Draft:Vincent B. LoCoco

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  • Comment: See WP:COI. See also WP:BLP. Statements, starting with the date of birth, need to be sourced or removed. Greenman (talk) 09:57, 3 May 2025 (UTC)



Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco
Born (1968-05-20) May 20, 1968 (age 57)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Occupation(s)Author and Attorney
SpouseWendy Hemel LoCoco
Websitewww.vincentlococo.com

Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco is an American novelist and attorney, best known for The Bellafortuna Series, a collection of historical novels rooted in Sicilian and Italian-American heritage, music, and faith. His works have been recognized for their lyrical prose and thematic depth, often exploring themes of resistance, identity, and artistic calling.[1]

Biography

[edit]

LoCoco was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Vincent T. LoCoco (1934–2017), was an estate planning attorney, and his mother, Lynda Goodier LoCoco (born 1938), is a retired nurse. Raised in a Sicilian-American household, LoCoco developed an early interest in music, storytelling, and history—elements that later became central to his writing.[2]

Writing career

[edit]

LoCoco’s debut novel, Tempesta’s Dream, is set in Milan and centers around an aspiring tenor's dream to perform at La Scala.[3]

LoCoco is also the author of The Bellafortuna Series, a collection of historical novels set in a small Sicilian village that trace the enduring power of music, faith, and resistance across generations. The series includes:

  • A Song for Bellafortuna
  • Saving the Music
  • Sicilian Melody

Each book in the series can be read independently but is thematically linked by its lyrical storytelling, deeply rooted Italian heritage, and the transformative role of music in the lives of its characters.[4]

LoCoco’s historical novel Saving the Music received the American Fiction Award for Historical Fiction.[5] The book was also positively reviewed by Kirkus Reviews.[6] In April 2025, the novel was optioned for adaptation by producer David Franco, with screenwriter Alana Valentine and director Nadia Tass attached.[7]

Saving the Music has been praised for its emotional depth and gripping portrayal of World War II–era struggles, receiving a 5-star review from Readers' Favorite[8] and an in-depth review on Gwendalyn’s Books.[9] The novel's themes of courage and survival in Sicily during the Holocaust have also been highlighted by What Is That Book About.[10] It was also favorably reviewed by AudioFile.[11]

His latest novel, The Devil's Jazz: The Haunted Chronicles of the Axman of New Orleans, was selected as a featured book at the 2025 Louisiana Book Festival.[12] The Devil’s Jazz has attracted positive early reviews for its atmospheric storytelling and suspenseful narrative, including a glowing review on Independent Book Review.[13]

LoCoco has discussed his work and creative process in several interviews, including a detailed conversation about Saving the Music on Books Design,[14] a radio appearance on the Newell Normand Show at WWL,[15] and a podcast series exploring Italian-American heritage and novel writing.[16] He also provided insights into The Devil’s Jazz in an interview on the true crime podcast Quest: A Journey of True Crime and the Paranormal.[17]

[edit]

LoCoco graduated from Loyola Law School in 1993 and joined Many & LoCoco, a New Orleans law firm co-founded by his father in 1967.[18] He specializes in estate planning and has been recognized among the top estate planning attorneys in New Orleans.[19] In 2025, LoCoco contributed to the Louisiana Family Law Treatise (Carolina Academic Press, ISBN 978-1-5310-3336-1), authoring the section on interdictions alongside legal scholars Monica Hof Wallace and Sandi S. Varnado.[20]

Awards and honors

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  • B.R.A.G. Medallion Award for A Song for Bellafortuna[21]
  • American Fiction Award for Saving the Music[22]
  • Buddy D Media Award, Louisiana American Italian Sports Hall of Fame Gala (2025)[23]
  • The Order of St. Louis Medal, awarded by the Archdiocese of New Orleans (2017)[24]

Media and affiliations

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LoCoco is a member of the Italian American Writers Association and has participated in interviews on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM, WGSO 990AM, and podcasts such as Chew on This.[25] He was interviewed by Katie Prejean McGrady about his novel in January 2023.[26]

He is a member of:

Personal life

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LoCoco resides in New Orleans with his wife, Wendy. They have two children, Matthew and Ellie, both students at Auburn University’s pharmacy program. [27] His Sicilian roots and his connection to New Orleans continue to influence his writing and professional work. [28]

Selected works

[edit]
  • Tempesta’s Dream – A Story of Love, Friendship, and Opera (ISBN 978-0972882415)
  • A Song for Bellafortuna (ISBN 978-0972882446)
  • Saving the Music (ISBN 978-0972882477)
  • Sicilian Melody (ISBN 979-8986896304)
  • The Devil’s Jazz (ISBN 979-8986896335)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lawyer pens third in series of fictional 'Bellafortuna'". The Clarion Herald.
  2. ^ "Google Books".
  3. ^ "True Book Addict".
  4. ^ "Clarion Herald".
  5. ^ "American Book Fest". Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  6. ^ "Saving the Music". Kirkus Reviews. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Alana Valentine - Screenwriter".
  8. ^ "Reader's Favorite". 9 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Gwendolyn's Books". 3 June 2020.
  10. ^ "What is this Book About?". 5 June 2020.
  11. ^ "AudioFile".
  12. ^ "Louisiana Book Festival".
  13. ^ "Independent Book Review". 7 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Books Design". 11 June 2020.
  15. ^ "WWL Radio".
  16. ^ "Spotify - Vincent LoCoco Podcast". Spotify.
  17. ^ "Quest Podcast". May 6, 2025.
  18. ^ "Many & LoCoco".
  19. ^ "Three Best Rated Estate Planning Attorneys in New Orleans".
  20. ^ Carolina Academic Press.
  21. ^ "A Song for Bellafortuna – Vincent LoCoco". indieBRAG. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  22. ^ "American Book Fest". Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  23. ^ "Louisiana American Italian Sports Hall of Fame Gala 2025". Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  24. ^ Foltz, Jonelle (2017-04-27). "Order of St. Louis to be bestowed on 257 laypersons". Clarion Herald. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  25. ^ WGSO Producer (2024-06-29). "CHEW ON THIS – JUNE 29, 2024". Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  26. ^ LoCoco, Vincent B. Chip (2023-01-14). "The Secret of Fr. Peter Gumpel – Interview". YouTube. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  27. ^ "Auburn Harrison School of Pharmacy".
  28. ^ "Clarion Herald".