We were lucky to catch up with Mona Liza Santos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mona Liza , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the most significant risks I ever took was publishing my first children’s book. At the time, I had no background in publishing, no agent, and no clear plan. All I had were a few rhymes I had written for my son during the pandemic to give him comfort. The safe thing to do would have been to keep those words private, but something in me felt like I had to share them.

The risk was real. I used my own savings to hire an illustrator and figure out how to get the book printed, not knowing if even one copy would sell. I remember hitting ‘publish’ with my heart racing, wondering if I had just made a colossal mistake. Would anyone care? Would people think it was silly? LOL.

That leap of faith changed my life. One book turned into more than 30, and today my stories are read by families and classrooms all over the world. Parents have told me that my books brought comfort to their children, teachers have used them to spark conversations about kindness, and kids have repeated lines from them when they needed courage.

Reflecting on it, the risk wasn’t just about publishing a book — it was about believing in myself and the power of stories. I learned that the scariest risks can lead to the most meaningful rewards.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Mona Liza Santos, and I write children’s books that carry messages of love, courage, and kindness. Becoming an author wasn’t something I planned. It started during the pandemic when I wrote little rhymes for my son to bring him comfort. One of those turned into my first book, and what I thought would be just one project grew into more than 30 titles.

My books aren’t just stories — they’re ways for kids to find encouragement, learn about kindness, and believe in themselves. Parents and teachers often tell me how a line from one of my books gave a child bravery or comfort, and that’s what I’m most proud of.

What makes my work different is that it comes from such a personal place. These books began as love letters to my son, but now they’ve reached families everywhere. I want people to know that my heart is in every story, and my goal is simple: to write books that matter.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes — my mission is simple: I want children to know they matter. Every book I write is built around love, courage, or kindness, because those are the values I want my own son to carry with him as he grows. What started as a way to comfort him during the pandemic has evolved into a larger purpose: to share stories that uplift kids and remind them of their worth.

My books are little building blocks of confidence and compassion. Some kids need encouragement when they’re worried, others need stories that show them bravery or kindness in action. My goal is to meet them in those moments and give them something lasting.

At the end of the day, my mission is bigger than just writing books. It’s about creating a legacy of love for my son and hopefully leaving behind stories that continue to inspire children long after I’m gone.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a children’s author is hearing how my stories touch families in real life. Every time a parent or teacher reaches out to tell me that a child found comfort, courage, or joy in one of my books, it reminds me why I started in the first place.

For me, it’s not about sales or numbers — it’s about those small, human moments. A child repeating a line from my story when they feel nervous. A teacher is using one of my books to start a conversation about kindness. A parent saying bedtime has become a special bonding time because of my book.

That’s the real reward — knowing that something I wrote at my kitchen table, often late at night, can make its way into someone’s home and become part of their memories. That’s what keeps me writing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monalizasantos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momosvoyage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missmonaliza/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monalizasantos/
• Twitter: https://x.com/MOMOSVOYAGE
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MonaLizaSantosbooktrailers
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/authormonaliza/