Picture a Dominican storyteller who transformed the streets of New York City into a vibrant literary canvas—meet Cleyvis Natera! Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the heart of NYC, Natera has emerged as a literary force with her debut novel, Neruda on the Park. Her stories weave together themes of immigrant identity, community resilience, and the bittersweet clash of gentrification, all told with a warmth and honesty that pull readers right into her world.
With a knack for crafting unforgettable characters and a style that blends lyrical prose with gritty realism, Natera captures the pulse of Dominican-American life. Her work doesn’t just entertain—it challenges us to rethink home, belonging, and the sacrifices we make to protect what we love. Ready to dive into her story?
The Making of Cleyvis Natera
Born in the Dominican Republic, Cleyvis Natera immigrated to the United States at age ten, landing in New York City’s Washington Heights in the early 1990s. Growing up in a tight-knit Dominican community, she found solace in books, crediting authors like Julia Alvarez and Toni Morrison for sparking her love of storytelling. Despite a demanding corporate job in insurance, Natera pursued her passion for writing, earning a BA from Skidmore College and an MFA from New York University. Her journey wasn’t easy—balancing a career, motherhood, and writing took grit, but her persistence paid off with a powerful literary debut.
Cleyvis Natera’s Unforgettable Stories
Natera’s debut novel, Neruda on the Park, published in 2022 by Ballantine Books, is a tour de force. Set in the fictional Nothar Park, a Dominican enclave in Upper Manhattan, the story follows the Guerrero family as they face the looming threat of gentrification. Eusebia, the fierce matriarch, hatches a daring plan to save her neighborhood, while her daughter Luz, a high-flying lawyer, grapples with her own ambitions and a risky romance. Natera’s prose is vivid and intimate, painting a community alive with salsa music, gossiping neighbors, and the scent of homemade pasteles.
Her writing style blends literary depth with thriller-like propulsion, tackling heavy themes—displacement, Blackness, and women’s agency—with humor and heart. Natera’s second novel, The Grand Paloma Resort, is slated for release in August 2025, promising another rich exploration of identity and belonging. Her essays and short stories, published in outlets like The New York Times Book Review and The Kenyon Review, showcase her versatility, often reflecting on the immigrant experience with sharp insight.
What sets Natera apart is her commitment to authenticity. She draws from her own life in NYC’s Dominican neighborhoods, creating characters who feel like neighbors you’ve known forever. Her work challenges stereotypes, celebrating the resilience and complexity of Black and Latine communities while exposing the violence of unchecked development.
Why Cleyvis Natera Matters
Cleyvis Natera’s impact lies in her ability to give voice to underrepresented stories. Her portrayal of Dominican-American life—especially through Black and Afro-Latina lenses—fills a crucial gap in contemporary fiction. By tackling gentrification, she doesn’t just tell a story; she sparks conversations about race, class, and the cost of progress. Her work has earned accolades, including a PEN America award and the 2024 Toni Morrison Fiction Fellowship, cementing her as a rising star.
Natera’s influence extends beyond the page. As a creative writing professor at Fordham University and St. Joseph’s College, she inspires the next generation of writers to embrace their authentic selves. Her story of perseverance—writing a novel over 15 years while juggling corporate life—resonates with anyone chasing a dream against the odds.
- Born: Dominican Republic
- Key Work: Neruda on the Park (2022)
- Upcoming: The Grand Paloma Resort (2025)
- Awards: PEN America, Toni Morrison Fiction Fellowship
Snag Neruda on the Park and dive into Cleyvis Natera’s vibrant, heartfelt world—you won’t want to leave Nothar Park!