Ashes to Ink
These two chapters from Lisa Lucca's memoir "Ashes to Ink" reflect on her parents' divorce, her father's sexuality, and the difficulty they faced navigating their new relationship.
In a poignant tale of how secrets can unravel a family, Lisa Lucca’s memoir begins in 1970s Midwestern suburbia when her parents’ divorce—and learning her father is gay—shatter an adolescent girl’s perfect world. This story of the complexities of parenthood reveals how hard it can be to see our fathers and mothers as individuals with lives and desires of their own.
Lucca’s path takes her from high school dropout to touring with rock stars; from marriage to a good ‘ole boy to single motherhood; from seeker to life coach, all the while on a heartbreaking search for love. Through the thrilling and the mundane, she struggles to understand herself, her choices, and the family she comes from as they navigate the shifting cultural norms of LGBTQ+ families, ultimately showing us the profound power of acceptance.
She writes: When I began writing my story, I wanted to share the complicated feelings of learning my father was gay in the 1970s and how this impacted my search for love. Instructed to keep this secret amidst judgment and slurs against LGBTQ+ people (a term not yet used), I assumed something about my dad was bad. The unacceptable slurs used in my book illustrate what I learned on TV as a child, and I use them to stay true to the times. These excerpts share the tension of my journey to understanding along the path to acceptance and love. We have come very far in embracing one another for who we are, yet we stand in a moment that threatens our progress. As we celebrate Pride month, I hope my story shines a light for all families to understand one another with acceptance and grace.
Discover more of Lisa Lucca's work on her website, Facebook, and Instagram, and order Ashes to Ink here.
About the Artist
Lisa Lucca is the award-winning author of Ashes to Ink: A Memoir, a story that sheds light on the challenges of living true to ourselves. She was awarded the 2022 Literary Legacy Award from El Paso College and was named an Outstanding Woman of the Mesilla Valley for her contributions to the Borderland community in literature and media. Lisa is a #BlogHer Voice of the Year Honoree, and her work has been published in several anthologies, including Crone Rising and LoveNotes. She is the co-author of the epistolary memoir, You Are Loved, with her partner, Mark Mathias. Her public radio show, Live True, brings insightful interviews to her listeners about living a creative life of authenticity.
Lisa and Mark share their home in southern New Mexico, where she continues her work as a life coach, book editor, and publishing consultant.