Janet
Hubbard, author, playwright and well-known patron of the arts, passed
away on August 31, 2024. She was born in Richmond, Va., in 1944, on
the summer solstice — the longest day of the year, and also the day
her peonies never failed to bloom in her garden.
She
majored in theater and English arts at Virginia Intermont College.
She likened it to “unleashing a colt into a pasture.” She was
accepted as an apprentice at the Virginia State Theater, and soon
after she traveled to Paris for the first time, which began a love
affair with the city that lasted a lifetime.
As
an emerging writer, Janet moved to New York City and began her career
at Random House, followed by Time Life, where she became a
researcher. She simultaneously enrolled at New York University and
graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English. Before being sent on
assignment to Iran, she accepted an invitation to stay at a friend’s
cabin in Vermont to write. A rugged-looking guy knocked on the door,
looking for someone else, and the rest is history.
Janet
married Frank Brown two years later, and they had two children, Luke
and Ramsey. She wrote 25 books for Chelsea House Publishers and
several History Mystery books, among many other freelance gigs, while
she raised her children. In 1988 she woke up with a children’s
musical on her mind, and Heart of the Mountain was born. The
show traveled all over the state of Vermont before winning a peace
prize in Germany the following year.
Janet
took an unconventional and thrilling approach to parenting. She
taught the many children who adored her to approach life with
curiosity and wonder. She introduced her children to the world at
young ages and encouraged them to explore as many cultures and
countries as possible, which they did.
Janet
divorced at 58 and became a novelist. She wrote three mysteries set
in the wine districts of France. She derived great pleasure in
mentoring writers and helping them to find their authentic voices.
She was an avid supporter of the arts and sat on multiple boards,
most notably of Phantom Theater, where she wrote promotional articles
and produced many shows over the course of 40 years. Her final novel,
The Eloquence of Grief, was published in September 2024.
Janet
lived life on her own terms. She developed a strong philosophy on how
to accomplish a wildly abundant life: Wear more lipstick, have a
glass, throw fabulous dinner parties, laugh at yourself, talk to
strangers (who will become friends), go to Paris, wear red, read
great books and, most importantly, say “Yeeesss” (in a Southern
accent) as often as possible.
A
celebration of Janet’s life will be held on October 9, 2024, 3 to 6
p.m., at Bliss Ridge Farm, 216 Gove Rd., Moretown, VT.
A
book launch event for Janet’s final novel, The Eloquence of
Grief, is on October 10, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Red Barn Galleries
at Lareau Farm in Waitsfield, and will include light fare and a cash
bar. For details, visit phantomtheater.org.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 2, 2024.