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Sign up todayRed Clay Suzie
A Novel Inspired by True Events
Narrator
Pete Cross
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
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Length
10 hours 13 minutes
Language
English
The coming-of-age story of Philbet, a gay, physically-misshapen boy in rural Georgia, battles bullying, ignorance, and disdain as he makes his way in life as an outsider—before finding acceptance in unlikely places.
Fueled by tomato sandwiches and green milkshakes and obsessed with cars, Philbet struggles with life and love as a gay boy in rural Georgia. He is happiest when helping Grandaddy dig potatoes from the vegetable garden that connects their houses.
But Philbet’s world is shattered and his resilience shaken by events that crush his innocence and sense of security; expose his misshapen chest, skillfully hidden behind shirts Mama makes at home; and convince him that he’s not fit to be loved by Knox, the older boy he idolizes to distraction.
Over time, Philbet finds refuge in unexpected places and inner strength in unexpected ways, leading to a resolution in the form of a letter from beyond the grave.
Jeffrey Dale Lofton hails from Warm Springs, Georgia, but has called Washington, DC, home for over three decades. During those early years he spent many a night treading the boards of the DC theater and performing arts centers, though he ultimately stepped away from acting for other, more traditional work. He has Master’s degrees in both Public Administration and Library and Information Science, and today works as a senior advisor at the Library of Congress, surrounded by books and people who love books—in short, paradise.
Pete Cross is an Earphones Award–winning narrator. He holds a BA in theater from the University of Toledo and an MFA in acting from the California Institute of the Arts. His experience on stage includes Carnegie Hall, and he has also acted in film. He has served on the faculty at Cal Arts and with Aquila Morong Studio in Hollywood. He has coached for film and theatrical productions and continues to work with private clients all over the world.
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Reviews
“An intimate exploration of people, place, and identity, Red Clay Suzie opens up the idea of the South into one that is more inclusive and real.”
“A vivid depiction of a unique childhood that feels universal in its longing.”
“Red Clay Suzie offers a lesson in what it takes to thrive in a world that’s intent on building fences, and it does so with affection and sweetness.”
“Philbet Lawson joins Scout Finch and Frankie Addams in Southern literature’s pantheon of outsider children…[and] a new literary hero.”
“A story so close to the heart you can almost hear it beating.”
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