Lisa DeMarco ’00
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I love my family. Good cooking. Writing. Traveling. Planning parties. Telling jokes. I dance like nobody’s watching. I am a spunky, free-spirited, loving mother, doting grandmother, and devoted wife. I have an insatiable zest for life and a burning passion for writing. I earned my journalism degree from the University of Central Florida and have since written and published 3 joke books, and the first in a children’s series, which is very dear to my heart. I love all things Halloween. Still, I never miss a chance to dress up for any holidays. I can cook with the best out there and serve it even better. I’m the kind of friend who will always have your back and lend a helping hand. I plan to one day retire and spend my days lying on the beach, loving life, and soaking up the sun. I am proud to say I was born in New Jersey, yet I will forever call Florida my home.
What’s your writing process? What inspires your writing?
I have spent over forty years in the heart of the hospitality industry, serving people from every walk of life with humor, grace, and a sixth sense for what someone needs before they even ask. My career as a server isn’t just a job — it was a masterclass in human nature, timing, storytelling, and compassion. Those decades of real‑world experience now fuel the warmth and wit of my writing universe.
What was the biggest thing you learned during your time as a Knight that you apply to your life today?
I learned that anyone can edit someone else’s work, but a genuine creative writer is something you are born with.
What was a class or club at UCF that helped you grow as a writer?
Dr. O’Keefe was my mentor while at UCF. He gave me the courage to go forward in my writing career. I will never forget him or his kindness.
Who are some of your favorite authors or books?
I LOVE to read. I read books that have been suggested. I read books that have been given to me, and I read tons of children’s books regularly to my grandson, Jeremy.
If UCF had a time machine, what moment on campus would you go back to?
I would go back to the 1992 graduation, because I received my diploma by mail instead of during the graduation ceremony.
If your UCF experience were a meme, what would it be?
My meme would be teenage Pebbles Flintstone staring at Julie Jetson like “Where the heck am I?”
What are you currently working on right now?
I am currently working on a new series of children’s books, called Mona’s Magical Menagerie. It inspires youngsters and teaches about the beauty of Mother Earth and Mother Nature.
Anything else you want to share?
I learned early what it means to champion the underdog. My oldest sister, Melinda, was born with osteogenesis imperfecta. So, I became a natural advocate — a cheerleader, a protector, and a source of joy in a world that wasn’t always gentle. That instinct never left me. Today, she is raising her 10‑year‑old grandson, who has alopecia totalis, with the same fierce love and humor that shaped her own life. Her stories reflect the resilience, acceptance, and confidence she works to instill in him every day.
