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Local Author Showcase spotlights Skokie-area writers and their work. This month, meet Julia Rath, a Niles East and University of Chicago graduate and author of Conquering Your Own Sleep Apnea the All-Natural Way. She’ll talk about her experience with sleep apnea at the library next Tuesday night.

Where are you living now?

As I write this, I am transitioning between Skokie and Des Plaines. What I like most about living in this area is that it combines the best features of the city and the suburbs. I can travel to Chicago easily by public transportation and experience the hubbub of city living and be close to theater, concerts, the arts, and sporting events. But in a short drive, I can also take advantage of the quietude of the beach, the forest preserve, the Botanical Gardens, and the Skokie Lagoons.

How would you describe your book?

[The book] is a case study where I describe how I was able to overcome my sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and chronic insomnia by discovering their triggers in my diet and environment. I discovered that there was no need for the CPAP machine, expensive dental devices, surgery, or drugs. I know that the technique I developed over the years (and which is explained in my book) has worked for me, and this information might help other people too. As a result of managing this dreaded disease, I now can enjoy a good night of sleep again … and perhaps you can too! [But] you don’t have to have sleep apnea to read my book—just an open mind about how chemicals in our food supply and environment may be adversely affecting your health.

When did you start writing?

I used to read lots of trade books as a child and eventually wanted to write my own. Between the ages of seven and nine, I would write little short stories and poems, create my own illustrations, bind the pages together with needle and thread, and show them to my parents and teachers. I recall in the third grade when we were asked at school, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I said I wanted to be a writer. And my answer found its way into our little class newspaper.

What’s your writing routine?

I am a night owl. I tend to write best after about 10:30 pm. I enjoy the subtle energies and quiet when most people are in bed and there are few distractions. Late at night, I’m less likely to stifle my ideas if my sentence structure isn’t exactly right, and I’m far less likely to experience any form of writer’s block. Once I get my initial thoughts down on the computer, I can edit them to my heart’s content at any time of the day.