Lisa-Behrens Smith
I've spent nearly two decades igniting young minds as a Texas, California, and international English and Social Studies teacher. From AP Literature in Morocco to middle school classrooms in Bakersfield, I have built a career inspiring students to think deeply, question boldly, and discover the power of stories.
But when the bell rings, I'm anything but ordinary. A true Southern soul, I grew up with grit and determination. I've never lost my appetite for adventure, my stinging sense of justice, or my sharp Southern sense of humor. I can drive a John Deere tractor, can my own vegetables, and have been been known to tear down a back road on a four-wheeler. (At night. In the mud.) For my 64th birthday, I accepted a challenge to myself and zip-lined over the lush hills of Wales.
In March of 2025, as a dare to myself, I finally released Mulberry Seeds —a raw, lyrical novella about two sisters surviving hunger and homelessness in 1968 Texas—after keeping it tucked away in a box for over 20 years.
I currently share my life with my husband of 47 years, our sweet house cat Midget, and my favorite ferals, Wiener and Un Ojo. Whether I'm teaching, writing, or trying the unexpected, I live and prove that relevance, resilience, and reinvention know no age. My life—and my work—speak to readers of all ages.
But when the bell rings, I'm anything but ordinary. A true Southern soul, I grew up with grit and determination. I've never lost my appetite for adventure, my stinging sense of justice, or my sharp Southern sense of humor. I can drive a John Deere tractor, can my own vegetables, and have been been known to tear down a back road on a four-wheeler. (At night. In the mud.) For my 64th birthday, I accepted a challenge to myself and zip-lined over the lush hills of Wales.
In March of 2025, as a dare to myself, I finally released Mulberry Seeds —a raw, lyrical novella about two sisters surviving hunger and homelessness in 1968 Texas—after keeping it tucked away in a box for over 20 years.
I currently share my life with my husband of 47 years, our sweet house cat Midget, and my favorite ferals, Wiener and Un Ojo. Whether I'm teaching, writing, or trying the unexpected, I live and prove that relevance, resilience, and reinvention know no age. My life—and my work—speak to readers of all ages.
Mulberry Seeds-YA Edition: A Novella: Stories of Youth and Innocence
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Young Adult Fiction
They're sisters. They're hungry. They're homeless. And their parents are losing it more every day. This is the story of Jolene and Corrine, and a long Texas summer in 1968. It's a summer that changes them forever. A summer when they learn about taking chances, death, family secrets, and how to stay innocent while the world falls away. It's their fight for each other, and the story of how they became best friends. 
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Mulberry Seeds-A Novella: Stories of Youth and Innocence
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Literary Fiction
𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 takes you deep into the world of young sisters Jolene and Corrine during the hot Texas summer of 1968. Best friends and sometimes enemies, they speak as only the very young can, displaying an unflinching honesty about their lives and family while they fall into months of poverty, homelessness, conflict, and loss. Still, they manage to find joy in an often-painful daily life. From sneaking out of the house to travel the forbidden highway, losing toys in constant moves, and being left behind on family outings, they share their most special days, discover the toll of death, and face selfish family members with surprising strength. They laugh and plot, support and protect each other, in ways that surprise even them. Ultimately, they learn to become best friends. 
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