Peace, and thank you for being here.
What a wild ride it’s been. I’m writing this new About section on May 21st, 2020. A year ago I didn’t have a book deal, or anything else (news soon come) in the works. And a few months before that I didn’t even have an agent. I’m grateful for growth, patience, and all who have supported me on this journey.
My debut novel, BLACK BUCK, is OUT NOW from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), and I am so excited. Not only was HMH the perfect home for my book, because of their genuine enthusiasm for the work and getting it into the hands of as many people as possible, but their NYC offices are also located in the very building where the book takes place! I don’t believe in coincidences.
A little on BLACK BUCK:
For fans of Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street—a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like, and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems.
A hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America’s workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Sounds ambitious, right? I believe it lives up to its description, but you decide and let me know. Order it here.
Aside from preparing for the launch of BLACK BUCK, I’m working on other projects, helping to raise awareness and funds for Defy Ventures, and taking the time to express my gratitude to all who support the book.
If it matters, my writing has appeared in Lit Hub, Electric Literature, Entrepreneur, The Rumpus, Catapult, Medium, and more. I was also a 2018 Rhode Island Writers Colony writer-in-residence.
A few of my favorite pastimes include watching music videos and movie trailers ad nauseum (I have recommendations, if you need any), drinking copious amounts of yerba mate (I wouldn’t have been able to write BLACK BUCK without it), and dancing in my apartment (follow along on IG to catch me in the act). I live in Brooklyn, and you can follow me on Instagram or Twitter at @AskMateo. Feel free to send me an email here, if you’d like.
With love,
Mateo
Photo: FifthGod