Minding the miles
Writing & editing by Lisa A. Watts
About me
I write primarily about place and change. Over the years I have worked as a magazine editor and nonprofit communications manager.
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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, I grew up along the East Coast from Atlanta to Baltimore to Boston. I live now in a small coastal town just south of Providence, Rhode Island. I love to balance sedentary writing time with runs, bike rides, kayak paddles, and yoga classes.
What others say
Curb Appeal is a warm, witty meditation on the beauty of starting over and the relationships and routines that sustain us amid change."
—Melody Warnick, author, This Is Where You Belong
Lisa Watts has written a warm testament to the supreme value of breaking away...the ultimate dream-chaser's guide."
—Neil King, Jr., author, American Ramble
Good Roots editor Lisa Watts had the clever idea of inviting 20 gifted poets, novelists, and nonfiction writers to consider their Ohio beginnings.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
Books
A witty and engaging real estate memoir about four decades of moving to fifteen homes, embracing change, and nurturing a long-term marriage.
A travel memoir of sorts, Watts shares essays of lessons learned — literal and metaphorical — from her two-month bike trip with a dear friend from Key West to Canada.
Essays and poems by distinguished writers—among them Anthony Doerr, Susan Orlean, and P.J. O'Rourke. Watts collected the contents and wrote the book's introduction.
Recent articles
I write feature stories for Grow Smart RI, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing neighborhood revitalization, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity for all Rhode Islanders. READ
A 2022 essay for MarketWatch. READ
I spent a week biking with three other women, all of us 65 and older, the 326 miles from Cleveland to Cincinnati. An amazing 90 percent of the route is on protected shared-use trails. READ
Interviews
"insights into aging gracefully and the joy of meaningful connections"​
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“Lisa teaches us the importance of enjoying the journey rather than strictly adhering to completion. Reflecting on the metaphorical bridges crossed, she invites us to consider how cycling adventures can be a metaphor for approaching life's transitions, showcasing the profound insights that come with viewing aging as a chapter filled with freedom and vitality.”
— WARMSHOWERS' BIKE LIFE PODCAST, Nov. 24, 2024
​"prepare to be inspired"
"Lisa recounts some of the unforgettable moments and profound life lessons learned during her incredible two-month cycling adventure with a close friend. Tom and Lisa's conversation beautifully underscores the exciting possibilities for adventure and growth at any age."
CYCLING OVER 60 PODCAST, May 24, 2025
​"answers questions most women in their fifties will find relatable"
“Watts decided to think more deeply about all the ways the trip became a metaphor for aging well. Lessons on traveling lightly and crossing bridges can be applied to both bicycle trips and aging gracefully."
Winston-Salem Journal feature story, April 2024