The Theatre Illuminata series, which includes Perchance to Dream and Eyes Like Stars, is written by Lisa Mantchev. She grew up in Ukiah, a small town in Northern California. She has been active in theater since she wrote her first play in fourth grade. She was awarded two scholarships to the University of California, Irvine, to study drama. Her senior year, while enrolled in the Campuswide Honors Program, she received the Chancellor's Prize for Undergraduate Research in Theatre.

She taught English at the Lycee Internationale de Los Angeles after graduation and founded their Theater After School Program. She wrote fiction in between report cards and developing scripts for Winter and Spring plays. In 2002, she sold her first professional short story, and in 2007, she sold her first trilogy. Mantchev lives with her husband Angel, daughter Amelie, and four hairy mischievous dogs on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

She can be found on the beach, in a tree, making jam, or repairing items with her beloved glue gun when she's not scribbling.