By
Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern
Writers Magazine
Frances Mayes author of Under the Tuscan Sun was asked what her expectations
were upon writing her book. Having been a Professor of Creative Writing and a
poet with several books of poetry to her credit this would be her first book
other than poetry based on her memories of buying, renovating and living in an
abandoned villa in Tuscany. She explained she expected it to sell like her books
of poetry, not many.
If
you have read the book or even saw the movie you are aware of the story. She
brings the villa and surrounding property back to life. Again, expectations
come up. As Mayes states, “It’s a story about a woman taking a risk, doing
something out of her expectations.”
Written in 1996 it went to Number One on
the New York Times Bestseller list and stayed there for over two years. The
movie was released in 2003 and was loosely based on her book. The movie
revitalized the sale of her books and to this day the success of the book
amazes the author. When Mayes was asked if she had expected this in her career
as an author she said, “Isn’t it great not to be able to expect it? Because if
you can expect and predict it’s not as much fun.”
Expectations
are something each of us live with. Some are taken for granted while others are
only hoped for. Those we take for granted are terribly missed when they no
longer exist. Those hoped for are either met or exceed our expectations or they
fall flat. If they fall flat, we consider it as getting our hopes up too high.
If they meet or exceed, we may say we knew it was going to happen. I once asked
a young girl if she had ever flown in an airplane. Her answer was, “My Daddy
always told me never get higher than picking corn or lower than digging
potatoes.” Thinking she may have missed the point of her Daddy’s wisdom I had
to laugh. But wisdom is was. Getting your hopes and expectations up too high or
even not high enough can be a dream killer.
Back
to Mayes statement, “If you expect and predict it’s not as much fun.” In her
case her expectations of the sales of Under the Tuscan Sun would be like
her other books of poetry was like digging potatoes. It in fact was like
picking corn. Now we know what she means by “If you expect and predict it’s not
as much fun.” If you write with no
expectations other than fulfilling your passion. You will never be
disappointed.
