For Immediate Release:
June 29, 2023
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Laurel Ridge Community College English Professor Margaret “Maggie” Marangione will be at the Luray-Page County Center on Thursday, July 13. She will be reading from her debut novel, “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains,” and taking questions at the event, which starts at 5 p.m.
“Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” tells the story of Mary, a young woman who, after leaving her abusive mother, eventually ends up with a mountain family in Elkton. There, she is healed and empowered, but faces adversity when the federal government begins removing families from their homes in order to create Shenandoah National Park.
“She experiences and fights the removals,” said Professor Marangione, who as an adjunct teaches English composition and Appalachian literature classes at Laurel Ridge, while working full time for Blue Ridge Community College. “One winter morning, the voice of my protagonist Mary just kind of channeled right through and I started writing.”
Her novel was published last August, and since then she has been interviewed by radio and print journalists, been invited to numerous book clubs and given a lecture at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond.
“Response has been very encouraging,” Professor Marangione, who has also published academic articles, said. “People feel really immersed in the story and the characters.”
Learn more about the event and RSVP at laurelridge.edu/meettheauthor, or by calling (540) 843-0722.
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
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