Dorothea Benton Frank, author of 20 bestselling novels set in the Low Country of South Carolina, died Monday, September 2, 2019 following a brief struggle with leukemia. She was 67 years old and is survived by her husband Peter Richard Frank, daughter Victoria Frank Peluso (husband Carmine Peluso), grandson Theodore Anthony Peluso, and son William Richard Frank (wife Madeline Clark Frank).
Born and raised on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, Dottie attended school in Charleston before heading to Atlanta, GA to study at The Fashion Institute of America, where she graduated in 1972. After graduation she worked in the apparel industry for more than a decade, moving to San Francisco and eventually New York City. She married her husband Peter in 1983, and moved with him to Montclair, New Jersey in 1988, just after the birth of their son.
She wrote her first book, Sullivan’s Island: A Low Country Tale, shortly after the death of her mother in 2000, determined to buy back her childhood family home – the last physical connection she had to her beloved hometown – with the money she earned. The book went on to debut on the New York Times bestseller list at number nine and now has well over one million copies in print. Thus started a bestselling franchise that was often celebrated for its tart humor, honesty and strong-willed female characters that struggled with the real slings and arrows of everyday life: love and heartbreak, fortune and ruin, bliss and disappointment, and the folly of youth and the wisdom of experience.
While her children were young Dottie became a volunteer fundraiser, organizing events for various non-profit organizations around the Metropolitan New York area. Past board service includes The Montclair Art Museum, Whole Theater Company, The Drumthwacket Foundation, The NJ State Council on the Arts and The NJ Cultural Trust. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the SC Coastal Conservation League and the Parent's Council of the College of Charleston, Bloomfield College (Bloomfield NJ), The Montclair Film Festival (NJ) and The SC Historical Society.
She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The College of Charleston, a Doctorate of Fine Arts from Bloomfield College and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Charleston School of Law. In 2015, she was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of authors and has been honored many times for her work raising awareness about domestic violence and for her community service. Dottie was an avid cook, and enjoyed fly fishing the one time she tried it, reading, traveling, and mentoring young writers on the creative process. She divided her time between her home on Sullivans Island and New Jersey
"For fifteen years I was lucky enough to have an association with a woman full of stories, energy, imagination and most of all wit. Dottie was fearless and vibrant and I will miss her as much as her readers will," said Carrie Feron, Dottie's longtime editor at William Morrow.
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This is the cover for my new novel Queen Bee, on sale May 28, 2019!
Dottie's last book titled 'By Invitation Only' is available now. Order your copy today!
Dottie's novel 'Same Beach, Next Year' went on sale Tuesday, May 16th 2017.
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All Summer Long is a story of how plans evolve and lives change in unexpected ways, how even those who have everything are still looking for something more. Available everywhere books are sold, get your copy today!
In 'All The Single Ladies' Dottie again takes us deep into the Lowcountry of South Carolina, where three unsuspecting women are brought together by tragedy and mystery.
Available everywhere books are sold!
The Hurricane Sisters is now available in paperback edition. It's perfect for both Book Clubs and beach bags! Get your copy today!
Don't forget to check out Dottie's book titled 'All The Single Ladies' available everywhere books are sold!
The trade paperback edition of the New York Times bestselling novel 'THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE' by Dorothea Benton Frank is available everywhere books are sold. Be sure to order your copy today!
Dottie sat down with Michael Conroy of Harper Audio to discuss her book Full of Grace. Click here to listen to the entire interview.
Porch Lights, the incredible book by author Dorothea Benton Frank, has now been released in paperback format.
You can now enjoy the amazing writing talent of one of the best-selling authors in the convenient format of paper-back.
Hurry now and order Porch Lights while supplies last.
Dottie joins Dr. Edgar, host of 'Walter Edgar's Journal' to talk about several of the books she's written. You can listen to the recorded Podcasts of their discussions by clicking on any of the following links below.
Explore your favorite Dorothea Benton Frank books with questions for discussion in these engaging reading group guides.