Stephanie was born in Dunedin and grew up in Wellington. She was educated at Matauranga School, Kaiwharawhara Primary School, Thorndon School, Wellington Girls and Onslow College. At the age of fifteen she wrote many short stories and poems. In 1986 she attended the 2nd International Feminist Book Fair in Oslo and read a short story at the conference. In that same year she attended a Young Māori Writers’ Workshop in Auckland led by Patricia Grace and participated in a workshop with Bruce Stewart at his marae. In 1987 Stephanie moved to Paekakariki.
Biographical sources
- Interview with Stephanie Baxter, August 1992.
- Correspondence and phone call with Stephanie Baxter, 24 Aug. 1997, and 11 June 1998.
Non-fiction
- "David Hockney Wellington City Art Gallery from Oct. 30." Agenda 25 (1986): 23.
- Baxter reviews the "Hockney’s Photographs" exhibition, a photographic exhibition of polaroids by David Hockney; Baxter describes the exhibition as "one of the most important exhibitions of contemporary art to be seen in New Zealand."
- "The Russians are Coming!" Agenda Sept. (1986): 17.
- A short preview of "Russia on Stage" - a company of forty musicians, dancers and singers from the former Soviet Union which toured New Zealand in 1986. Agenda from mid-1986 no longer had volume or title numbers printed on the magazine only the month.
Poetry
- "White-Armed Maiden." Poutama Magazine Sept. 1986: 6.
- The speaker commiserates with a victim of police brutality.
Other
- "Degree Setus Student Up For Success." Manawatu Standard 23 Jan. 2008: 11. http://global.factiva.com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/ha/default.aspx 15 Feb. 2008.