Bestselling author to sign sequel Thursday

Bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank is bringing her latest novel to Aiken personally next week.

Frank will be the guest of honor at a book signing at 6 p.m. Thursday at Books-A-Million in Aiken Mall. Her new book, "Return to Sullivans Island," arrived in bookstores Tuesday.

"We are definitely excited about having her here," said Books-A-Million General Manager Aleks Kragh. "It's a great opportunity to have a major author here."

The bookstore will begin issuing queue numbers for the book signing when the store opens at 9 a.m. on signing day, and the physical line will most likely begin forming about two hours before Frank's arrival, according to Kragh.

"We'll have plenty of books, and we're looking now at the floor plan to make room for the line. We'll definitely be prepared," Kragh said.

"Return to Sullivans Island" is a long-anticipated sequel to Frank's first novel, "Sullivans Island," and follows the adventures of the children of the first book's heroine. In the 20-year interval between her debut and the sequel, Frank has written eight more novels set in the Lowcountry, including "Isle of Palms," "The Christmas Pearl," "The Land of Mango Sunsets" and her most recent book, "Bulls Island."

Frank was born and raised on Sullivan's Island and now divides her time between her homes on the island and in New Jersey.

"Return to Sullivans Island" has a cover price of $25.99. For more information about the book or the book signing, call Books-A-Million at 642-0135.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.