Leila Mottley
Leila Mottley is a young, emerging American author who garnered significant attention for her powerful debut novel, "Nightcrawling." Her writing is marked by its visceral voice and unflinching exploration of social issues and the experiences of marginalized communities.
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley is a powerful debut novel that follows Kiara, a Black teenager navigating poverty and systemic injustice in Oakland, California. After a tragic family crisis and with no reliable support, Kiara turns to sex work to survive, eventually becoming entangled in a police scandal involving abuse and corruption. Mottley, who wrote the novel at just 17, brings poetic intensity and raw vulnerability to Kiara’s voice. The novel explores themes of exploitation, resilience, and the desperate search for dignity in a world that routinely devalues Black lives. Nightcrawling is unflinching, heartbreaking, and deeply human.