About the Author

Lisa Mantchev is the author of the Theatre Illuminata series, including Perchance to Dream and Eyes Like Stars. She grew up in the small Northern California town of Ukiah. She wrote her first play in the fourth grade, and has been involved in theater ever since. She received two scholarships to study drama at the University of California, Irvine. She won the Chancellor's Award For Undergraduate Research in Drama her senior year while studying in the Campuswide Honors Program. After graduation, she taught English at the Lycee Internationale de Los Angeles and created their Drama After School Program. In between report cards and drafting scripts for Winter and Spring productions, she wrote fiction. Her first professional short fiction sale was in 2002, and her debut trilogy sold in 2007. Mantchev makes her home on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state with her husband Angel, her daughter Amelie and four hairy miscreant dogs. When not scribbling, she can be found on the beach, up a tree, making jam or repairing things with her trusty glue gun.

Reviews

"The sequel to Eyes Like Stars, this is another rousing adventure of literary and theatrical whimsy, filled with sly twists and humorous moments. Bertie's continuing story deserves multiple encores and a standing ovation." --Realms of Fantasy"Mantchev's highly imaginative prose bursts with lush imagery and literary riffs, and the party's encounter with the Innamorati, a traveling circus inspired by Cirque du Soleil, enhances the book's surrealism... fans of the first book will cry 'Encore!' as the ending sets up the third in the series." --School Library Journal"The pace is fast and furious, and the secrets to Bertie's intriguing heritage unfold satisfyingly, but it's Mantchev's fresh, intelligent style that delights most... This fantastical romp--an absolute must for theater buffs--might stand alone, but it'd be a pity not to start with the first." --Kirkus Reviews"All the world's truly a stage in Lisa Mantchev's innovative tale, Eyes Like Stars. Magical stagecraft, unmanageable fairies, and a humourous cast of classical characters form the backdrop for this imaginative coming-of age." --Suzanne Collins on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars"With an iron-willed girl hero whose magic is with words, and a universe that is also the ultimate theater, Eyes Like Stars is the most unusual fantasy I've read this year! I recommend it to anyone who loves drama, strong girls, and rowdy faery folk!" --Tamora Pierce on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars"The delicious descriptions of the theater's strange powers are fascinating, the characters vivid, the dialogue smart and sassy, and Bertie's fiercely loyal fairy cohorts from A Midsummer Night's Dream bawdy and hilarious. . . . The palpable sense of urgency is also fueled by some well-staged romance, as well as by Bertie's quest to discover who she is and what she's made of. Brava! Encore!" --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars"Bertie's determined efforts to become invaluable form the basic plot in this wildly imagined adventure...Mantchev clearly knows theater from all angles, and she uses inventive play-within-play formats to create a tumble of multiple, even metaphysical narratives filled with delicious banter and familiar characters from the dramatic canon. Many teens, particularly those with some theatrical background, will look forward to the sequel suggested at the end of this bravely flamboyant and wholly original romp." --Booklist on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars

The sequel to Eyes Like Stars, this is another rousing adventure of literary and theatrical whimsy, filled with sly twists and humorous moments. Bertie's continuing story deserves multiple encores and a standing ovation. Realms of Fantasy Mantchev's highly imaginative prose bursts with lush imagery and literary riffs, and the party's encounter with the Innamorati, a traveling circus inspired by Cirque du Soleil, enhances the book's surrealism fans of the first book will cry 'Encore!' as the ending sets up the third in the series. School Library Journal The pace is fast and furious, and the secrets to Bertie's intriguing heritage unfold satisfyingly, but it's Mantchev's fresh, intelligent style that delights most This fantastical romp--an absolute must for theater buffs--might stand alone, but it'd be a pity not to start with the first. Kirkus Reviews All the world's truly a stage in Lisa Mantchev's innovative tale, Eyes Like Stars. Magical stagecraft, unmanageable fairies, and a humourous cast of classical characters form the backdrop for this imaginative coming-of age. Suzanne Collins on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars With an iron-willed girl hero whose magic is with words, and a universe that is also the ultimate theater, Eyes Like Stars is the most unusual fantasy I've read this year! I recommend it to anyone who loves drama, strong girls, and rowdy faery folk! Tamora Pierce on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars The delicious descriptions of the theater's strange powers are fascinating, the characters vivid, the dialogue smart and sassy, and Bertie's fiercely loyal fairy cohorts from A Midsummer Night's Dream bawdy and hilarious. . . . The palpable sense of urgency is also fueled by some well-staged romance, as well as by Bertie's quest to discover who she is and what she's made of. Brava! Encore! Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars Bertie's determined efforts to become invaluable form the basic plot in this wildly imagined adventure Mantchev clearly knows theater from all angles, and she uses inventive play-within-play formats to create a tumble of multiple, even metaphysical narratives filled with delicious banter and familiar characters from the dramatic canon. Many teens, particularly those with some theatrical background, will look forward to the sequel suggested at the end of this bravely flamboyant and wholly original romp. Booklist on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars"

The sequel to "Eyes Like Stars," this is another rousing adventure of literary and theatrical whimsy, filled with sly twists and humorous moments. Bertie's continuing story deserves multiple encores and a standing ovation. "Realms of Fantasy" Mantchev's highly imaginative prose bursts with lush imagery and literary riffs, and the party's encounter with the Innamorati, a traveling circus inspired by Cirque du Soleil, enhances the book's surrealism fans of the first book will cry 'Encore!' as the ending sets up the third in the series. "School Library Journal" The pace is fast and furious, and the secrets to Bertie's intriguing heritage unfold satisfyingly, but it's Mantchev's fresh, intelligent style that delights most This fantastical romp--an absolute must for theater buffs--might stand alone, but it'd be a pity not to start with the first. "Kirkus Reviews" All the world's truly a stage in Lisa Mantchev's innovative tale, "Eyes Like Stars." Magical stagecraft, unmanageable fairies, and a humourous cast of classical characters form the backdrop for this imaginative coming-of age. "Suzanne Collins on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars" With an iron-willed girl hero whose magic is with words, and a universe that is also the ultimate theater, "Eyes Like Stars" is the most unusual fantasy I've read this year! I recommend it to anyone who loves drama, strong girls, and rowdy faery folk! "Tamora Pierce on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars" The delicious descriptions of the theater's strange powers are fascinating, the characters vivid, the dialogue smart and sassy, and Bertie's fiercely loyal fairy cohorts from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" bawdy and hilarious. . . . The palpable sense of urgency is also fueled by some well-staged romance, as well as by Bertie's quest to discover who she is and what she's made of. Brava! Encore! "Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars" Bertie's determined efforts to become invaluable form the basic plot in this wildly imagined adventure Mantchev clearly knows theater from all angles, and she uses inventive play-within-play formats to create a tumble of multiple, even metaphysical narratives filled with delicious banter and familiar characters from the dramatic canon. Many teens, particularly those with some theatrical background, will look forward to the sequel suggested at the end of this bravely flamboyant and wholly original romp. "Booklist on Lisa Mantchev and Eyes Like Stars""

"The sequel to "Eyes Like Stars," this is another rousing adventure of literary and theatrical whimsy, filled with sly twists and humorous moments. Bertie's continuing story deserves multiple encores and a standing ovation." -"Realms of Fantasy""Mantchev's highly imaginative prose bursts with lush imagery and literary riffs, and the party's encounter with the Innamorati, a traveling circus inspired by Cirque du Soleil, enhances the book's surrealism... fans of the first book will cry 'Encore!' as the ending sets up the third in the series." --"School Library Journal""" "The pace is fast and furious, and the secrets to Bertie's intriguing heritage unfold satisfyingly, but it's Mantchev's fresh, intelligent style that delights most... This fantastical romp--an absolute must for theater buffs--might stand alone, but it'd be a pity not to start with the first." --"Kirkus Reviews" Praise for Lisa Mantchev and "Eyes Like Stars" "All the world's truly a stage in Lisa Mantchev's innovative tale, "Eyes Like Stars." Magical stagecraft, unmanageable fairies, and a humourous cast of classical characters form the backdrop for this imaginative coming-of age."--Suzanne Collins
"With an iron-willed girl hero whose magic is with words, and a universe that is also the ultimate theater, "Eyes Like Stars" is the most unusual fantasy I've read this year! I recommend it to anyone who loves drama, strong girls, and rowdy faery folk!"--Tamora Pierce
"The delicious descriptions of the theater's strange powers are fascinating, the characters vivid, the dialogue smart and sassy, and Bertie's fiercely loyal fairy cohorts from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" bawdy and hilarious. . . . The palpable sense of urgency is also fueled by some well-staged romance, as well as by Bertie's quest to discover who she is and what she's made of. Brava! Encore!"--"Kirkus Reviews," Starred Review
"Bertie's determined efforts to become invaluable form the basic plot in this wildly imagined adventure...Mantchev clearly knows theater from all angles, and she uses inventive play-within-play formats to create a tumble of multiple, even metaphysical narratives filled with delicious banter and familiar characters from the dramatic canon. Many teens, particularly those with some theatrical background, will look forward to the sequel suggested at the end of this bravely flamboyant and wholly original romp."--"Booklist "

“The sequel to "Eyes Like Stars," this is another rousing adventure of literary and theatrical whimsy, filled with sly twists and humorous moments. Bertie’s continuing story deserves multiple encores and a standing ovation.” –"Realms of Fantasy"“Mantchev’s highly imaginative prose bursts with lush imagery and literary riffs, and the party’s encounter with the Innamorati, a traveling circus inspired by Cirque du Soleil, enhances the book’s surrealism… fans of the first book will cry 'Encore!' as the ending sets up the third in the series.” --"School Library Journal""" "The pace is fast and furious, and the secrets to Bertie’s intriguing heritage unfold satisfyingly, but it’s Mantchev’s fresh, intelligent style that delights most… This fantastical romp—an absolute must for theater buffs—might stand alone, but it’d be a pity not to start with the first.” --"Kirkus R