ODU Presidential Lecture Series Presents Frances Mayes

January 30, 2003


COLUMBUS, OH - Best selling author Frances Mayes will speak at Ohio Dominican University as part of its Presidential Lecture Series, on Thursday, February 27, 2003. The program, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in The Little Theatre of Erskine Hall on the Ohio Dominican campus. Immediately following Mayes' presentation, there will be a reception and book signing.

Mayes is the author of three best selling books, a series of memoirs about Italy. The #1 New York Times best seller Under the Tuscan Sun remained on that list for two years. It was followed by Bella Tuscany, also an international best seller. The third book in the series, In Tuscany, was a collaborative effort between Mayes, Bob Krist, and her husband, poet Edward Mayes. The books have been published in 14 languages.

Under the Tuscan Sun, published in 1996, chronicles Mayes' quest to buy, renovate and settle into an abandoned villa on the outskirts of Cortona, Italy. The book emits passion for all things Italian, and struck a chord with readers unlikely to ever live in the Tuscan countryside. All three highly personal books talk about taking chances, living in Italy, loving a house, the pleasure of food, and the "voluptuousness of Italian life."

In addition to being a best selling author, Mayes is a widely published poet and essayist. She has written five books of poetry, most recently Ex Voto from Lost Roads Publishers.