RIP. What a majestic Vuhginyuh accent the guy had!
If you're talking about Shelby Foote, I'm not aware of any Virginia connection. I remember him as a Deep South Mississippi/Memphis man, never afraid to praise the Wizard of the Saddle, Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Shelby Foote was an outstanding writer. I've read his trilogy over and over again, and found only one error, where he puts Spencer carbines in the hands of John Buford's troops as they held off Ewell's corps west of town. Buford's guys carried mostly Sharps carbines. The Spencer carbine didn't get in the hands of the troops until the following October.
Rest in peace, Shelby. Tonight I'll raise a symbolic glass of bourbon and branch in your honor.
I loved his accent too, but IIRC he was born in Tennessee and lived in Mississippi. My dad's family have lived in Virginia since Jamestown, and I'd be glad to claim Mr. Foote as a Virginian-- so I'll check it.