Author | Copywriter | Voiceover
Tunno women have things to prove — to themselves and to anyone who doubts their dreams or drive.
Fran Tunno discovered her mother was different from her classmates' moms as soon as she hit first grade. Thankfully, the self-consciousness she once felt growing up in an Italian immigrant family has turned to reflective gold. She writes with understated humor of growing up as the child of hunter-gatherers in the swinging 60s. The love she feels for the mother she was once embarrassed by shines through every story.
Whether telling of her mother's love for game show host, Bob Barker, her mom's force-feeding of Fran's friends, or her mother proudly telling a prospective boyfriend that Fran’s dad had never seen his wife naked, Fran was always left with a priceless story, a laugh, and a recipe to share. You may not have an ounce of Italian blood, or a home filled with Catholic statuary, but you're sure to laugh and recall your own treasured family memories while enjoying, "Come On Down, A Little Story About My Italian Mom's Big Dream."
Through her blog, "At Fran's Table," Fran has developed a loyal and loving following. By the time you're through listening to her book,* you'll love her family too, and hopefully be inspired to pursue a big dream of your own!
*The paperback and ebook will be coming out in January or early February.
Fran is a writer and essayist with articles published in The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and The Glendale News Press. The story of her mom’s shining moment as a contestant on the Price is Right was featured on NPR’s Snap Judgment. Her story, “The Power of Pizza,” was selected for Writers Read’s Mother’s Day show in New York City in 2023. That story was also selected for inclusion in the Writers Read ten-year anniversary book.
Fran has made her living as a radio copywriter for the past 22 years. She’s written thousands of commercials and voiced many herself. Fran is also an award-winning blogger, Audie nominated audiobook narrator, voice actress, baker, and cook. She is happily divorced with three marvelous grown children off pursuing their own big dreams using their creative talents.
Originally from New Brighton, Pennsylvania — near Pittsburgh, she has managed to banish "yinz" from her vocabulary, but not from her heart. After forty years in Los Angeles, Fran moved back to Pittsburgh to be closer to her beloved family and cherished childhood friends.
Watch Fran's
Mother's Day 2023
New York Performance with Writer's Read
