BOOK COVER
BOOK DETAILS
Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Post Hill Press (imprint of Simon & Schuster)
Page Count: 270
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 979-8895655955
Price: $19.99
ABOUT THE BOOK
Matt Evans, thanks to reading too much James Herriot as a child, had a dream—to become a veterinarian. That dream changed along the way to specifically becoming an equine vet. The only problem with his new dream was that Matt was not raised around horses. And, if you are not raised around horses, that makes for an uphill battle of overcoming ineptitude, imposter syndrome, and a load of doubters.
Thankfully for Matt, it also comes with a lot of laughs. Chomping at the Bit follows Matt into and out of veterinary school and through his first job. With the amusing acuity of David Sedaris, he faces every new challenge with humility and humor. We meet memorable horses, clients he loves, clients he wishes he could forget, and a cast of colleagues both supportive and—shall we say, less so—as Matt struggles to find his way in the dream job that he is uniquely unqualified for.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Evans, DVM, is an equine veterinarian who graduated from Texas A&M University (undergrad Class of 1999) and now practices outside of Austin, Texas. In addition to being a horse doctor, Matt is also a stand-up comedian who performs shows all around Austin and beyond. He is married to his wife of over 25 years and they have two daughters. Matt also paints oil landscapes and horse portraits, but he is a way better writer and comic than a painter, so read this book or catch a comedy show before you look into his art.
TALKING POINTS
- How James Herriot inspired the dream—and how real life immediately complicated it
- Loving animals doesn’t prepare you for managing people, expectations, and all that the journey of becoming a veterinarian throws at you
- The value of natural talent versus endurance, determination, and passion
- Why veterinary medicine is one of the most emotionally draining professions—and why humor is survival
- Pulling back the curtain on decision-making and doubt when battling imposter syndrome
- Building self-belief as you move from student to professional
- Courage in vet medicine often looks like consistency: showing up again after a bad outcome
- How creativity—writing, painting, stand-up, etc.—and vet medicine complement and mutually sustain each other
- The importance of community and mentorship in vet medicine
- Humor and humility producing resilience when facing adversity
TIMELY TIE-INS
2026
- Year of the Horse
April
- National Humor Month
- Aggie Muster (A day for camaraderie and remembrance of Aggies who have passed) – 21
- World Veterinary Day – 25
- National Help a Horse Day – 26
- Clean Comedy Day – 28
May
- Texas Writers Month
- Graduation Season
- Be Kind to Animals Month
- World Laughter Day – 3
July
- International Joke Day – 1
- National I Love Horses Day – 15
- Paperback Book Day – 30
August
- Back-to-School Season
- National Tell a Joke Day – 16
- We Love Memoirs Day – 31
September
- Read a New Book Month
- National Read a Book Day – 6
- Read an E-book Day – 18
October
- National Book Month
- World Farm Animal Day – 2
- World Animal Day – 4
November
Aggie Ring Day (A day of celebration for the academic achievement of completing at least 90 credit hours) – 6
December
- International Animal Rights Day – 10
- National Horse Day – 13
SUGGESTED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
- You’ve said James Herriot inspired your dream of becoming a veterinarian. When did you first realize real veterinary life was going to look very different from the books?
- What did you imagine being a vet would feel like—and what surprised you most once you were actually in it?
- You didn’t grow up around horses. How did that shape both your learning curve and your sense of imposter syndrome early on?
- You write about doubt and decision-making. How do you learn to live with uncertainty when the stakes are so high?
- How would you describe the emotional toll of vet medicine, and how does this impact how you carry yourself as you work?
- You paint, write, and perform stand-up. How does creative work sustain you in ways veterinary medicine can’t—and vice versa?
- What makes a good mentor or colleague in this field, and how did those relationships shape your growth as a veterinarian?
- When facing adversity as a student and a new professional, what helped you stay certain that being a veterinarian was your dream job?
- If you could go back and talk to the version of yourself just starting vet school, what would you tell him now?
- What do you hope readers—especially those outside veterinary medicine—take away from your story?
BOOK DETAILS
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
Genre: Memoir / Christian Inspirational
Publisher: She Writes Press
Page Count: 304
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1647429003
Price: $15.99