A lonely older woman, an unmoored young man...and a snarky Giant Pacific Octopus. In Shelby Van Pelt's novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022, HarperCollins), these characters come together to discover the power of finding friendship in unexpected places. An instant New York Times bestseller, Van Pelt's debut novel, called “memorable and tender” by the Washington Post, was a Today Show “Read With Jenna” book club pick and has sold over a million copies.

In her talk, Van Pelt will discuss the inspiration behind REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES and its unconventional octopus narrator, her writing process, and the exhilaration of becoming a best-selling author overnight. She will also explore the value of keeping contact with one’s artistic side, even when life might demand otherwise, and reflect on how her CMC education helped her through a hairpin career turn from finance to the arts.

As a PPE major, Van Pelt ’02 loved writing, but never imagined she would write fiction. After graduation, she went into consulting, a career in which she flourished for nearly a decade. When a cross-country move brought an opportunity to press pause on that career, she realized she missed writing and decided to try fiction.

Registration for Van Pelt’s talk is now open HERE!