Karen Anne Coccioli

Author & Speaker

I was once more at the beginning—a new journey, a different road. Only this time, I would speak my truth without hesitation or fear and never be silenced again. 

~a line from the novel, Paradise

Hi, I’m Karen, author of Paradise. The message in the line above is one that I explore in my books and speaking engagements in a myriad of variations. I do so because discovering, and then, remaining true to our authentic selves fearlessly, is the foundation from which our happiness and love evolves not only towards others but most importantly, for ourselves.

  • Paradise

    The goddess Aphrodite was born of sea foam, and I, too had been reborn of the waters,

    a true birthing as if I came from my mother’s womb all over again.

    Paradise is an FF bi-racial romance, age gap, with a hard-won, heartwarming HEA!

    Claire Leccese is a romance novelist who writes happy endings for a living. Quite ironic, since she’s spent a lifetime battling her demons from childhood trauma and has been anything but happy. She is plagued by self-doubt and an inability to trust people who claim to love her.

    Along comes Sydney Howard, a younger successful artist who rocks Claire’s world and “lit an agreeable blaze inside my belly…” However, as Sydney falls in love with the older woman, Claire’s fears overtake her and she runs away, vowing never to see Sydney again.

    Written in alternating chapters from the past to the present, Paradise spins a journey of forgiveness and healing, and moving through the past as it reveals the complex self-truths and delights of coming out as a gay woman later in life. But will Claire also follow her heart and let it lead her back to true love?

    Please read the trigger warnings inside the book: This book contains graphic scenes, which may trigger some people, including past and present sexual and emotional abuse, and both implicit and implied incest.

  • The Yellow Braid

    “The armored cars of dreams, contrived to let us do so many a dangerous thing…” ~Elizabeth Bishop

    Widowed and distanced from her only daughter, acclaimed poet, Caro Barrone is devastated by the death of her best friend. In search of emotional relief, she abandons her New York City apartment for the beaches of the Long Island Hamptons. There she meets beautiful thirteen-year old Livia Valdez. All begins innocently, but their relationship takes a disquieting turn when Caro becomes obsessed with finding ideal love.

    The Yellow Braid is a provocative look at Platonic love through a sapphic lens.

Follow Karen on Instagram @KarenAnneCoccioli