Matthew R. Manning is an essayist and memoirist living in Los Angeles with his wife, dog, disabled brother-in-law, and the recent memory of his firstborn daughter. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, he spent his adolescence in Minneapolis and early adulthood in Chicago.

As a bicultural Black man and immigrant to the United States, Manning's writing dwells in intersections available to few. His storytelling is soulful and sensory. As a recent father of infant loss, he writes to extract meaning from pain and hold up a mirror to the human experience, inviting more of our hearts and spirits.

Influenced by master wordsmiths like James Baldwin, Toni Morrison and Paolo Coelho, Manning's prose merges lyricism and directness, creating a blues-like tenor that sticks to the ribs like soul food. In all nonfiction compositions, Manning invokes stories and anecdotes to bring worlds, characters and scenes to life with a dynamism that reads like fiction.
Manning has built a community of 8,500 monthly subscribers and readers across digital platforms, including (but not limited to) Medium, Substack, and Instagram. He publishes regularly to thousands of readers through independent writing channels and prominent essayist platforms like Human Parts.

As a freelance writer and editor, Manning has contributed to multiple publications and the narrative development of over 150 brands across industries, including award-winning storytelling projects. He has launched original digital and publications, publishing the paid works of over 300 Black and Brown creatives. Manning’s writing has also cultivated a community of peers and supporters across the creative and literary scene who would welcome his inaugural contribution to the space.