Frances Mayes is an American writer of memoirs, poetry, and travel books. She is best known for her memoir Under the Tuscan Sun (1996), which was adapted into a film in 2003. The book remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for more than two years and was named a New York Times Notable Book of 1997.
Mayes later received awards for her travel writing, including the Gold Medal from the SATWF Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition.
Frances Mayes was born on 23 March 1940 in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Garbert Mayes, a cotton mill manager, and Frankye Mayes. She was the youngest of three sisters. Her father died of cancer at the age of 47 when she was 14.
In 1958, Mayes began her studies at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She later transferred to the University of Florida, where she completed her BA. During her time there, she met her first husband, William Frank King. The couple married when Mayes was 22 and moved to California. They had one daughter, Ashley King.
Mayes returned to higher education in California and earned an MA from San Francisco State University in 1975. After graduating, she joined the faculty there as Professor of Creative Writing. She served as director of The Poetry Centre and later as Chair of the Department of Creative Writing.
Her marriage ended in the 1980s. Following her divorce, Mayes began a relationship with fellow poet and professor Edward Kleinschmidt. In 1989, she purchased a historic villa named Bramasole in Cortona, Italy, and undertook an extensive renovation project.
She later remarked, “I had no idea what I was getting into, but I knew I wanted a house where I could write.”
The experience formed the basis of her memoir Under the Tuscan Sun (1996), which became an international success and established her as a full-time writer. The memoir was later adapted into the 2003 film directed by Audrey Wells.
She followed with Bella Tuscany (1999) and In Tuscany (2000), as well as other memoirs, including Bringing Tuscany Home (2004) and Every Day in Tuscany (2010). Her novels include Swan (2002) and Women in Sunlight (2019). She also published the travel book A Year in the World (2006) and co-authored The Tuscan Sun Cookbook.
In 1998, she married Edward Kleinschmidt, who adopted her surname. In 2007, the family relocated their American residence from San Francisco to North Carolina. Mayes continues to divide her time between North Carolina and Cortona.
Her later works include See You in the Piazza (2019), Always Italy (2020), which received awards from the SATWF and NATJA, and A Place in the World (2022). In 2023, Frances Mayes co-authored the cookbook Pasta Veloce.
Photo credit: www.francesemayes.com
Mayes later received awards for her travel writing, including the Gold Medal from the SATWF Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition.
Frances Mayes was born on 23 March 1940 in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Garbert Mayes, a cotton mill manager, and Frankye Mayes. She was the youngest of three sisters. Her father died of cancer at the age of 47 when she was 14.
In 1958, Mayes began her studies at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She later transferred to the University of Florida, where she completed her BA. During her time there, she met her first husband, William Frank King. The couple married when Mayes was 22 and moved to California. They had one daughter, Ashley King.
Mayes returned to higher education in California and earned an MA from San Francisco State University in 1975. After graduating, she joined the faculty there as Professor of Creative Writing. She served as director of The Poetry Centre and later as Chair of the Department of Creative Writing.
Her marriage ended in the 1980s. Following her divorce, Mayes began a relationship with fellow poet and professor Edward Kleinschmidt. In 1989, she purchased a historic villa named Bramasole in Cortona, Italy, and undertook an extensive renovation project.
She later remarked, “I had no idea what I was getting into, but I knew I wanted a house where I could write.”
The experience formed the basis of her memoir Under the Tuscan Sun (1996), which became an international success and established her as a full-time writer. The memoir was later adapted into the 2003 film directed by Audrey Wells.
She followed with Bella Tuscany (1999) and In Tuscany (2000), as well as other memoirs, including Bringing Tuscany Home (2004) and Every Day in Tuscany (2010). Her novels include Swan (2002) and Women in Sunlight (2019). She also published the travel book A Year in the World (2006) and co-authored The Tuscan Sun Cookbook.
In 1998, she married Edward Kleinschmidt, who adopted her surname. In 2007, the family relocated their American residence from San Francisco to North Carolina. Mayes continues to divide her time between North Carolina and Cortona.
Her later works include See You in the Piazza (2019), Always Italy (2020), which received awards from the SATWF and NATJA, and A Place in the World (2022). In 2023, Frances Mayes co-authored the cookbook Pasta Veloce.
Photo credit: www.francesemayes.com
years of life: 23 March 1940 – present
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