Homer Glen Author Wins Chicago Book Of The Year

HOMER GLEN, IL— Homer Glen resident and published author Rita Woods is the winner of the 2023 book of the year for the Chicago Writers Association.

Woods, who is also a Homer Township Public Library Trustee, has published two books, "Remembrance" and "The Last Dreamwalker." Both books have won several awards, and Woods herself has been named as of Chicago's top 50 literary voices for the past two years.

Her latest book, "The Last Dreamwalker," was the winner of the Chicago book of the year, and was also nominated for the Hurston-Wright Award for fiction.

Woods said both her books have been published by Tor/Forge, an imprint of Mamillan. She described both books as magical realism and Afro-futurism novels.

"I was fortunate enough to be signed to a two-book deal after the publication of 'Remembrance' and my third novel is slated for release sometime in early 2025," she told Patch.

Woods said she always wanted to be a writer, but ended up going to medical school.

"For a long time I didn't write a word," she said. "Between the 90-hour work weeks and the constant stress of residency...I barely had enough creativity left to decide on what to eat for dinner."

However, Woods said she eventually able to find her way back to a writing community and to the stories in her head.

Woods said writing and publishing "are two totally different animals."

"I have been extremely fortunate in that I have a brilliant, persistent agent, a fantastic editor at Forge and that Macmillan has believed in my books enough to invest in my career," she said. "This is definitely not a universal experience for my fellow authors."