In this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes her guest, local author, artist, and film producer Kerri Lane Mariano. Kerri is the founder of the Mariano Art and Film Foundation. The conversation begins with Janet's introduction of Kerri and a brief history of their long-standing acquaintance. Kerri shares her journey from her beginnings at Shenandoah University to becoming a filmmaker and author. She highlights her experience working on various projects, including the film "Santa Girl" and her latest (first) book, "The Gingerbread Games."

Kerri discusses her inspirations and the process of turning her screenplay into her book, enriched with local settings and characters inspired by real people and personal experiences. They delve into the differences between scriptwriting and authoring a book, focusing on the depth and detail a book allows compared to a screenplay. Kerri shares some quirky family holiday traditions that influenced her writings and mentions her use of local landmarks and businesses in her stories to give them authenticity.

They also touch upon Kerri's recent entry into various film and commercial contests, including one for Doritos, and her efforts to promote her book through local book signings. Kerri hints at her upcoming projects, including a romantic comedy and a thriller. Visit https://marianoaff.com/ for more information and follow her on Facebook to stay updated on future projects.