For many years, Chicago readers came to understand Dawn Turner through her fresh perspective on their city. As a long-time reporter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune, Turner explored topics like race, class, and gender. Her upbringing in Chicago’s South Side influenced the way she questioned existing beliefs. This influence extends to her books as well.
Turner’s debut novel, Only Twice I’ve Wished for Heaven, explores life on the South Side during the 1970s. She wrote this fictional work using a Zenith laptop while commuting to the Tribune Tower. Her second novel, An Eighth of August, delves into the history of a small Illinois town commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in Tennessee. Her third book, Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Story of Race, Fate and Sisterhood, is a memoir she crafted over a decade. It reflects on second chances through the lens of her upbringing with her sister and friend in Bronzeville.
In her upcoming novel, Majestic Hills, Turner narrates the experiences of a young Chicago couple relocating to the suburbs seeking a fresh start. This storyline mirrors Turner’s own move with her then-husband in 1989, swapping an urban lifestyle for a suburban one. She recalls how her suburban neighbors became like family, marked by respect and civility—qualities she feels have diminished over time.
Turner now believes civility has given way to intolerance and feels a societal shift away from national ideals. In her commentary, she notes, “There’s a difference between moving towards the country’s ideals and heading the opposite direction.” Through Majestic Hills, she explores themes of race, class, love, and marriage, as well as questions about belonging and the American Dream.
Despite cautiousness in current times, Turner reflects on a past sense of freedom curtailed by divisive rhetoric. Her works, such as Majestic Hills, capture these emotions. A poignant scene in her book contrasts an image of white supremacy with people seen in beekeepers’ outfits to challenge perceptions.
Dawn Turner reflects, “We, as Black people, are constantly seeing ghosts … haunted by the past and now the present.”
Turner shared insights on her new novel during a book discussion attended by architectural photographer Lee Bey at Call & Response Books in Chicago. Here, she recounted the supportive community she knew in the 80s, contrasted with contemporary times where people often connect superficially.
Turner emphasizes the potential for unity amid division, expressing hope that Majestic Hills demonstrates this message. She calls for change agents willing to bridge deeper connections and ensure no one is left behind amidst rapid shifts in society. She emphasizes the responsibility shared by everyone to not leave others behind as society evolves.
For those interested, Dawn Turner will be discussing Majestic Hills with former Tribune columnist Heidi Stevens at Women & Children First Bookstore in Chicago on August 11. More information is available at womenandchildrenfirst.com.
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