May 2 & 3, 2026
Looking for a unique and personal gift for Mother’s Day or a special graduate? Visit the Rockfish Gallery & Gifts at the Rockfish Valley Community Center (RVCC).
On Saturday, May 2, the Gallery will be open 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon in conjunction with the community Pancake Breakfast. Vendors will offer additional items for sale beyond those displayed in the Gallery. Discover beautiful handcrafted wares, including fabric art, wooden treasures, pottery, paintings, and more.
If you need more time to choose the perfect gift, the Gallery will also be open Sunday, May 3, from 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Then stay for the first event in a new series, “Get to Know Your Local Author,” held 4:00–6:00 p.m. in the RVCC Auditorium. Five local authors will share insights about their writing journeys and sign books afterward, with wine and cheese served. A signed book makes a thoughtful and memorable gift.
Featured authors include Jan Hogle, Mary Jo Russell, Linda Thornburg, Petra Monaco, and Jean Shipman, who write about personal experiences, family stories, travel, and captivating mysteries.
Jan Hogle is a retired anthropologist living in a forest near the south end of Shenandoah National Park. Her passions include writing, genealogy, hiking, photography, and scrapbooking.
Risking Wreckage was my first memoir (2021) in the spring after taking Marion Roach Smith’s Master Class in memoir-writing during the first half of 2020. It was a great pandemic distraction. Seven Yrs in Africa was published in 2024; it’s an epistolary memoir, in that it’s largely based on letters, journal entries, and reflections on those.
Linda Thornburg is a writer and editor with thirty years’ experience. Her short story Obsession appears in Virginia is for Mysteries, an anthology featuring 14 Virginia mystery authors and her short story Used in Virginia is for Mysteries: Volume II. Death on the Parkway is her first novel.
Pre-Order Linda Thornburg’s book here
Mary Jo’s three mystery novels reflect her passion for history, music, and delectable food. Set in the years 1907 and 1908, her stories follow her daring heroine, Anna Baines, as she solves murders first in Yellowstone National Part and later in St. Louis and Cape Breton.
Mary Jo loves the research part of writing, and her plots evolve around unexpected nuggets of history that she happens upon in her reading.
“One Tragic June” marks Jean Pugh Shipman’s explosive debut novel, joining her two critically edited works on innovation and collaboration in health sciences libraries.
Born and raised in a small Pennsylvania town steeped in Plain religion tradition, Jean spent nearly 40 years as a medical librarian. Her novel’s gripping, raw story is pulled straight from her mother’s family history and authentic letters, many laid bare in the pages. Now, Jean thrives in the wild beauty of Virginia’s foothills alongside her husband, Mark, and their friendly cat.
Petra Monaco is an artist, author, and builder of wild ideas living in Central Virginia.
She’s been burning wood for over 25 years and burning excuses even longer.
Through her work in Pyrography, and her growing body of writing, Petra helps creatives stop overthinking and start doing. Her approach is simple: messy action beats perfect plans every time.
Her life story shaped that philosophy. From growing up in foster care to immigrating to the U.S., to raising four boys and walking through her son’s fight for survival through multiple liver transplants, Petra doesn’t teach theory. She teaches what holds up in real life.
Join us in celebrating the first weekend of May at “the Rock with Rockfish Gallery & Gifts.