mbucemi


Matt Bucemi

Photo of Matt Bucemi

Writing Department

Assistant Professor

Office: Ross Building, S309
Email: mbucemi@yorku.ca
Primary website: Book Publishing Program at York

Media Requests Welcome
Accepting New Graduate Students


Matt is an experienced editor, writer, and teacher. He holds a PhD in English from Cornell University, and has had leadership roles at publishing houses, media studios, and creative agencies, including his tenure as the founding Managing Editor at Sutherland House Books in Toronto.

Matt's university teaching ranges from classes on book publishing and science fiction to philosophical approaches to martial arts movies. He has been awarded Cornell's Dean's Prize for Distinguished Teaching and York's Ian Greene Award for Teaching Excellence.

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Degrees

PhD, Cornell University
MA, Cornell University
BA, Florida International University

Research Interests

Arts and Culture , English, Book Publishing, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Film Studies
  • Ian Greene Award for Teaching Excellence (York) - 2025
  • Instructor of the Year (Hanson College) - 2017
  • Dean's Prize for Distinguished Teaching (Cornell) - 2013
  • Martin Sampson Teaching Award (Cornell) - 2013
  • Distinguished Honors in Literature (FIU) - 2007
  • Phi Beta Kappa (FIU) - 2007

Current Research Projects

Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy: Publishing for the Future

    Summary:

    This project is the next step in a long-term initiative to create an indie publishing press that is connected to York's Professional Writing and Creative Writing programs. In a previous project, I laid down the funding and budgetary framework for this company and made some early promotional decisions, while this new research effort will tackle the creative solutions, social connections, and market interventions that will bring that initial research to life.

    Description:

    This project involves research into two major areas of contemporary Canadian science fiction and fantasy. The first area is focused on authors. What do Canadian sci-fi and fantasy authors need so that they can reach their readers? How and where do they collaborate? What barriers—systemic, historical, personal or otherwise—have prevented marginalized communities from publishing in traditionally “niche” genres like sci-fi and fantasy?

    As we conduct this research (which will include, among other activities, meeting a dozen Canadian authors, editors, and publishing executives), we’ll consider the second area of the project: how a new indie publishing press in Toronto, focused on sci-fi and fantasy, could best support such an author community. This press aims to bring science fiction and fantasy to the forefront as one of the major trends in Canada’s literary future. It is, therefore, essential to understand the current obstacles in how sci-fi and fantasy books are written, who gets to write these books, and how these authors and their books are promoted to and perceived by the reading public.

    See more
    Role: Supervisor

    Start Date:
      Month: May   Year: 2025

    End Date:
      Month: Aug   Year: 2025

    Collaborator: Lauren Russell (ENPR student)
    Collaborator Institution: York University
    Collaborator Role: Research Assistant

    Funders:
    DARE
First Steps for Building a New Canadian Book Press

    Summary:

    This project involves researching and putting into practice the early stages of founding an independent book publishing press, with a special focus on upmarket genre fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers). This is part of a long-term initiative to create a boutique publishing space that will be connected to York University's book stream.

    Description:

    The project explores and seeks to answer questions about funding, collaboration, creative design, and the current state of the independent book market in Canada. What are the risks and challenges that come with starting a small book business, and are there any best practices that will help us to mitigate those risks and challenges? Where are the opportunities to share ideas and network with other independent publishers in both Ontario and the wider Canadian publishing community?

    The ultimate question is: what are the best practices for laying down the groundwork for a successful new publishing business in Canada, and how can we begin to put those best practices into motion?

    The project is especially interested in how these questions relate to not only publishing as a whole, but to specifically producing science-fiction and fantasy books with a literary twist.

    See more
    Role: Supervisor

    Start Date:
      Month: May   Year: 2024

    End Date:
      Month: Aug   Year: 2024

    Collaborator: Jessica Lappin (ENPR student)
    Collaborator Institution: York University
    Collaborator Role: Research Assistant

    Funders:
    DARE


Upcoming Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Fall 2025 AP/PRWR2006 3.0 A Fundamentals of Editing SEMR
Fall 2025 AP/PRWR3004 3.0 A Books and Bookmaking in the 21st Century SEMR
Winter 2026 AP/PRWR3004 3.0 M Books and Bookmaking in the 21st Century SEMR
Winter 2026 AP/PRWR2009 3.0 M Publishing Science-Fiction & Fantasy SEMR
Fall/Winter 2025 AP/PRWR4004 6.0 A Book Publishing Practicum SEMR


Matt is an experienced editor, writer, and teacher. He holds a PhD in English from Cornell University, and has had leadership roles at publishing houses, media studios, and creative agencies, including his tenure as the founding Managing Editor at Sutherland House Books in Toronto.

Matt's university teaching ranges from classes on book publishing and science fiction to philosophical approaches to martial arts movies. He has been awarded Cornell's Dean's Prize for Distinguished Teaching and York's Ian Greene Award for Teaching Excellence.

Degrees

PhD, Cornell University
MA, Cornell University
BA, Florida International University

Research Interests

Arts and Culture , English, Book Publishing, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Film Studies

Awards

  • Ian Greene Award for Teaching Excellence (York) - 2025
  • Instructor of the Year (Hanson College) - 2017
  • Dean's Prize for Distinguished Teaching (Cornell) - 2013
  • Martin Sampson Teaching Award (Cornell) - 2013
  • Distinguished Honors in Literature (FIU) - 2007
  • Phi Beta Kappa (FIU) - 2007

Current Research Projects

Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy: Publishing for the Future

    Summary:

    This project is the next step in a long-term initiative to create an indie publishing press that is connected to York's Professional Writing and Creative Writing programs. In a previous project, I laid down the funding and budgetary framework for this company and made some early promotional decisions, while this new research effort will tackle the creative solutions, social connections, and market interventions that will bring that initial research to life.

    Description:

    This project involves research into two major areas of contemporary Canadian science fiction and fantasy. The first area is focused on authors. What do Canadian sci-fi and fantasy authors need so that they can reach their readers? How and where do they collaborate? What barriers—systemic, historical, personal or otherwise—have prevented marginalized communities from publishing in traditionally “niche” genres like sci-fi and fantasy?

    As we conduct this research (which will include, among other activities, meeting a dozen Canadian authors, editors, and publishing executives), we’ll consider the second area of the project: how a new indie publishing press in Toronto, focused on sci-fi and fantasy, could best support such an author community. This press aims to bring science fiction and fantasy to the forefront as one of the major trends in Canada’s literary future. It is, therefore, essential to understand the current obstacles in how sci-fi and fantasy books are written, who gets to write these books, and how these authors and their books are promoted to and perceived by the reading public.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Supervisor

    Start Date:
      Month: May   Year: 2025

    End Date:
      Month: Aug   Year: 2025

    Collaborator: Lauren Russell (ENPR student)
    Collaborator Institution: York University
    Collaborator Role: Research Assistant

    Funders:
    DARE
First Steps for Building a New Canadian Book Press

    Summary:

    This project involves researching and putting into practice the early stages of founding an independent book publishing press, with a special focus on upmarket genre fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers). This is part of a long-term initiative to create a boutique publishing space that will be connected to York University's book stream.

    Description:

    The project explores and seeks to answer questions about funding, collaboration, creative design, and the current state of the independent book market in Canada. What are the risks and challenges that come with starting a small book business, and are there any best practices that will help us to mitigate those risks and challenges? Where are the opportunities to share ideas and network with other independent publishers in both Ontario and the wider Canadian publishing community?

    The ultimate question is: what are the best practices for laying down the groundwork for a successful new publishing business in Canada, and how can we begin to put those best practices into motion?

    The project is especially interested in how these questions relate to not only publishing as a whole, but to specifically producing science-fiction and fantasy books with a literary twist.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Supervisor

    Start Date:
      Month: May   Year: 2024

    End Date:
      Month: Aug   Year: 2024

    Collaborator: Jessica Lappin (ENPR student)
    Collaborator Institution: York University
    Collaborator Role: Research Assistant

    Funders:
    DARE



Upcoming Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Fall 2025 AP/PRWR2006 3.0 A Fundamentals of Editing SEMR
Fall 2025 AP/PRWR3004 3.0 A Books and Bookmaking in the 21st Century SEMR
Winter 2026 AP/PRWR3004 3.0 M Books and Bookmaking in the 21st Century SEMR
Winter 2026 AP/PRWR2009 3.0 M Publishing Science-Fiction & Fantasy SEMR
Fall/Winter 2025 AP/PRWR4004 6.0 A Book Publishing Practicum SEMR