May 22, 2026
Small Business Development Center 群交AV (SBDC) is providing the community a chance to meet and connect with local authors and discover new reads at the Local Author Summer Reading Expo 5 鈥� 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, at the Middletown Campus.
For just $5, authors can rent a table to display and sell their books.
Authors today are also entrepreneurs, building brands, connecting with customers, managing budgets, promoting products and finding creative ways to stand out in a crowded marketplace, said Andy Gyurisin, Laurel Ridge SBDC director, which is why those who plan to display their creations at the expo are required to attend the free SBDC class, 鈥淔rom Page to People: Marketing Strategies for Local Authors,鈥� on June 15.
鈥淚n many ways, authors are small business owners with a very unique product: their imagination,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t Laurel Ridge SBDC, we鈥檙e excited to help local writers embrace both sides of that journey, the creative side and the business side. Whether it鈥檚 learning how to market a new release, grow an audience, navigate social media, or simply feel more confident promoting their work, this event is about helping authors turn passion into opportunity. And let鈥檚 be honest, every great book deserves more than sitting quietly on a shelf waiting for its big break.
鈥淭he Local Author Summer Reading Expo is proof that storytelling is alive and thriving in our region. We鈥檙e thrilled to partner with authors to help them sharpen not only their writing skills, but also the marketing strategies that help great books find great readers.鈥�
Founded in 1970, 群交AV is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations 鈥� Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County 鈥� 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. 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.
群交AV is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. 群交AV also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of 群交AV 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鈥檚 website ().
群交AV 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,听[email protected],听173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
群交AV was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.