By DeAnn Lubell
“I feel a vital part of our journey here on earth is to find the humanity in each other, love one another, and help each other learn, heal, and grow,” says Maryann. “If we incorporate God’s teachings in our hearts, thoughts, and actions, we can all contribute to making this world a better place.”
This coming from a woman who can take a tale of struggle and tragedy and interweave hope, faith, and optimistic outcomes. Maryann has penned four successful novels; prayerful bible meditations for morning and evening in Country Skies; television series and podcast; and even a cookbook. You go girl!
Maryann, a local desert resident, began her career as a producer/writer for Cable News Network. Later, she was appointed director of publicity for Miss Universe, Inc. She also served as senior vice president of Stephen J. Cannell Productions/The Cannell Studios before founding Ridini Entertainment Corporation. As company president of the award-winning PR, marketing, multimedia-content- creation, and TV-and-film-production company, she is committed to creating, writing, producing, and promoting content that entertains, inspires, educates, and uplifts. She is also a founding partner in the Rancho Mirage-based marketing and content creation joint venture, MPowerMedia.
A member of the Writers Guild of America West and Producers Guild of America, Maryann has produced numerous movies and series for television. Her projects have appeared on Showtime, SyFy, TMC, USA Networks, CBS-TV, Time Warner Cable, and in the foreign theatrical market. In addition, she is celebrated for co-producing/ writing the movie The Lost Valentine for the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Based on the James Michael Pratt novel, the movie stars Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Over fifteen million viewers tuned in to watch the film, winning CBS-TV the night in ratings. The film, winner of the Faith and Freedom Movieguide Award, has since become part of Hallmark’s Gold Crown (DVD) Collector’s Edition, and the film can also be live streamed on Hallmark’s movie channels.
She is the creator, writer, producer, and host of the Telly Award-winning healthy living cooking series, cookbooks, and blog Simply Delicious Living with Maryann®. The series is broadcast on PBS-TV station KVCR in Southern California, DirecTV, DishTV, and to a global audience on Maryann’s website.
Maryann has been a freelance writer and contributing editor for such publications as Palm Springs Life Magazine, Desert Magazine, Ventura County Star, and Los Angeles Magazine. Not to mention the author of Simply Delicious Living with Maryann®—Entrées cookbook (Santa Rosa Press, 2019),.and the
Her Kate Grace novels Lady in the Window (2017 Best Book Awards: Fiction: Romance winner, 2018 American Fiction Visionary Award winner and 2019 Hawai’i Book Publishers Association Ka Palapala Po’okela Awards–Aloha From Across the Sea Award Finalist); The Paradise Table, a 2019 Amazon bestseller; Secrets of Grace Manor (2021 Best Book Finalist); Under the Tropical Skies, a 2023 Best Book Award Finalist (Christian Fiction) and an Amazon Bestseller & Hot New Release—#1 Women’s Christian Fiction, #3 Women’s Historical Fiction (November) on Kindle, and #5 Historical Christian Romance Fiction (December). She is currently working on new Kate Grace and Lavender Hill Cove novels and other fiction, cookbooks, and screenplays.
Quite a busy and extremely talented lady.
Maryann will be speaking and signing books at the following locations. Both events are FREE. Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kimbals Boutique, 288 N. Palm Canyon in Palm Springs. Food and drink, Books, Jewelry, Clothes, Raffle, and more! Sunday, December 10, 2023, 1-4pm at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, The Shops at Palm Desert, 72-840 Highway CA-111, Palm Desert
For more information about Maryann please go to https://www.MaryannRidiniSpencer.com https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/ghxAV2qoLD
(Photo of Maryann by Maria Gregorio-Oviedo)
