Ayana Mathis: “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie”
New York Times best-selling author Ayana Mathis discusses her sweeping debut novel, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.” The book tells the story of the children of the Great Migration through the trials of one indomitable heroine, Hattie Shepherd, and her unforgettable family. Ayana shares her thoughts on the book's soul-stirring themes, including parenting, loss, survival and redemption. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Ayana opens up about how she overcame criticism and self-doubt and went on to create her critically acclaimed first novel. She divulges who from her own life inspired the book's heroine, and how she developed each human character. “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie” is an Oprah’s Book Club selection.