Join us in the library or online for a conversation with Jeffrey Dale Lofton, author of Red Clay Suzie, the coming-of-age story of Philbet, a gay, physically-misshapen boy in rural Georgia, who battles bullying, ignorance, and disdain as he makes his way in life as an outsider—before finding acceptance in unlikely places. Joining Jeffrey to discuss this novel inspired by true events is Jeff Wilkinson from CAMP Rehoboth.

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’s happiest when helping Grandaddy dig potatoes from the vegetable garden. But Philbet’s world is shattered and his resilience shaken by events that crush his innocence and sense of security. 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, best known as the home of Roosevelt’s Little White House. He calls the nation’s capital home now and has for over three decades. During those early years he spent many a night trodding the boards of the DC’s theaters and performing arts centers, including the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, and Studio Theatre. Today, he is a senior advisor at the Library of Congress, surrounded by books and people who love books — in short, paradise.

Jeff Wilkinson is a retired literacy specialist administrator for the largest public school system in Virginia. An avid reader, he currently facilitates the The CAMP Rehoboth Book Club, a discussion group dedicated to reading novels and nonfiction texts about queer topics and/or books by queer authors. He lives in Milton with his husband, Bill, and dog, Skylar.

We invite you to support the author by purchasing a copy of their book from Browseabout Books by clicking HERE. Call-in orders are accepted at (302) 226-2665 or you can stop by the store to purchase a copy. For store hours, please visit their website. Each copy purchased comes signed. Books will be available for sale and for signing at the event.

This event is co-sponsored by CAMP Rehoboth.

NOTE: this session is available to attend in-person or through Zoom. You MUST REGISTER and indicate which you prefer.

If you have need assistance with registration or getting your Zoom invitation, please email us.

Basic written instructions for using Zoom may be found here and a brief video tutorial may be found here. Closed captioning is available for all our sessions. Information on enabling closed captioning in Zoom may be found here.