About Mary Ann

Mary Ann DeSantis began her career as a newspaper reporter and photographer after receiving a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Her first boss was an old-school curmudgeon who told her that women should stay home and bake cookies. After proving that she could write concisely and succinctly while on deadline for the hard-nosed Saturday night police beat, she moved on to a career in public relations and marketing.

In 2005, Mary Ann decided to leave the security of the corporate world and become a freelance writer in Florida. It was the best decision she ever made because the rewards of sharing stories about people and places have more than exceeded a weekly paycheck.

Mary Ann has written for Lake & Sumter Style, Ocala Style, Business Jet Traveler, Orlando Magazine, Florida Budget Travel, V-Style Magazine, Casino Pulse, AARP Florida, Central Florida Health Alliance, Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, and United Parcel Service. In addition to her freelance work, she currently serves as the co-editor of DeSoto Magazine ~ Exploring the South, a regional publication based in the Memphis Metropolitan Area.

A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Mary Ann has a B.A. degree in journalism with a marketing minor. In 2005, she completed a post-baccalaureate certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida. She is a member of the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).

During the Covid pandemic, Mary Ann discovered the joys of gardening when she wasn’t writing or editing.

As the publisher of three regional publications I have the pleasure of meeting many writers with very different writing techniques. Mary Ann is not only extremely knowledgeable and precise, she also has an energetic flair that captivates and engages the reader. Mary Ann has an outstanding ability of taking even the most sterile of topics and making them interesting and entertaining. She is warm and inviting and a great pleasure to work with!

Kendra Akers
President/Owner, Akers Media Group, Inc.;
Publisher of Healthy Living and Style Magazines

Mary Ann is extremely thorough whether it’s in her fact-finding mode or her organizational skills with large projects. She is a very talented writer with strong creative results. She meets deadlines and will go above and beyond to provide the best product.

Kathy Houser
Corporate Director of Marketing (Retired),
Central Florida Health Alliance

Mary Ann’s work is distinguished by clarity, focus, and eloquence. She analyzes, persuades or tugs emotions, in tidy prose and clear words that flow like music. Client needs and deadlines are priorities. Reliability and professional results are trademarks.

Edward VanHorn
Executive Director,
Southern Newspaper Publishers Association

If you want to work with someone who has the work ethic of 10 people, the writing skills of an accomplished journalist, and the grace and charm of a consummate professional, look no further than Mary Ann DeSantis. Mary Ann is a pro when it comes to framing an editorial project and delivering a feature well beyond expectations… and deadlines. It’s an honor to know and work with her.

Amy Mangan
Former Executive Editor, Ocala Magazine and Ocala HOME;
Editorial Contributor, Southern Accents and Southern Living

Mary Ann has the ability to combine practical requirements of a project with the creative inspiration necessary to produce optimal results with any project. Having Mary Ann as a writer provided me with the confidence that my goals would be achieved no matter what the project!

Kalena Meyers
Dean of Institutional Advancement,
Montverde Academy

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About Mary Ann

Reviews

Mary Ann is extremely thorough whether it’s in her fact-finding mode or her organizational skills with large projects. She is a very talented writer with strong creative results. She meets deadlines and will go above and beyond to provide the best product.

Mary Ann’s work is distinguished by clarity, focus, and eloquence. She analyzes, persuades or tugs emotions, in tidy prose and clear words that flow like music. Client needs and deadlines are priorities. Reliability and professional results are trademarks.

Mary Ann has the ability to combine practical requirements of a project with the creative inspiration necessary to produce optimal results with any project. Having Mary Ann as a writer provided me with the confidence that my goals would be achieved no matter what the project!

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