Mat Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mat Johnson
Johnson at the 2011 Texas Book Festival
Born	(1970-08-19) August 19, 1970 (age 54) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Greene Street Friends School West Chester University University of Wales, Swansea
Alma mater	Earlham College (BA) Columbia University School of the Arts (MFA)
Notable works	Pym (2011) Incog... (2008) Loving Day (2015)

Mat Johnson (born August 19, 1970) is an American writer. He is known for writing both novels and comic books. In 2007, he received the first USA James Baldwin Fellowship, a special award for artists.

Early Life and Education

Mat Johnson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the city's Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods. His mother was African-American and his father was Irish Catholic.

Johnson went to several schools, including Earlham College, where he earned his first degree. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University School of the Arts in 1999. This is a special degree for people who study creative fields like writing or art.

Career as a Writer and Teacher

Johnson has taught creative writing at many universities. These include Rutgers University, Columbia University, and Bard College. He also taught at the University of Houston and is now a professor at the University of Oregon.

First Novels

Johnson's first novel was called Drop, published in 2000. It's a story about a young man from Philadelphia who moves to London for a job. The book was chosen by Barnes & Noble for its Discover Great New Writers program.

In 2003, he published Hunting in Harlem. This book is a satire, which means it uses humor to talk about serious topics. It explores how neighborhoods can change when new people move in. The novel won the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Legacy Award in 2004.

Writing for Comics

Johnson also writes stories for comic books and graphic novels. His first comic book project was a series called Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnite. He wrote a backstory for an existing character from the Hellblazer series.

In 2008, he released a graphic novel called Incog.... It is a mystery story set in the American South. It tells the story of a reporter who can "pass" as white to investigate crimes. The book was illustrated by artist Warren Pleece.

Historical Writing

Johnson wrote a non-fiction book called The Great ... Plot. This book tells the true story of an event in New York City in 1741. It describes the panic and trials that happened after a series of fires.

Awards and Recognition

Mat Johnson has won several awards for his writing.

• In 2004, Hunting in Harlem won the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award.
• In 2007, he was named a USA James Baldwin Fellow by United States Artists. This award came with a $50,000 grant to support his work.
• In 2011, Johnson received the Dos Passos Prize for Literature. This award recognized all of his books for focusing on American life.

Works

Comics

• Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnite (2005)
• Incog... (2008)
• Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story (2010)
• Right State (2012)
• Incog...: Renaissance (2018)
• Backflash (2024)

Novels

• Drop (2000)
• Hunting in Harlem (2003)
• Pym (2011)
• Loving Day (2015)
• Invisible Things (2022)

Nonfiction

• The Great ... Plot (2007)

See also

In Spanish: Mat Johnson para niños