Picture a Korean-born storyteller who weaves tales of identity and culture with a sharp, heartfelt pen—meet Matthew Salesses! A novelist, essayist, and professor, Salesses has carved a unique space in contemporary literature, blending his experiences as a Korean adoptee with incisive explorations of race and storytelling. His national bestseller Craft in the Real World and PEN/Faulkner finalist Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear have made him a vital voice in Asian American literature.
With a style that’s both introspective and bold, Salesses invites readers into worlds where personal and cultural narratives collide. Ready to discover the man behind the stories? Let’s dive into his journey!
The Making of Matthew Salesses
Born in South Korea and adopted at age two by white American parents, Matthew Salesses grew up in Storrs, Connecticut, navigating the complexities of identity in a predominantly white community. His early love for storytelling led him to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied English and creative writing. After teaching English in Prague and South Korea, Salesses honed his craft with an MFA from Emerson College and a PhD from the University of Houston. These experiences shaped his perspective, infusing his work with themes of displacement and belonging.
Matthew Salesses’s Unforgettable Stories
Salesses’s bibliography is a vibrant tapestry of fiction and nonfiction, each work pulsing with emotional depth and cultural insight. His 2015 novel The Hundred-Year Flood, an Amazon bestseller, follows a Korean American adoptee in Prague, blending myth and reality to explore loss and self-discovery. Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear (2020), a PEN/Faulkner finalist, tackles Asian American stereotypes with haunting humor, set against a backdrop of political unease.
His nonfiction shines just as brightly. Craft in the Real World (2021), a national bestseller, challenges the Eurocentric biases of traditional writing workshops, advocating for diverse storytelling traditions. Salesses’s essay collection Different Racisms: On Stereotypes, the Individual, and Asian American Masculinity (2014) offers a candid look at the model minority myth and media representation, drawing from his own life as a Korean adoptee. His writing style—lyrical yet accessible—invites readers to question societal norms while feeling deeply seen.
His latest novel, The Sense of Wonder (2023), follows an Asian American NBA star, weaving sports, media, and identity into a funny, heart-rending narrative. Whether in fiction or essays, Salesses’s work resonates with anyone grappling with who they are in a world that often demands conformity.
Why Matthew Salesses Matters
Matthew Salesses’s impact on Asian American literature is profound. Named one of BuzzFeed’s 32 Essential Asian American Writers in 2015, he’s reshaped how we think about craft and identity in storytelling. His advocacy for inclusive writing practices has influenced classrooms and workshops, amplifying marginalized voices. Through his essays in outlets like NPR’s Code Switch and The New York Times, Salesses has sparked conversations about adoption, race, and masculinity, making the personal universal.
His work doesn’t just entertain—it challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about racism and belonging. As a professor at Virginia Tech, Salesses continues to mentor the next generation, ensuring his legacy endures in both literature and education.
- Born: South Korea, adopted at age two
- Key Works: Craft in the Real World, Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear, The Hundred-Year Flood, The Sense of Wonder
- Awards: PEN/Faulkner finalist, Dublin Literary Award longlist
- Fun Fact: Salesses’s essays are featured in Best American Essays 2020!
Snag Craft in the Real World or The Sense of Wonder and dive into Matthew Salesses’s thought-provoking, soul-stirring stories today!