Oprah Book Club Author to Debut Novel at Fort Greene Bookstore

Brooklyn-based author Ayana Mathis will hold a book launch party and reading at Fort Greene's Greenlight Bookstore on at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7. 

Mathis's The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, a novel that explores race, gender and struggle, tells the story of a family that remains a unit inspite of circumstances that leave them hardened and scattered.

Mathis's first novel, Twelve Tribes was selected by Greenlight for its First Editions Club (FEC). The book was also selected in November by Oprah Winfrey for her revamped book club, which thrust the story and its author into the national spotlight.  

"I have found it!" Winfrey exclaimed in a video on her website. She noted she was immediately drawn into the novel, saying it, "Absolutely floored me."

"Everyone at Greenlight is thrilled that Oprah agrees with us: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is a powerful debut, and is well worthy of the ... attention it will be receiving," said Rebecca Fitting, Greenlight Bookstore co-owner and FEC selection committee member in a statement.

Mathis will be introduced and interviewed by Jackson Taylor, author of the novel The Blue Orchard and director of the new Writers Foundry MFA program at St. Joseph’s College, where Mathis has just joined the faculty. A wine reception will follow the book launch. Greenlight Bookstore is at 686 Fulton St. at South Portland Street.