Jean Rae Baxter

Jean Rae Baxter is a Canadian author. Baxter's novel "A Way Lies North" was nominated for a Red Maple Forest of Reading award. She has two collections of short stories, A Twist of Malice which was published in 2005 by Seraphim Editions and Scattered Light which was published in 2011 by Seraphim Editions. Additionally, her short stories have been included in such anthologies as Revenge and Hardboiled Love, both published by Insomniac Press. Her novel Broken Trail won the 2011 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal for Young Adult Historical/Cultural Fiction. This book is published by Ronsdale Press. Most recently Baxter released Freedom Bound, which is the final novel in her young adult trilogy set during the American Revolution. Baxter currently resides in Hamilton where she helps to organize the Lit Live Reading Series and sits on the Arts Hamilton’s Literary Advisory Committee. She attended the University of Toronto. There, she earned a B.A. and a M.A. in English. She also has a B.Ed. from Queen's University in Kingston.

Baxter grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. After spending her childhood in Hamilton she went to the University of Toronto. After completing her master's degree in English, Baxter moved to Kingston, Ontario where she earned her bachelor's degree in Education. Before starting her teaching career in Kingston, Baxter worked in radio. She then worked as a high school English teacher until she retired. In 1996 Baxter moved back to her hometown of Hamilton and settled into her writing career full-time. She is the mother of three children and has eight grandchildren.

• Jean Rae Baxter. (2005), A Twist of Malice, Seraphim Editions, ISBN 0-9734588-4-4 
• Jean Rae Baxter. (2007), The Way Lies North, Ronsdale Press, ISBN 1-55380-048-6 
• Jean Rae Baxter. (2008), Looking for Cardenio, Seraphim Editions, ISBN 0-9808879-0-9 
• Jean Rae Baxter. (2011), Broken Trail, Ronsdale Press, ISBN 978-1-55380-109-2 
• Jean Rae Baxter. (2011), Scattered Light, Woodstock: Seraphim Editions, ISBN 0-9808879-9-2 
• Jean Rae Baxter. (2012), Freedom Bound, Vancouver: Ronsdale Press, ISBN 978-1-55380-143-6 

• 2000 Canadian Writer’s Journal Award for “The Quilt”.
• 2003 Hamilton Arts Council Short Fiction Award for “A Quick Release”.
• 2004 Hamilton Arts Council Short Fiction Award for “Loss”.
• 2003 Canadian Authors’ Association Conference Contest shortlist for “Out! Out!”
• 2005 Crime Writers of Canada Golden Horseshoe Contest shortlist for “Josie’s Custom Catering”.
• 2007 Silver Hammer Award Honourable Mention for "Traveling by the Grand Bus Line".
• 2007 Silver Hammer Award for "Hole in One".
• 2008 Arts Hamilton Award: Young Adult Book for "The Way Lies North".
• 2008 Canadian Children's Book Centre named "The Way Lies North" a Best Book for Kids and Teens
• 2009 Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Red Maple Award Nomination for "The Way Lies North".
• 2009 J.K. Galbraith Literary Award Semi-Finalist for "The Way Lies North".
• 2009-2010 Stellar Book Award British Columbia Teen Readers' Choice Award Nomination for "The Way Lies North".
• 2010 J.K. Galbraith Literary Award Shortlist for "Devotion".
• 2010 J.K. Galbraith Literary Award First Prize for "After Annabelle".
• 2010 Surrey International Writers' Conference Shortlist for "The Errand".
• 2011 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal for Young Adult Historical/Cultural Fiction for "Broken Trail".