Lisa Mantchev is an American author known for her captivating fantasy novels and short stories. She gained fame with her Théâtre Illuminata series, a trilogy of young adult fantasy novels featuring the acclaimed titles Eyes Like Stars, Perchance to Dream, and So Silver Bright. The first book was nominated for the 2009 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy and the 2010 Mythopoeic Award for Children’s Literature. NPR selected the third book as one of 2011’s Top 5 YA Novels.

In addition to her trilogy, Mantchev has made significant contributions to literature with her children's picture book, Strictly No Elephants, published in October 2015. This book was included in the CCBC Choices 2016 List and received an NCTE 2016 Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children, Honorable Mention.

Her short fiction has been featured in prestigious publications such as Clarkesworld Magazine, Weird Tales, Strange Horizons, and Faerie Magazine. Her other notable work includes the young adult steampunk novel Tickers, a Kindle #1 Bestseller.

Lisa Mantchev resides in the Pacific Northwest with her family, sharing her home with her husband, two children, and three dogs. Her creative journey began in the first grade, storing her writings in a unicorn-themed Trapper Keeper, and she has since continued to blend her passion for writing with her love of theater. She studied theater and playwriting at the University of California, Irvine, and later taught English at a French-American elementary school.