The Post and Courier__________________________________________________ CHARLESTONSCENE.COM ____________________________________________ Thursday, June 10, 2010.21F
Scott Yarbrough on rewriting comic books and finding the right kind of reader come. Finally I dumped it and wrote what I’m calling a literary noir (trying to emulate writers like James Crumcott Yarbrough, teacher ley and Daniel Woodrell); I at Charleston Southern landed an agent with it who is currently trying to place it, University, has been so keep your fingers crossed. in love with writing (and Q: Who were your top reading) since he was a young child. three favorite authors growing up? Now, he’s A: As an adolescent, I loved all grown the science fiction novels of up, and his Robert Heinlein because of passion the laconic voice of his narfor writing continues to rators; I was a huge fan of burn bright- Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” because of the breadth of ly. Scott sat Yarbrough his vision and the timeless down with nature of the quest; finally, Charleston I probably read “To Kill a Scene and talked about the Mockingbird” six or seven journey of being a writer. times over the course of high Q: How long have you school. I loved that book, been writing? again, for the voice, as well as A: By the age of six or seven I was rewriting comic for its southern setting and DEBBIE ZAMMIT books to include myself and clarity of moral vision. my brothers; I wrote my first Q: Who are your top three Dottie Frank’s new book is “Lowcountry Summer.” favorite authors now? short stories in tenth grade A: The first two are, I or so. I’ve always loved guess, the kind of boring BY STEPHANIE BURT brary and comes together to reading and writing for me choices you’d expect from a has always been a natural support it.” Special to The Post and professor of American Litextension of that love. Sponsors for this event WHAT: Launch Party for Dorothea Benton Frank’s Courier Q: You’ve published vari- erature. I love Faulkner for include Charleston Grill, J “Lowcountry Summer,” a fundraiser for the Charleston the searing poetic explosiveous short stories in differFletcher Design and Firefly ew York Times best-sellCounty Public Library. ness of his prose; on the othent magazines. Describe Distillery, which is just one ing author Dorothea WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 16. er hand, I love Hemingway the first time one of your of such events the Friends Benton Frank has written 10 WHERE: Cooper River Room of Memorial Waterfront (particularly the short stohost throughout the year. For stories got published. books, all with one thing in Park, Mount Pleasant. ries and first three novels) A: “Apalachee Quarterly” this event, Harvey and her common: They are all set in COST: $30 online at CCPL.org or call 805-6882. for his restraint and his “less team wanted to a setting that was publishing a special isthe Lowcountry. MORE INFO: www.dotfrank.com. would evoke the Lowcountry sue on “chaos” (I think chaos is more approach.” My third Woven through her books favorite, Cormac McCarthy, theory had become the new of Frank’s books. is not simply Spanish moss is a blending of the two. “The new Waterfront Park scientific buzz term in the dripping off the trees or the taurant advice through her of the Charleston County Q: What advice would you has a gorgeous vista. We want early ‘90s); I’d had an idea beauty of a sunset over the popular Facebook page. Public Library will host a percolating in the back of my give to local writers? marsh. The people, places These days, Frank, a Sullispecial fundraiser at the Coo- to introduce people to this A: Primarily I’d advise to site that have not experienced head for a long time about a and events of the Lowcounvan’s Island native, divides per River Room of Mount story made up of fragmented read as much as possible, it yet,” she says. try are peppered heavily her time between New Jersey Pleasant’s Waterfront Park. (and even chaotic) segments. and read widely; I’d advise And a chance to meet the throughout her fiction, from and South Carolina. That Guests may enjoy chamto produce as much as posI wrote it, called it “30 Nugauthor herself, although the restaurant Rue de Jean division of place factored into pagne, a reading by the ausible and be willing to tear Frank will tell you that she is gets of Chaos,” and it was to U.S. Highway 17 and even her decision to set all of her thor and a book signing. In published. I didn’t receive a everything to pieces in reviMedical University of South books here. addition, books will be avail- very much a part of her ficsion over and over again. dime, just a few copies, but tion. Carolina. “It’s simple. I write about able for purchase. Hemingway presumably receiving that phone call is “It’s a by-product of using “I like to put characters in where I want to be. If I’m not “Dottie Frank has great wrote the end of “A Farewell still one of my most satisfyfirst person (as a narrator),” real places, in real time and there (in the Lowcountry), appeal and a great followto Arms” 55 times. Finally, ing memories. even in restaurants I like,” I want to be there,” she exing, and the fact that she ap- she says. “If you read my Q: What are you working if you can find readers who says Frank. plains. proached us with an idea for books, you know me.” will both be honest (as opon now? And she is happy to know For many of her readers, So it is a perfect setting for a fundraiser was fabulous,” posed to kind) but construcFor three years I banged her readers as well, which she Frank is an ambassador of the beginning of her next says Sharon Harvey, presitive (as opposed to mean), my head against a literary sorts for the Lowcountry. book tour to support “Lowdent of the Charleston Coun- says are “just nice people.” take as much advantage of novel about a 15-year-old They deeply connect to the country Summer,” a sequel to ty Library Board of Directors. “I love what I do. I tell stories where people find them- orphaned tomato farmer on those readers as you can. setting and to the author, the popular “Plantation.” “One of the nice things here Johns Island; it just wouldn’t They’re not easy to come by. selves.” often asking lodging or resOn Wednesday, the Friends is that everyone loves the liBY KATRINA ROBINSON
Special to The Post and Courier
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Dottie Frank Author invites public to party celebrating her new book if you go
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