Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany author, Frances Mayes, will be speaking at the State Theatre on the evening of Tuesday, March 27th. She is the third in the inspirational lecture series from SmartTalk.
Ms. Mayes’ life took a turn after a vacation in Tuscany. She fell in love with the neglected 200-year old Tuscan farmhouse Bramasole while touring the countryside. Mayes bought it and didn’t return from her Italian holiday. This has resulted in her passion for Italian cooking, writing best-selling books, a new cookbook, traveling, and a furnishings and accessories line named At Home in Tuscany.
She was previously a creative writing professor at San Francisco State University, then re-invented herself in Italy. You can still buy tickets for this evening of inspiration, and perhaps discover how to re-invite YOURself.
I scored a 10% discount code for you this season! Just use RB 12 source code PT when ordering single tickets, or RB 12 source code PackSpec PT for a 3-pak. I also have a pair of tickets to give away to one of my readers ($120 value). Just write that you’d like to go in the comment section below, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win! The winner will be announced on Saturday, the 24th. If the winner doesn’t come forward by Sunday, a new winner will be announced. These tickets are courtesy of SmartTalk. Good luck!
Love her — would LOVE to go!
You’re in the running! I just need your first name in case I have to announce you as the winner.
‘Anonymous’, you’re the winner of the tickets!
I loved Frances Mayes first book, and couldn’t understand why I had some trouble w her ” Everyday in Tuscany ” til I read all the negative reviews on Amazon Books. Basically there is no story..she goes on describing her dreamy perfect life in Tuscany where she basically lives to pamper herself. Oddly enough she puts down other expats there..especially the Americans saying they don’t connect w the locals .
Perhaps it is Frances who does not connect w the locals..I’m not talking about the immediate neighbors who won’t allow her to dine alone or tge local bourgioussie merchant class whose goodies she purchases. I’m talking about those who unlike her either do not own land or can afford their own swimming pool. She has one..not huge, but it affords privacy and the luxury of cooling off outside in a leisurely manner when its hot out. She writes about how swelteringly hot it gets there in summer. So why would Mayes sign a petition to prevent a public swimming pool for those in her area who can’t afford to live as she does .
No doubt many of these people are kids of all ages, moms who need a break , and the elderly on most likely on small fixed incomes at best . Not everyone in Tuscany is living well..especially since austerity measures have hit Italy as,well as globally.
Some people become successful and w each million lose some of their humanity. If she truly loves Tuscany she would also feel for these not so marvelous and glamorous commoners . One did overreact and placed a hand grenade outside her home…deplorable. Still..Mayes made a decent income from writing about the wonders of everyday Tuscany..yet ,truth be told..perhaps she does not consider the true everday Tuscans to be worthy of any luxury unless they do it her way. Ive lost a wee bit of admiration for her.
Error in second paragraph..should read ” do not own land OR cannot afford their own swimming pool”