Motherhood, Adoption, Inheritance: A Conversation with Kate Schatz & Tracy Clark-Flory

Join us for an intimate evening with Kate Schatz, author of Where the Girls Were, and Tracy Clark-Flory, author of the forthcoming memoir My Mother’s Daughter, as they explore the threads of motherhood, adoption, and identity that weave through both of their books. Together, they’ll reflect on the secrets families keep, the silences that shape us, and the power of storytelling to bring the past into the light.

Set in 1968, Where the Girls Were follows a promising young woman whose life is upended by an unexpected pregnancy—sending her to a home for unwed mothers and into the hidden history of “the girls who went away.” My Mother’s Daughter picks up that legacy decades later, as Tracy uncovers the story of her own mother’s experience in a similar home, the child she gave up for adoption, and the long shadow of shame, love, and survival passed down through generations.

In conversation, Kate and Tracy will delve into the deeply personal histories that inspired their writing and the different ways they’ve documented women’s experiences—Kate through fiction, and Tracy through memoir and journalism. Together, they’ll illuminate how the stories we tell about motherhood and adoption continue to shape our understanding of family, autonomy, and belonging.

Your ticket includes:

• A heartfelt conversation with Kate Schatz and Tracy Clark-Flory
• Light bites and beverages
• Book signing, connection, and community mingling

Option to pre-purchase a copy of Where the Girls Were. A limited number of copies of Where the Girls Were and My Mother’s Daughter will also be available for purchase at the event.

About the Authors

Kate Schatz is a feminist author, educator, and public speaker. She's the New York Times-bestselling author of the "Rad Women" book series; the novel Where the Girls Were; the 33 ⅓ book Rid of Me: A Story; and Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, co-written with “United Shades of America” host W. Kamau Bell. She lives in the Bay Area with her wife, three children, and pets.

Tracy Clark-Flory is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Guardian, Mother Jones, and The Atlantic. Her previous book, Want Me, was named an NPR Best Book of the Year. My Mother’s Daughter is a moving blend of memoir and cultural criticism exploring family secrets, sisterhood, and intergenerational healing.