The Painting of Porcupine City

Brazilian graffiti artist Mateo Amaral is looking for his heaven spot, the one perfect place to paint. His coworker Fletcher Bradford is looking for a heaven spot of his own, and his is even more elusive. Out since age 12, Fletcher’s been around more blocks than Mateo has ever painted. He’s dated all the jerks, all the creeps, all the losers in between. At 26 he’s decided the only way to meet a nice guy is just never to give him a chance to prove otherwise. When he’s introduced to Mateo, Fletcher expects to add another notch to his bedpost. But Mateo is different -- and from him Fletcher will rediscover a long-lost feeling: surprise. The cans of spray-paint Fletcher finds in Mateo’s car will change his life in ways he never imagined -- and may help him find what he’s always wanted.

From the author of The Cranberry Hush comes an epic story spanning years and hemispheres and miles of painted walls. Sexy and sweet, gritty and gut-wrenching, The Painting of Porcupine City takes readers along with Mateo and Fletcher on an adventure through the subways of Boston to the towers of São Paulo. Are you in?

Ben Monopoli lives in Boston with his husband, Chris.