story of two ship mice, separated by a mutiny, who vow to find each other again. It’s full of adventure and heart. And Lisa has a brand new series! It’s called The Forgotten Five, and book one is called Map of Flames. It’s on sale now! What’s it about? Five supernatural kids, raised on a deserted island, enter civilization for the first time to search for their missing, criminal parents…and the stash they left behind. Book two, The Invisible Spy, will be out November 8, 2022, and book 3 will be coming in summer 2023.

Where can I get signed copies of your books?

Try Lisa’s local independent bookstore, Changing Hands, in Tempe, AZ — they ship worldwide and often have signed copies on their shelves. Or follow Lisa’s Appearances page—she always signs extra copies of her books at the bookstores that host her. If you call them in advance or use their website to order Lisa’s books ahead of her appearance, you can even request to get your books personalized.

What about your parents and siblings?

Lisa’s parents still live in Michigan. Her father worked in a factory and her mother was a beautician and played the organ in church. They are now retired. Lisa has two older brothers and a younger sister, and several nieces and nephews. Most of them live in Michigan, but a few live in California.

When did you decide to be a writer?

When Lisa was in the 4th grade, her teacher told her she did a good job on her story and he picked her to go to something called the young author’s conference. That was an exciting time and Lisa decided then that she was going to be a writer. But it took many years before her first book came out.

When is your birthday?

Lisa was born on February 27, 1968. Fun fact: She shares her birthday with her brother Mike, who is one year older.

Where do you get your ideas?

Lisa says she asks a lot of questions about why things are the way that they are. She also asks “What if…?” a lot. Like, “What if there was a world where children were punished for being creative?” Or “What if people could go into other people’s dreams?” or “What would happen if a kid had animal powers?”

How long does it take you to write a novel?

It takes Lisa about six months to write a novel. That includes the rough draft plus all of the time to edit it. And there are many rounds of edits.

What is your writing schedule like?

Usually Lisa writes in the morning from about 8am until one or two in the afternoon. Then she takes a really long lunch break, and works again from about 7-9pm. She writes almost every day when she is at home, but she doesn’t usually get much writing done when she is on book tour, traveling around the country and meeting her readers.

What are your favorite foods? Favorite color?

Lisa loves all kinds of food. Some of her favorite things include avocados, pistachios, bacon, and carrot cake. Her favorite color is purple, and she likes to autograph books with a purple pen.

I have to write a book report and I need more information immediately. How can I get it?

Unfortunately Lisa isn’t able to answer individual questions because she is busy writing books. But you can find lots of interesting facts by googling her name and looking for magazine, blog, and video interviews. That’s the very best way to find some fun and informative stuff.

How can I get Lisa McMann to come to my school or library to do a cool presentation, answer questions, and sign books?

Easy! Just have your librarian or other adult-in-charge write to Lisa’s assistant at lisa.mcmann@gmail.com to ask about rates and availability.

How do I send Lisa McMann a letter?

Lisa’s Mailing Address:
Lisa McMann
21 E 6th Street Unit 615
Tempe, AZ 85281 USA