Marianne Belardi

Blooming in the Desert: A Love Letter to Arizona.

From the lush gardens of her New York childhood to the sun-washed landscapes of the American Southwest, Marianne Belardi never expected Arizona to become the backdrop for one of the most transformative chapters of her life. What began as a simple visit to her sister in 1988 turned into a journey of rediscovery—of home, heritage, and self.

Author Marianne Belardi

In her Wanderlust Chronicles story, Blooming in the Desert: A Love Letter to Arizona, Marianne traces her unlikely path from a crowded, multigenerational Long Island home to the wide-open skies and vibrant hues of desert life. Arriving in Phoenix as a young woman searching for purpose, she found more than just sunshine—she found herself. The desert’s rugged beauty mirrored her own resilience; its stillness gave her room to heal, to explore, and to grow into the woman she was always meant to be.

Marianne’s reflections reveal how transformation doesn’t always happen across oceans or through grand adventures. Sometimes, it happens in unexpected places—while translating for a computer company in the middle of the desert, learning to ride horses along the Salt River, or managing a lively 1950s-themed diner where locals and celebrities mingled over milkshakes and laughter. Through friendships, heartbreaks, creative pursuits, and serendipitous encounters, she discovered that reinvention can be as natural as a cactus blooming after rain.

“I am thrilled to be part of Wanderlust Chronicles! Arizona was not on my original list of potential destinations to write about within the context of transformation. Talk about overlooking the obvious! I was often surprised and delighted by the revelations that surfaced as I reflected on a trip that truly was life-changing.” — Marianne Belardi

Today, Marianne sees Arizona as both muse and mentor—a place that taught her to embrace change, beauty, and even grief as part of a larger cycle of becoming. Her story is infused with colour and gratitude: for the friendships that sustained her, for the ‘other mothers’ who guided her, and for the desert that has, over decades, shaped her perspective on life and love.

Marianne is a writer, reader, editor, cook, caregiver, recycler, overthinker, polyglot, hugger, and PANK (Proud Auntie, No Kids). Food has been her love language since childhood, and she continues to explore the connections between nourishment, creativity, and community from her home in Arizona.

📖 Discover Marianne’s full story in Wanderlust Chronicles: Transformative Travel Tales—a bestselling anthology celebrating women who found transformation through travel.