Patricia Wood is an American novelist. Her debut novel, Lottery, was shortlisted for the 2008 Orange Prize for Fiction.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} In December 2014, she published another novel, Cupidity.^[6]

Wood was born in Seattle, Washington.^[3] Her father, Ray "R.J." Dahl, worked at Boeing and won $6 million in the Washington State Lottery in 1993.^[4] She has several siblings, including a twin and older sisters.^[3]

Wood began writing at age 8.^[3] She attended Shoreline High School, graduating in 1971.^[3] In 1972, she enlisted in the United States Army and served as a medical technologist.^[3] After serving in the military, Wood attended Northern Illinois University.^[3] She later earned a PhD from the University of Hawaiʻi.^[3] She worked as a special education teacher^[7] and taught marine science and horseback riding.^[4]

On August 2, 2007, Wood published Lottery.^[5] The book tells the story of a mildly intellectually disabled man named Peter Crandall who wins the Washington State Lottery.^[5] It was shortlisted for the 2008 Orange Prize for Fiction.^[1]

Wood currently lives with her husband, Gordon,^[3] on a sailboat in Hawaii.^[7] She has a son, Andrew.^[3]

• Official website