284 Everything We Thought Was True with Lisa Montanaro
My Simplified Life podcast releases two episodes per week featuring authors and changemakers. Every interview reveals life lessons we can embrace and stories of others that build empathy.
Lisa Montanaro shares her journey from a legal career to becoming a novelist with her debut book, Everything We Thought Was True. This book is such an incredible story and one that hits very close to Lisa’s personal experience as the daughter of a gay man. We dive into the themes of family dynamics, emotional trauma, and the importance of empathy in storytelling. Lisa reflects on her personal experiences that inspired her characters and the emotional truths woven throughout her narrative. We are highlighting the significance of fiction in fostering understanding and connection among diverse experiences.
Everything We Thought Was True was such an incredible read…
Coming out as gay can be a very hard thing to do and decades ago it was even harder. What happens when you're in a heterosexual marriage with children and realize it's time to be true to who you are and come out? Do you risk losing your family? How will everyone react? Is it worth it?
These are all questions Lisa Montanaro addresses in this beautiful story of how one family faces these questions and the reality of Frank (the father) being gay. Lisa is the daughter of a gay father in real life and although this isn't a memoir, it made me see the various viewpoints and struggles everyone in her family must have gone through, just as the Antinori family goes through.
You will certainly be crying by the end and wishing that all stories had such endings.
What We're Talking About
Lisa Montanaro transitioned from law to writing after 9/11.
Her novel explores the impact of family secrets over generations.
The book is inspired by her own experiences as a child of a gay parent.
Fiction can create empathy and understanding for different perspectives.
The characters in the book are composites of real-life experiences.
Lisa's writing process involved journaling and personal reflection.
The emotional core of the story is based on truth, but the narrative is fictionalized.
Family dynamics play a crucial role in the story's development.
Lisa's relationship with her brother influenced the sibling dynamics in the book.
The book includes a book club kit with recipes and playlists.
