Leila Mottley

Monday, October 17 at 7PM

Hosted by Dakota County Library

Virtual Event

Leila Mottley is the pen behind Nightcrawling, one of the most-anticipated and best-reviewed fiction releases of 2022. Set in the author’s native Oakland, California, this searing debut welcomes readers into the world of 17-year-old Kiara Johnson. After her rent skyrockets, Kiara turns to sex work to stave off homelessness. She soon finds herself in the crosshairs of a far-reaching scandal and active investigation into the conduct of the Oakland Police Department. In a rave review, The New Yorker lauds: “Careful not to portray Kiara as a victim, Mottley shows us the pleasures of family, friendship, and love. The result is an intimate portrait of a young Black woman searching for autonomy and fulfillment in a society designed to deny her both.” Oprah Winfrey named Nightcrawling the latest pick for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, and the instant New York Times bestseller has also been nominated for the 2022 Booker Prize. Mottley accomplished all this as a debut author who published her first novel before the age of 20.