BIOGRAPHY: 2500 words
Last updated: August 16, 2023

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is the wife of Dominic A. Diorio, MD, a retired Emergency Room physician.  Dom and MaryAnn have been married for 54 years and are the blessed parents of two amazing adult daughters, Lia Diorio Gerken, PhD, and Gina L. Diorio, M.A.; parents-in-law to two fantastic sons-in-law, Peter Gerken, M.S. and Colonel Tito Pope; and grandparents to seven wonderful grandchildren. Theirs is a closely knit family who enjoy spending time with one another over a good cup of coffee or a delicious Italian meal, usually cooked by Dr. Dom, a master chef.

When not writing, MaryAnn loves to read, paint, play the piano and cello, and spend time with her family. She intensely loves people and is a great encourager and motivatore to greatness.

Dr. MaryAnn, as she is affectionately called, is a widely published, multi-award-winning author who writes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for both adults and children. She has written seven novels, two novellas, and numerous short stories and articles. Her work has appeared in over 100 national magazines, newspapers, and journals, including The Saturday Evening Post, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, The Press of Atlantic City, and Human Events.  MaryAnn has also served as head writer for a regional television series entitled Teen Machine.

MaryAnn’s writing is based not on opinion, interpretation, or cultural consensus, but on Scriptural truth.  At all times, she remains faithful to Biblical principles.

In 1979, Dr. MaryAnn accepted God’s call on her life to become a writer. For several years, her popular syndicated column, Winning with the Word, appeared in newspapers throughout the state of New Jersey. She was also a contributor to the AMY Foundation’s Internet Syndicate via its national column, Real Answers, that was published in newspapers throughout the United States.

MaryAnn has authored the following books:


She has also been a contributor to eight other books:


MaryAnn has written eight booklets:


MaryAnn has appeared on several radio, television, and Internet talk shows, including The Rich Zeoli Show on Philly talk radio 1210 AM;  Read All about It with RadioVision program hostess Stefani Milan; the popular Christian Authors Show with Danielle Hampson; the nation-wide LeSea Alive program with the late Dr. Lester Sumrall; By the Book hosted by Debbie Williams; and Women of Grace hosted by Kelly McCausey. She has also been interviewed on WDAS (Philadelphia), WIBG (South Jersey), and WNNN (South Jersey). Articles about her writing have appeared in The Press of Atlantic City, The Daily Journal, The Millville News, The Bridgeton Evening News, and The Times Herald of her hometown of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. MaryAnn has served as a distinguished judge for the annual AMY Writing Awards Program, the annual Capitol Writers Writing Contest (Washington, DC area), the annual American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis Contest., and the ACFW First Impressions Contest.  She is listed in International Who’s Who, Who’s Who in the East, International Authors and Writers Who’s Who, Dictionary of International Biography, The World Who’s Who of Women, Who’s Who in the World, The International Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, The National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. Most important of all, MaryAnn rejoices that she is listed in The Lamb’s Book of Life!


MaryAnn holds several degrees:

  • The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature from the University of Kansas;
  • The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree in Christian Counseling from Christian Leadership University;
  • The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature from the University of Kansas;
  • The Master of Arts (MA) degree in Italian Language & Literature from Middlebury College;
  • The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Writing Popular Fiction with a concentration in Writing for Children from Seton Hill University;
  • The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in French from Immaculata University;


She has also completed studies and is a diplomate of the following institutions:

  • The  Institute of Children’s Literature: Writing for Children & Teenagers;
  • The Highlights Foundation Workshop, Writing the Middle-Grade Novel:
  • The RHEMA Correspondence Bible School (Three-Year Program of Study);
  • Christian Leaders, Authors, & Speakers Services (CLASS);
  • The Life Coach Institute (Certification in Life Coaching);
  • American Association of Christian Counselors, Light University, Caring for God’s People.


WRITING AWARDS WON

  • Finalist in Romantic Suspense for Miracle in Milan in the 2022 Reader’s Choice Awards Contest sponsored by Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers
  • First Place in Historical Fiction for In Black and White in the 2020 Christian Indie Book Awards Contest
  • The Silver Medal for E-Book Fiction for in the Illumination Book Awards Contest sponsored by the Jerry Jenkins Group for her novella, A Christmas Homecoming (2015)
  • First Place in Inspirational Category for Novel, Spacecoast Launching a Star Contest (2011) for The Madonna of Pisano (formerly titled Sicilian Sunrise)
  • First Place in Inspirational Category for Novel for The Madonna of Pisano (formerly titled Sicilian Sunrise) in the Colorado RWA Heart of the Rockies Contest (2011)
  • Second Place in Historical Category for Novel for The Madonna of Pisano (formerly titled Sicilian Sunrise) in the Romance Writers’ Ink Where the Magic BeginsContest (2011)
  • Second Place in Inspirational Category for Novel for The Madonna of Pisano (formerly titled Sicilian Sunrise) in the East Texas RWA Southern Heat Contest (2009)
  • Third Place in Women’s Fiction for The Madonna of Pisano (formerly titled Sicilian Sunrise) in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest (2006)
  • Second Place for Novel, The Madonna of Pisano (formerly titled Sicilian Sunrise) in the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference Contest (1992)
  • Honorable Mention for radio script, TAKE ONE Radio Theatre (1990)
  • Top 100 Short Stories ranking for “The Birthmark”, Writers’ Digest Short Story Contest (1990)
  • Fifth Place, National Writers’ Club Short Story Contest for “The Birthmark” (1990)
  • Third Place for “From Feminism to Freedom,” AMY Writing Awards, (1990)
  • Poetry Award for “The Beauty of Stars,” National High School Poetry Association Contest (1960)


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MaryAnn has taught Italian at the University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas); French at Pitman High School (Pitman, New Jersey); Italian and French at Cumberland County College (Vineland, New Jersey);  English, French, Spanish, and Creative Writing at the Fairton Christian Center Academy (Fairton, New Jersey); and Writing for Children and Public Speaking at Rowan University  (Glassboro, New Jersey). She also served as Assistant Professor of Italian and Spanish at Camden County College (Blackwood, New Jersey); Adjunct Professor of Biblical Business Principles at New Life Bible College  (Millville, New Jersey); Adjunct Professor of Writing at Nottingham-Trent University (United Kingdom); and Adjunct Online Professor of French and Fiction Writing at Regent University (Virginia Beach, Virginia).

MaryAnn has served on the faculty of several writers’ conferences, including the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference, the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Conference, the Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ Conference, and The New Jersey Society of Christian Writers’ Seminar.

In 1984, MaryAnn founded Daystar Communications, later known as Daystar Ministries International. She ran this ministry until 2005, at which point it was incorporated into MaryAnn’s writing business. In 2011, she changed the name to MaryAnn Diorio Ministries and, subsequently, to its current name of MaryAnn Diorio Enterprises, LLC.

MaryAnn is also a Certified Life Coach, a Certified Health Coach, a Certified Behavioral Consultant, and a Certified Biblical Counselor as well as a gifted Bible teacher whose heart’s desire is to help people become all that God created them to be. She publishes a weekly blog and podcast titled Winning with the Word that reaches 79 countries throughout the world.

Dr. MaryAnn is a member in good standing of the following organizations:


FORMAL EDUCATION:

Dr. MaryAnn holds several degrees and certifications:

  • The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature from the University of Kansas;
  • The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree in Christian Counseling from Christian Leadership University;
  • The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature from the University of Kansas;
  • The Master of Arts (MA) degree in Italian Language & Literature from Middlebury College and the University of Florence, Italy;
  • The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Writing Popular Fiction with a concentration in Writing for Children from Seton Hill University;
  • The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in French from Immaculata University;


She has also completed studies and is a diplomate of the following institutions:

  • The  Institute of Children’s Literature: Writing for Children & Teenagers;
  • The Highlights Foundation Workshop, Writing the Middle-Grade Novel:
  • The RHEMA Correspondence Bible School (Three-Year Program of Study);
  • Christian Leaders, Authors, & Speakers Services (CLASS);
  • The Life Coach Institute (Certification in Life Coaching);
  • American Association of Christian Counselors, Light University, Caring for God’s People.


PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

–International Who’s Who
–Who’s Who in the East
–International Authors and Writers Who’s Who
–Dictionary of International Biography
–The World Who’s Who of Women
–Who’s Who in the World
–International Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women
–The Nationwide Registry of Who’s Who in Executives and Businesses
–Who’s Who of American Women
–Who’s Who in America
–Who’s Who in Finance and Business


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio has taught Italian at the University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas); French at Pitman High School (Pitman, New Jersey); Italian and French at Cumberland County College (Vineland, New Jersey);  English, French, Spanish, and Creative Writing at the Fairton Christian Center Academy (Fairton, New Jersey); and Writing for Children and Public Speaking at Rowan University  (Glassboro, New Jersey). She also served as Assistant Professor of Italian and Spanish at Camden County College (Blackwood, New Jersey); Adjunct Professor of Biblical Business Principles at New Life Bible College  (Millville, New Jersey); Online Adjunct Professor of Writing at Nottingham-Trent University (United Kingdom); and Online Adjunct Professor of both French and Fiction Writing at Regent University (Virginia Beach, Virginia).


MaryAnn has served on the faculty of several writers’ conferences, including the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference, the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Conference, the Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ Conference, and The New Jersey Society of Christian Writers’ Seminar.


In 1984, MaryAnn founded Daystar Communications, later known as Daystar Ministries International. She ran this ministry until 2005, at which point it was incorporated into MaryAnn’s other ministries. In 2011, she changed the name to MaryAnn Diorio Ministries.


MaryAnn is also a Certified Life Coach, a Certified Behavioral Consultant, and a Certified Biblical Counselor. For 12 years, she owned and operated TopNotch Communicatiodns Group, a multi–faceted business that included three main divisions: TopNotch Life Coaching, TopNotch Writing Solutions, and TopNotch Translation Services. In 2013 she closed this business to become a full-time writer of fiction.


Dr. MaryAnn is a gifted Bible teacher whose heart’s desire is to help people become all that God created them to be.

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Writing Classes & Workshops MaryAnn Has Taught

April 10, 2022
San Gabriel Writers League
Georgetown, TX
How to Write Fiction in Deep POV


June 19-23, 2012
St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference
Grove City College, Grove City, PA
Writing Short Stories for Children
Writing Non-Fiction for Children
Writing with Pizzazz!
Life Management for Writers


July 21-26, 2002
Montrose Christian Writers’ Conference (Montrose, PA)
Juvenile Fiction
Writing for Teens and Young Adults
Keynote: The Christian Writer as Salt and Light

June 21-22, 2002
Mid-Atlantic Christian Writers’ Conference (Gaithersburg, MD)
Writing for Children
Life Management for Writers


June 18-23, 2000
St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference (Geneva College)
Writing for Children
Life Management for Writers
Keynote Address


November 4, 1999
Christian Writers’ Club Internet Chat
Self-Image and the Writer


April 29-30, 1994
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Spring Seminar
Writing for Women


October 6, 1993
Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ ConferenceWriting for Women
The Christian Writer As Salt and LightOctober 31, 1992
The New Jersey Society of Christian Writers’ Seminar
Breaking into the Secular Market

October 6, 1992
Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ Conference
Writing for Women in the ’90’s


June 25, 1992
35th Annual St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference
Writing for the Secular Market


May 8-9, 1992
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Spring Seminar
Paid Critiques


April 11, 1992
St. Davids Christian Writers’ Seminar (Howell, NJ)
Keynote Address: The Writer As Visionary


June 8-10, 1990
42nd Annual Philadelphia Writers’ Conference
Inspirational Writing (Three-day workshop)


November 16, 1989
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship
Time Management for Writers


July 15, 1989
Fairton Christian Center Writers’ Workshop
The Basics of Article Writing


March 28, 1987
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Spring Seminar
The Basics of Article Writing


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)
Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers
The Christian Coaches Network 

For all that God has done and continues to do in her life, MaryAnn gives Him all the praise and all the glory!  Her greatest joy is that, by the grace of God, her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

 

 

 

 

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Copyright 2023 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved.