Story & Lesson Highlights with Lisa Becker of Manhattan Beach, CA

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lisa Becker. Check out our conversation below.

Lisa, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
When it comes to romance novels, sadly many people seem dismissive of the category without realizing it’s the number one selling book genre worldwide. I think these stories are so popular and resonate with so many, because what could be more universal, more compelling, more necessary than the search for love and acceptance.

Of course romance novels show a protagonist falling in love. Equally important, they show someone falling in love with them. Strong, brave, vulnerable, broken, funny, warm, flawed people – regardless of age, race, ability, orientation, culture, religion, income, education or body size – all find love and acceptance (and deservedly so) within the pages of romance novels. In uncertain and stressful times, many people, myself included, gravitate toward these feel-good stories that reinforce our humanity and guarantee a happy ending.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an award-winning romance writer and I spend my time like I spend my money – on books and margaritas. My grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” I agree and hope to inspire hopeless and hopeful romantics with stories full of heart, humor, and heat.

In addition to writing romance novels, I’m the romance book specialist at {pages} a bookstore in downtown Manhattan Beach, CA where I curate the romance section, lead the Kiss & Tell Romance Book Club, and orchestrate events for romance readers such as author panels and trivia.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Everything I know about how to conduct myself in business (and life for that matter) I learned from my dad. He is a first generation American who came from incredibly humble beginnings to become a successful entrepreneur. He was never motivated by greed or envy, but rather the intrinsic desire to provide a better life for his family. He understood that happiness in life is more important than money or success. Among the lessons he taught me: Choose grateful,. Follow through on your commitments. Never take credit for someone else’s work. All boats rise with the tide. Whether I was pursuing my previous professional career in public relations or focusing on my author journey, I’ve taken these lessons to heart.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
While I had wonderfully loving and supportive parents, I endured a lot of bullying by my peers growing up which generated tremendous insecurity and had a profound impact on my relationships moving forward. Rather than be bitter or jaded, I’ve elected to be a kind and empathetic individual. That hasn’t stopped me from naming all of the unsavory characters in my books after girls who were mean to me in middle school.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My dream is to produce a movie or TV series based on my novel Clutch, a romantic comedy chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson. She’s a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors, and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto.

An early draft screenplay had been optioned by a studio at Sony more than ten years ago and I had a shopping agreement with a television producer back in 2018. Sadly, nothing yet has come to fruition. My DMs are open to anyone who is interested in pursuing this humor-filled project similar to Emily in Paris, New Girl, Always Be My Maybe and How I Met Your Mother.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I was single, meddling relatives and family friends always wanted to fix me up on dates. They would inevitably refer to me as “a very nice girl.” I hated that moniker. Nothing seemed worse than being called “nice.” As I’ve gotten older and endured more of the cynicism and bitterness in the world, I choose to wear “nice” like a badge of honor. When I pass away, I hope people will say, “Here lies Lisa Becker, a very nice girl who wrote stories that made people laugh, love and hope.”

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Sarah Sebring Photography, Pages & Grapes

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