Colleen Oakley
Writing Coach
Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of five novels translated into more than 21 languages and optioned for film. Colleen was awarded Georgia Author of the Year in 2021. Her debut, Before I Go, was a People magazine Best New Book, Us Weekly Must Pick, Library Journal Big Fiction Debut, and an Indie Next Pick. Her second novel, Close Enough to Touch, won the French Reader’s Prize. Accolades for Colleen’s other novels include being twice longlisted for the Southern Book Prize, picks for Good Morning America, Marie Claire Book Club, Reader’s Digest Book Club, O magazine’s Top Romance Books, Southern Living’s Most Anticipated, Today’s Most Anticipated, and the Emily Giffin Book Club. Colleen’s writing has featured in the New York Times, Women’s Health, Redbook, Parade, Woman’s Day, Marie Claire, and Martha Stewart Weddings. Colleen graduated from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism and worked across many publications, becoming senior editor of Marie Claire.
Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch and Before I Go. Her books have been translated into more than 21 languages, optioned for film, and have received numerous accolades, including the French Reader’s Prize and Georgia Author of the Year.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise was a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, a Marie Claire Book Club pick, a Reader’s Digest Book Club pick, a LibraryReads pick, one of Southern Living’s Most Anticipated 2023 Releases, and one of Today’s Most Anticipated 2023 Releases.
Her books have been named best books by People, Us Weekly, Library Journal and Real Simple, and have been longlisted for the Southern Book Prize.
A former magazine editor for Women’s Health & Fitness and Marie Claire, Colleen lives in Atlanta with her husband, four children, three chickens, and a mutt named Baxter.
Colleen is currently at work on her sixth novel. If you’re writing women’s fiction, Up Lit or love stories, you’ll find Colleen a supportive cheerleader and mentor.
Colleen’s Genres
- Contemporary Fiction
- Romance
- Up Lit
- Women’s Fiction
‘Persevere. Keep at it. This industry is really all about the people who don’t give up.’