Author event and giveaway: Dorothea Benton Frank
If you’ve read my blog for long, you know I love the Book Your Lunch events sponsored by my local indie bookstore. The most recent event, for Dorothea Benton Frank, was the biggest one ever! It sold out at 250 tickets! I was thrilled with the crowd (even though I didn’t get a picture or a video because of it) and Dottie (as her friends and family call her) was overwhelmed. The crowd was enthusiastic and even the servers seemed to be enjoying the event.
Dottie told us that she became fascinated with the Charleston Literary Renaissance when Walter Edgar loaned her a copy of Three O’Clock Dinner by Josephine Pinckney, a book that sold a million copies in 1951, yet still feels contemporary. She started researching the Renaissance and discovered so much about DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and the idea for her newest book, Folly Beach, was born. It opens with a poem by DuBose Heyward and features a one-woman play about the Heywards. The research for the book was done in Charleston.
One of Dottie’s older books, Plantation, has been optioned for a movie three times, but a movie has never been made. Dottie said she’d love to see it made into a movie, maybe with Gwyneth Paltrow and Blythe Danner starring.
Dottie spends a lot of time on Sullivan’s Island and hopes to spend more time there in the future, since she’s not too fond of New Jersey winters. She has two children, both are graduates of the College of Charleston. Dottie attended fashion school, but never finished her undergraduate degree. She does hold two honorary doctorates, though. Her brother is Ted Benton and he is publishing an audio book of self hypnosis techniques.
The book Dottie’s working on now features, a little boy who loses his fireman dad in a fire. His mother is serving in Afghanistan and comes home and brings her son to Sullivan’s Island to heal.
I got Dottie to autograph a copy of Folly Beach for one lucky reader. To enter to win an autographed copy of FOLLY BEACH, by Dorothea Benton Frank, simply fill out the entry form. Contest is open worldwide. I will use random.org to determine the winner. Contest ends at midnight EST Sunday, July 10, 2011. Winners will be announced on Monday, July 11, 2011. Comments are welcome (and appreciated) but will not get you an entry in the contest.
It’s great that you get to attend so many author events
And it’s very generous of you to offer us a signed copy Folly Beach. Thank you!
What a great luncheon. She sounds like a friendly, and talented woman. I read her earliest books, which I enjoyed, but nothing recent. Great giveaway.
Thank you the giveaway! Everything you did sound so good!
Your local bookstore sure has wonderful events; you’re lucky to have such a great place nearby!
I enjoyed reading more about DBF; as I said in commenting on your review of this book, I loved her book Lowcountry Summer and want to read this one as well. Blythe Danner seems a perfect choice for any southern-themed movie to me, after her roles in The Prince of Tides and her theater turn at Blanche in A Streetcar named Desire (which I was lucky enough to see).
Great giveaway
Wow, this is wonderful! I entered right away! i’ll have to look Josephine up in the family book – my husband is a Pinckney but I have never heard of her! Thanks, Kathy, for always sharing from your author events!
Sounds like another fabulous luncheon at your local indie. Thanks for the review. I saw this book at our local bookstore and thought it was just another summer read – your review has changed my mind and has placed another book on my wish list
I’ve never heard of this author before your review of this book, so how thrilling that she sold out! She also sounds like a really wonderful person, which I’m sure is why she is so popular. What I wouldn’t give to have events like this in Orlando!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I have yet to read a book by this author, but she is definitely on my TBR list In fact, I have several southern artists that I would like to read. Perhaps there is a literary vacation in my future…
It does sound as though this event was a smash hit and I am glad that you got the chance to attend and to hear her speak! I love that there are so many readers out there willing to spend the money to attend this event!
I’ve been seeing this book around, and it has certainly peaked my interest. You have great book recommendations.
You do get to go to the best author events! Thanks for sharing your experiences and the books with your readers!
Thank you for this giveaway!
I already have this book, but wow, how impressive about how many people came to the event!
Wow, an event sold out at 250! That is impressive!
What a great turnout for the event! I always enjoy reading about these Book Your Lunch events you attend.
What another great event. I need an indie store in my town with these events!
I need to add this author to my TBR list. That is amazing that 250 tickets sold. I have definitely been missing something by not reading her sooner!
Sounds like another great event!
I’ve made the decision that I am only allowed to bring books in the house that I win for the rest of the year, LOL! Thanks for the giveaway. And for another jealousy inducing post about your cool luncheons!
I’ve loved every one of “Dottie’s” books that I’ve read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this one. (I may have accidently filled out the form twice — Sorry if I did!)
I just today learned about this book on another blog, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Holy guacomole! 250 sold out lunch with author… now that’s what I call adoring fans
You have such great authors at your bookstore…this one came for me the other day…really excited to dive into it!
I wish there were a bookstore like yours near me. You have the best luncheons! This book will be on my wish list for the summer. Dottie’s next book sounds like a winner as well.
250 in attendance – wow! I love reading about these Book Your Lunch events (yes, one day I will join you!!)
A great summer read and autographed on top of it, yippee.
This is one that has me drooling simply for the cover art! Sounds like a winner.
I’ve read Shem Creek and Sullivan’s Island. Both books were really good.