Marion Cunningham was born in Southern California and has been a lifelong resident of the state. She was responsible for the most recent versions of The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and is the author of The Fannie Farmer Baking Book, The Breakfast Book, The Supper Book, Cooking with Children and Learning to Cook with Marion Cunningham.

Marion assisted James Beard for 11 years, helping him with his cooking classes and traveling across the country with him. She has taught numerous cooking classes and given demonstrations on her own, as well, and travels extensively around the United States to do so.

Marion has contributed articles to Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, and Gourmet magazines, and writes a column for the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. She is a founding member of The Bakers Dozen.

 Marion lives in Walnut Creek, California.