Afternoon Reading with Leila Mottley

Part of the Creative Writing Visiting Writers Series

Join SMC's Creative Writing Department in Hagerty Lounge for an Afternoon Reading with visiting writer Leila Mottley, author of Nightcrawling, which was an Oprah’s Book pick, and more recently, The Girls Who Grew Big. 

“This young poet wowed me with her ode and elegy to Oakland,” Oprah said, of the then-nineteen year old author, “and her acute and insightful depictions of youth, injustice, the legacy of incarceration and the resilience of community and chosen family.”

Mottley writes with absolute candor and raw beauty about women’s lives. The Girls Who Grew Big focuses on a group of teenaged mothers, vacillating at the edges of society, rejected by the community at large and finding a haven of community with themselves. Nightcrawling, about a teenager’s serial abuse, was based on a true story involving the Oakland Police. Mottley is a powerful speaker and we hope you join us for this incredible event. 

Visiting Writer events at Saint Mary's are free, open to the public, and ADA Accessible. Visitor parking is available on campus and light refreshments will be served. All attendees are eligible for a fee waiver for the MFA in Creative Writing application—please reach out to Collin Skeen, Assistant Director of Admissions, at cas38@stmarys-ca.edu for more information.