FACULTY KUDOS:  Susanna L. Jackson publishes first novel

Instructor of English Susanna L. Jackson can now add published author to her resume with the release of her first novel The Growing Rock (Harvard Square Editions, 2017) published under the nom de plume Susanna Lancaster.  The Growing Rock takes the reader on a journey into The Great Depression era in American history as it weaves the story of 14-year-old Caroline who struggles to keep a promise to her father and look after the women in the family when hard times force her father to leave their cotton farm.

The Growing Rock is available at Amazon.com, Borders Books, Target and other booksellers.

Former student returns to teach

Susanna says having her first book published during her first semester teaching full time at Southwest is very unique and special to her.  “Returning as a teacher to the place where my writing career began is exciting,” she said.  “It's a wonderful experience to teach creative writing and to show students what they can do with an English degree and that anything is possible.”

Susanna was part of the first creative writing class at Southwest and celebrated her first publication in the college's journal, Hieroglyph. “It was at Southwest where I also decided to major in English and creative writing,” she said.  “I always loved writing, but it was when I was a student at Southwest that I became serious about it.”  Susanna graduated from Southwest and went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. “Without the encouragement and support from instructors at Southwest, I may not have chosen this same path.” 

Susanna says Southwest was her best choice and still is for her students today.  “Community" is the middle name of our school,” she said.  “Southwest has a wide range of students and accepts diversity.

“Anyone is welcome here and I know from personal experience, that Southwest truly cares about each student.”