About Frank Curtiss

BIO

Author, Frank Curtiss, a retired chef and Italian restaurant owner from Seattle

You will find a variety of works on this website. Frank has authored an Italian cookbook, Frankie at Home in the Kitchen, a series of novels known as The Antonio Cortese Mysteries, set In Italy, and most recently a book about his personal story titled, Pursuing the Heart of God: One Man’s Story of Healing and Restoration. It is the story of some very difficult losses he and his family have lived through and God’s amazing hand to bring restoration.

Deception in Siena, book one of the Antonio Cortese Mystery series, was Frank’s debut novel. Books two and three, Missing in Firenze, and Death in Abundance, are a continuation of that story. A fourth novel is currently in the works.

Before becoming an author, Frank and his wife Rhonda owned a popular Italian restaurant, Frankie’s Pizza and Pasta, in Redmond, Washington. After 24 years as a renowned local hotspot, their landlords sold the property to a developer, forcing Frank and Rhonda to make a tough decision. That is when they chose to retire from the restaurant business and Frank decided to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a writer.

During their years as restaurateurs, they traveled to Italy multiple times for rest and inspiration. Frank became enamored with all things Italian: the place, the people, the beauty, the food, and of course, the wine. Thus, it was a natural choice to use the scenic beauty and charm of Italy as the primary setting for his mystery novels. He states, “As a writer, I have drawn upon my lifetime of experiences as a traveler, photographer, artist, chef, restaurateur, wine connoisseur, gardener, and cyclist. I believe that all of my life experiences, including its many hardships have helped me to create characters of great depth and character.”

Frank and Rhonda grew up in southern California. They moved to Washington State in 1979, and currently reside in Redmond, Washington. They have two adult sons, both married, and currently have the joy of raising a teenage granddaughter.

Frank and Rhonda