Montclair resident and bestselling novelist Dorothea Benton Frank dies

Dorothea Benton Frank, the bestselling novelist and grande dame of Montclair’s close-knit community of writers, died Monday evening after a short illness. She was 67. 

The news was posted to her Facebook page, along with an obituary from The Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina. The Montclair resident had a second home on Charleston’s Sullivan’s Island, and her 20 novels are set in the area. 

According to the obituary, the cause was myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a type of cancer similar to leukemia. 

Her 2000 debut novel, "Sullivan's Island," has over a million copies in print and has been translated into 10 languages. She had published a new book each year since. "Queen Bee," published in May, reached No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

“She was honestly the most disciplined person I have ever met,” said friend and former Montclair resident Christina Baker Kline, bestselling author of “Orphan Train” and “A Piece of the World.”

At the same time, Kline said, Frank was “so much fun to be with, a very loving, generous, warm, down-to-earth person.” 

While Charleston held a special place for Frank, Montclair did, too, Kline said. “Dottie had a beautiful home in Montclair and loved to entertain and have friends over. But even when she did, she was up and at 'em the next day, writing,” her friend said.

The dramatic Montclair home of Dorothea Benton Frank and her husband, Peter Frank, where they raised their two children, was featured this year in Montclair magazine and on NorthJersey.com. Though it is still the Franks' primary residence — Peter works in finance in New York City — the house has been on the market for the last couple of years, according to the couples’ broker, Sam Joseph. The listing price is $3.35 million.

Frank was active in the community. She has served on the boards of the Montclair Art Museum, Montclair Film Festival, Whole Theater, Drumthwacket Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts. She holds an honorary degree from Bloomfield College.

There will be a memorial service at the Highlawn Pavilion on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. for family and friends of the author. 

She was also an invaluable mentor and inspiration to fellow novelists in town, Kline said. 

"She knew the industry and was really helpful to people like me who had a million questions and weren't as experienced as she was. When MEWS [Montclair Editors and Writers] held an event, Dottie would always be there with a colorful cocktail," Kline said. "She made it it seem fun to be a writer.” 

Email: jmartin@gannettnj.com