Meet Matteo Cossu | Book Producer, Art & Illustrated

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matteo Cossu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matteo, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I’m a firm believer in that everyone’s story is unique and part of our collective culture. And books are physical documentations of those stories, they enable us to pass our knowledge forward, to share, and connect, and ultimately, to inspire.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work as a book producer. Just as movies and videos have producers putting everything together and conducting the show like orchestra directors, books are complex opuses with many, many moving parts.

The thing that sets me apart from the rest is my dedication to the books I produce. I am in love with the craft, with the object produced, and–most importantly–with helping my clients achieve what they set out to do: publish i.e. make public their story and art.

Publishing is–and always has been–a somewhat secretive and obscure industry. There are no specific course of studies to get to where I am. Opportunities are few and far between. The biggest lesson to learn is that there’s always a solution, and there’s always a way out of a difficult situation. In the end, being a producer is about having the wisdom and creativity to see a solution where others see a problem and see an advantage where others see a crisis.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My opinion is that LA is a great city, but California is the real gem. Nowhere else can you find such environmentally rich and diverse biomes so close to each other. When my friends visit I usually ask them to experience LA as I do–through its nature. First day, we’ll shoot out to the mountains. Only a couple of hours out of the city is Big Bear, pristine Sugar Pine forests, beautiful California chaparral, and all of the silence and starry skies.
Second day, we experience the majesty of the Southern California coast. Even though heavily developed, there are still some hidden spots. My favorite would be Point Mugu. Bring a bike and ride along the fire road to amazing views of the Pacific. Wait for the tide and eat a picnic on the beautiful Mugu Beach, and when it’s right–it’s time for a swim!
Third day, we’ll stay on the town. I love brunch at Superba, followed by a visit to the galleries in the arts district, a great deal of browsing and shopping at Arcana Books, and some evening drinks at Mandrake.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe everyone we meet in our path shapes who we are. Shout out to all that helped me along the way, and to all that worked extra hard to destroy what I built. It only empowered me to build back stronger.

Website: matteo.cargo.site

Instagram: @mmaatttee