Gainesville’s native son Frank Reddy will present his first novel, “Eyes on the Island,” Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Avid Bookshop in Athens.

A 2000 West Hall High School graduate and 2006 University of Georgia graduate, Reddy will be on hand to sign copies from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 493 Prince Ave. in Athens. Admission is free.

Reddy describes his book as a psychological thriller. It focuses on Will Fordham, a charismatic young preacher on the rise. But a family trip to the beach cost him everything.

Fordham was struck by an unexpected seizure while wading in the ocean, and his young son drowned. In the aftermath of the child’s death, Forham lost his marriage, his sobriety and his faith. Once the pastor of his own church, Fordham is now little more than a groundskeeper.

When Fordham is offered a new assignment at a small church on one of Georgias barrier islands, he reluctantly accepts the opportunity to put his life back together. Owned by a wealthy heiress and accessible only by ferry, this unspoiled island is home to an artists colony and only a handful of permanent residents. But once on the island, Fordham  befriends a young boy who tells him unsettling stories about the other islanders. Are they merely products of the boys overactive imagination, or does something sinister lie beneath the islands peaceful facade?

For more information, visit www.avidbookshop.com/event/author-frank-reddy-eyes-island.