Meet Maryann Ridini Spencer of Southern California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryann Ridini Spencer.

Hi Maryann Ridini, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Early Years In middle school and high school, I was involved in theatrical productions, including musicals and dramas, as part of a local theatre group. During my first two years of University, I served as an actress and an apprentice behind the scenes for equity and non-equity summer stock venues on the East Coast. Interested in the behind-the-scenes aspects, I decided to pursue a degree in Communications, with a focus on TV & Film.

Post College
My career began as a producer/writer for CNN. I later took on the role of Director of Publicity for Miss Universe, Inc., and served as Senior VP of Stephen J. Cannell Productions before founding Ridini Entertainment Corporation. As the president of the company, I am deeply committed to creating, writing, producing, and promoting content that not only entertains but also inspires, educates, and uplifts.

Producing and Writing Screenplays and Fiction & Non-Fiction
I later formed my own PR, Marketing, and Production company to pursue my creative passions. Under the Ridini Entertainment Corporation (REC) banner, my company has worked in PR and marketing with clients such as NBC/Universal, E! Entertainment Television, the United States Olympic Committee (representing the Games and athletes, as well as hopefuls), and various nonprofits, high-profile businesses, cities, and governmental agencies.

A Passion for Writing & Inspirational Content Creation
Additionally, under the REC banner, as a member of the Writers Guild of America West and the Producers Guild of America, I have produced numerous movies and television series for networks such as Showtime, SyFy, TMC, USA Networks, CBS-TV, Time Warner Cable, and the foreign theatrical market. For CBS and Hallmark Hall of Fame, I co-produced/wrote the teleplay for “The Lost Valentine.” 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 ratings for the night. The film, a winner of the Faith and Freedom Movieguide® Award, has since been included in Hallmark’s Gold Crown (DVD) Collector’s Edition.

I serve as 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 airs on PBS-TV station KVCR in Southern California, as well as on DirecTV, DishTV, and Maryann’s SimplyDeliciousLiving.com blog, and is available to a global audience on Maryann’s YouTube Channel, https://youtube.com/MaryannRidiniSpencer.

As an author, I write award-winning fiction and non-fiction books, and produce projects for film & television that entertain, inspire, educate, and uplift. My work is characterized by a unique blend of themes revolving around faith, family, hope, healing, forgiveness, timeless friendships, enduring romances, and the wondrous mysteries of life.

I am the author of the Simply Delicious Living with Maryann®—Entrées cookbook and the award-winning, best-selling Kate Grace novels (Lady in the Window, The Paradise Table, Secrets of Grace Manor, and Under the Tropical Skies). Lavender Hill Cove, the first book in theLavender Hill Cove series, was recently honored with a 2024 Book Excellence Award (Christian Fiction) and the 2024 Maincrest Media Book Award (Women’s Fiction). Once Upon a Cove Christmas, Maryann’s latest novel in the Lavender Hill Cove series, won the 2025 American Legacy Book Award (Holiday Fiction) and 2025 International Impact Book Award (Christian Fiction). In 2025, I published The Mary Garden (Photography and Poems).

As a journalist, I have served as a food, health, and lifestyle writer and contributing editor for Palm Springs Life Magazine, Desert Magazine, Ventura County Star, Los Angeles Magazine, and Simply Delicious Living, the online magazine, at MaryannRidiniSpencer.com.

Visit me at: https://www.MaryannRidiniSpencer.com
and my Amazon author page:

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I began my career with hopes of producing and writing movies and books, I wasn’t sure how I would achieve my goals. I landed my first job in Los Angeles as a writer and producer for Cable News Network. Through that experience, I formed many personal and professional friendships that have served me well on my journey. For several years, I worked at agencies and studios (in production and publicity) where I learned the ins and outs of the business before forming my own PR, Marketing, and TV/Film Production company. The journey was not without its challenges. Although I wanted to work in film, the first job presented to me was in news, so I accepted it. The second challenge was figuring out how I could fulfill my writing and producing goals. However, looking back, I made many valuable connections by accepting the news producer/writer position, which led to various other writing and producing assignments, and I made valuable contacts along the way. In taking PR positions, I gained a deeper understanding of all aspects of the business, continued to make valuable contacts, and utilized my writing and organizational skills, which have helped me tremendously as a producer. Then, once I was on my own under my own company banner, I was free to pursue many different creative endeavors and associations, which led me to producing and writing movies, and later, a venture into publishing. My best advice to those who share a similar dream of writing and creating is to keep your dream alive, get in the door of a company that does what you aspire to, listen and learn, be organized and flexible, and recognize the opportunities when they arise, entering with faith and a clear vision.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I’ve held many jobs in the entertainment business, little did I realize how they would all collectively help me get to where I am now — and do more of what I love: writing, producing, and multimedia content creation. Each facet of my career was a building block to the next. Early in my career, I would have never dreamed I’d have my own company. However, working for agencies and studios provided me with insight into what I needed to do to become a screenwriter, author, and producer. No one makes you that— you have to create content and then be able to sell and promote it. I believe what sets me apart from others is that I began my career path in the theatre (learning every position) and then did the same in television and film, and subsequently made a dedicated effort to create content (in various formats) to relay and share the stories I hold in my heart to heal, uplift, and inspire.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Family gatherings—cooking in the kitchen with my Mom and Grandmothers, and entertaining with family and friends. I believe the love of this carries through to my project, Simply Delicious Living, as well as my novels.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MaryannRidiniSpencer.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/MaryannRidiniSpencer
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/MaryannRidiniSpencer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannridinispencer
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryannRSpencer
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/MaryannRidiniSpencer
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maryann-Ridini-Spencer/author/B06XBHH6YK

Image Credits
A sampling of credits include: Award-Winning Fiction Kate Grace Novels (Lady in the Window, The Paradise Table, Secrets of Grace Manor, Under the Tropical Skies) Lavender Hill Cove Novels (Lavender Hill Cove, Once Upon a Cove Christmas) Bestselling Non-Fiction Simply Delicious Living® with Maryann – Entrées Country Skies: Prayerful Bible Meditations for Morning & Evening The Mary Garden (Poetry and Photography) Award-Winning Movies Hallmark Hall of Fame “The Lost Valentine” starring Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt, co-producer/writer Roger Corman Presents (various movies for Showtime, The Movie Channel, SyFy, and Foreign Theatrical), executive and co-producer Award-Winning Television The Telly-Award winning “How to” Healthy Cooking/Living series, Simply Delicious Living® with Maryann, PBS-TV, (creator, writer, producer, host). Print & Video columns also appeared in Ventura County Star Sustainable Ventura (creator, writer, producer, reporter) – an environmental series and videos that appeared on local TV in Ventura County and Ventura County Star Cable News Network – entertainment producer/writer Dave Bell Television – producer/writer