Go On Girl! Book Club Announces
2013 Award Winners
New York, NY – April 2014 – Go On Girl! Book Club, one of the largest national reading organizations in the U.S. dedicated to supporting the work of authors of the African Diaspora, is proud to announce that Leonard Pitts, Jr., Ayana Mathis, Marita Golden and Dr. Carla Haydenhave been voted by the membership to receive top honors at their 22nd Annual Author Awards dinner on Saturday, June 7th, 5pm-8pm at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
Leonard Pitts, Jr. was named 2013 Author of the Year for his emotionally charged novel, Before I Forget. Ayana Mathis was named 2013 New Author of the Year for her breakout debut novel, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.
Marita Golden was named 2013 Life Achievement Honoree for her enduring contributions to black literature and her work as Co-Founder of the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation. Dr. Carla Hayden was chosen for the 2013 Special Recognition Award for her leadership and work with the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The awards dinner will also honor the winner of the Go On Girl! Book Club Unpublished Writer Award, soon to be announced.
Upon learning of his win, Mr. Pitts commented, “I am very honored to receive this award from such an 
esteemed group of women who are championing black literature.”
Ms. Ayana Mathis, who is working on her second novel and will not be able to attend the awards event sent her heartfelt appreciation.
Ms. Golden expressed her thanks, “I have been a fan of the important work of the Go On Girls for many years and am deeply honored by their recognition. The Go On Girls have created countless readers for Black writers and inspired continuing interest in the stories we tell.”
The dinner will be followed by an author panel featuring our winners and several guest authors. Books will be available for purchase at the event by MahoganyBooks (www.mahoganybooks.com).
Tickets to Go On Girl! Book Club’s 21st Annual Author Awards dinner are $80 and can be purchased until May 1st at www.GoOnGirl.org.
The awards dinner is the highlight of a weekend of activities for GOG members and guests themed “Booking It In Baltimore”. The festivities begin on Friday, June 6th and end on Sunday, June 8th with Go On Girl! Book Club’s Eboni Gray Phenomenal Woman Awards Breakfast, which honors members of the organization and culminates in a special prayer circle.
Dinner tickets can be purchased by the public. For more information about Go On Girl! Book Club and the 22nd Annual Author Awards event visit www.GoOnGirl.org. To inquire about sponsorship, purchasing a dinner table, or advertising opportunities, contact Tracey Y. Smith at (646) 489-6873 or tsmithwd@aol.com.
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