Local Author/Writer Speaker Series

The Middleburg Library Advisory Board initiated a local author/writer speaker series in 2022 and 2023 with a wonderful response from the community to the four presentations held at several different venues in the area. More of the same is planned for 2024.

The series kicked off with an appearance on Nov. 29, 2022 by Brian Noyes, the founder and owner of the popular Red Truck Bakery, with locations in Warrenton and Marshall, Virginia. A long-time art director for several major publications, including The Washington Post, before he became a culinary entrepreneur, he spoke about his latest book, “The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook: Sweet and Savory Comfort Food from America’s Favorite Rural Bakery.”

Brian entertained his Buchanan Hall audience with tales from his experiences in the media and the bakery, answered a number of questions and was pleased to see many attendees devour a number of delectable items from the bakery at the end of the session.

The second event was a screening of the award-winning documentary, “The Levys of Monticello,” followed by a Q&A with Middleburg author and journalist Marc Leepson, whose book, “Saving Monticello,” was the inspiration for the film. It took place on March 14 at The Hill School Auditorium in Middleburg.

Marc is the author of ten books, including Saving Monticello, Flag: An American Biography, and biographies of the Marquis de Lafayette, Francis Scott Key, and Army Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. His latest book is a history of Huntland, one of Middleburg’s grand and historic estates.

The third event, on June 27 at Slater Run Winery, was called, “History in the Mystery,” and featured a lively discussion and book signing with the acclaimed mystery novelist Ellen Crosby. Ellen has written a number of mysteries using area wineries and vineyards as the setting.

Aside from the wine country novels, Ellen has focused on such diverse subjects as the War of 1812, Prohibition, Jackie Kennedy, Civil War reenacting, the Underground Railroad, Thomas Jefferson, Shakespeare, and Faberge Eggs. The discussion was moderated by Marc Leepson and was followed by an audience Q&A centering on how she mixed real historical events into her fiction.”

The 2023 series concluded on Dec. 6 at Buchanan Hall with a presentation by actor, author and educator Tom Sweitzer, the founder and director of A Place To Be in Middleburg and Leesburg. A Place To Be uses music therapy to treat all manner of issues for children through seniors.

Tom spoke several weeks after completing a two-month run performing his one-man play, “20 Seconds” based on his own life story. He wrote the play and performed it to enthusiastic Off Broadway theater crowds in New York City and entertained his Upperville audience with all manner of stories about his experiences both on and off the Manhattan stage.

The MLAB book and author series will continue in the spring of 2024. Discussions with several local writers are ongoing