Suwannee County native to discuss her memoir Pumping Sunshine

Published 11:00 am Saturday, November 18, 2017

GAINESVILLE — Suwannee County native Susie (Howell) Baxter will be the guest speaker at the Alachua County Library’s Local Author Series on Sunday.

Baxter is the author of three books and will be discussing her just-released “Pumping Sunshine, A Memoir of My Rural Childhood” at the 2:30 p.m. event, which will be held at 401 E. University Ave. in Gainesville. The series, which is free, is sponsored by the Alachua County Library and the Writers Alliance of Gainesville.

In addition to reading from her memoir, Baxter will also answer questions and sign copies at Sunday’s event.

“Susie Baxter weaves a charming tale using threads of memories and front porch stories from her home near the Suwannee River in rural North Florida,” said Cassie Dandridge Selleck, the author of The Pecan Man. “Heartwarming, nostalgic, and honest. Pumping Sunshine is a joy to read.”

Added Jonellen Heckler, author of White Lies: “A treasure. Touching, honest, brilliantly detailed. Pumping Sunshine leaves its mark indelibly on the heart.”

Known during her childhood as Susanette Howell, she graduated from Suwannee High School and the University of South Alabama. During her career, Baxter worked as an acquisitions editor and publisher for a health-science publishing house in St. Louis, where she commissioned dozens of successful clinical reference books, authored by world-renowned physicians.

Recognition for her success included Times Mirror’s coveted Editor-of-the-Year Award. In retirement, she returned to her native state. She now serves as creative nonfiction editor for Bacopa Literary Review and teaches memoir writing in the Enrich Program of Santa Fe College in Gainesville.

Baxter’s other books are C.G. & Ethel, A Family History and Write Your Memoir: One Story at a Time. All of her books are available at Amazon.com.