Life & Work with Mona Liza Santos of San Diego

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mona Liza Santos.

Hi Mona Liza , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m Mona Liza Santos!

I’ve always loved learning and getting lost in books, but it wasn’t until the world slowed down during the pandemic that I finally picked up a pen and poured my heart onto paper. Writing became my outlet, my therapy, and my way of bringing a little light into dark times. What started as brainstorming ideas at my kitchen table quickly turned into a passion I couldn’t stop—over 30 books later, I’m still writing every single day.

My books are filled with adventure, self-love, and kindness because I believe every child should feel seen, safe, and valued. They’re for the dreamers, the quiet thinkers, and the little ones who need to know they matter. From my bestselling “Mama, I Love You” to colorful picture books, spooky tales, and journals, my hope is to inspire young hearts to dream big, love themselves, and know they matter.

I’m a proud mom to my greatest inspiration—my son, Michael Blade. We live in San Diego with three dogs and three cats, filling our home with joy, laughter, and a touch of chaos. I’ve traveled to more than 70 countries, each journey leaving me with new lessons, fresh ideas, and a deeper appreciation for the world’s beauty.

Through my stories and my life, I hope to remind others that it’s never too late to follow a dream, and that even in the hardest seasons, beautiful stories can be born.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t always been smooth—but I think that’s what makes the journey meaningful. I’ve faced challenges, like we all do, but they’ve never stopped me from writing children’s books. In fact, I’ve found that when I go through struggles in life, it pushes me to work harder and dream bigger. Those hard moments inspire me to create something better than yesterday, not just for myself, but for the children who will read my stories. Every challenge has been a reminder that there’s always a way to turn pain into purpose, and that’s exactly what I hope to share through my books.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a children’s book author with over 30 published titles, and my passion is creating stories that inspire, uplift, and spark a child’s imagination. I specialize in blending heartfelt messages with colorful storytelling, from rhyming picture books and spooky tales to journals and motivational stories. My mission is simple: to help every child feel seen, safe, and valued, no matter who they are or where they come from.

I am best known for my bestselling Mama, I Love You, but each book I have written holds a special piece of my heart. Some of my proudest moments are hearing from parents, teachers, and children who share that my stories have helped them through difficult times or encouraged them to believe in themselves. That is the kind of impact I write for, the quiet and lasting influence that can change how a child sees the world and themselves.

What sets my work apart is that my stories are shaped not only by imagination but also by my life experiences, including traveling to more than 70 countries, a lifelong love for learning, and my own journey of resilience. I believe books can be both a comfort and a compass, offering young readers hope, courage, and the reminder that they matter. My greatest joy is knowing that somewhere, a child is holding one of my books and feeling as if it was written just for them.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising that many people don’t know about me is that I never imagined I would become an author. I have always loved reading and learning, but for most of my life, writing was something I kept to myself. During the pandemic, when the world slowed down, I began writing as a way to heal and bring a little light into such a difficult time. I poured my heart into those early stories, not knowing they would become the start of a new chapter in my life. Today, I have over 30 published children’s books, and each one is a reminder that beautiful things can grow even in the hardest seasons.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monalizasantos.com
• Instagram: Momosvoyage