World-Class Writers Gather in the Hamptons
Best-selling writers, thousands of literature lovers and Alec Baldwin. Not a bad way to spend a summer night in the Hamptons. At the 7th annual East Hampton Library’s Authors Night, you’ll get all the aforementioned and more.
Author’s Night Founding Chairs Alec Baldwin and Barbara Goldsmith, along with Honorary Co-Chairs Robert A. Caro, Dick Cavett, Michael Connelly and Nelson DeMille, will be joined this Saturday, August 13, by an impressive roster of well-known writers in all genres at the premier literary event in the Hamptons. The fundraiser for the East Hampton Library takes place under the big tent on the library grounds and features more than 160 nationally and locally recognized authors. The fun begins with a book signing cocktail reception at 5 p.m., followed by elegant dinner parties at private area homes with guest authors at 8 p.m. [expand]
Among the eminent names from the world of books appearing at the event are best-selling writer Michael Connelly, author of The Fifth Witness and The Lincoln Lawyer, and The New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gretchen Morgenson, whose book Reckless Endangerment currently tops several best-seller lists. Also in attendance will Philip Schultz, a Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry, and Robert A. Caro, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner in biography.
Related: Read Dan’s profile of Robert Caro.
Other authors sure to draw a crowd include actress Susan Lucci, signing copies of her memoir All My Life; Nelson DeMille, author of The Gold Coast, and Plum Island, signing copies of his recent thriller, The Lion; Dick Cavett, whose book Talk Show is a collection of essays from his online New York Times column; TV food critic and chef Katie Lee, who recently debuted her first novel, Groundswell; Andrew Ross Sorkin, whose Too Big to Fail was recently turned into an HBO film; wellness expert Kathy Freston, signing copies of her new book, Veganist; and comedian and actor Robert Klein, whose The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue looks back at his 1950s Bronx childhood. And don’t miss featured authors including Georgina Bloomberg, Jennet Conant, Kathy Freston, Victoria Hagan, Hilary Thayer Hamann, Shere Hite, Robert Klein, Katie Lee, Robert Lipsyte, Susan Lucci, Jeffrey Lyons, Gretchen Morgenson, Adam Ross, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Beth Ostrosky Stern, Colson Whitehead and more.
At the book-signing cocktail reception on the library grounds, guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and wine and have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the authors, buy their books and have them personally inscribed. All books are donated by the publishing houses, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the library. Authors will be seated under the tent alphabetically, so attendees will be able to easily seek out their favorites..
Immediately following the book signing reception, the East End’s largest simultaneous dinner party will take place with more than 500 guests attending one of the Authors Night dinners hosted at private area homes, each featuring one (or more) of the guest authors. Guests have the chance to review the list of dinner parties and authors, and make three choices of parties they wish to attend. They are then notified in advance about which dinner they will be attending. Dinner guests automatically receive an entry ticket to the Authors Reception as well.
The East Hampton Library’s 7th Annual Authors Night, Saturday, August 13, 159 Main St., East Hampton. Book signing reception 5-7:30 p.m., dinner parties 8 p.m. at private local homes.
Tickets for the book signing reception are $100 and are available online and at the door; dinner party tickets start at $225, include entry to the book signing reception, and must be reserved in advance. For full event details and tickets, go to www.authorsnight.org or call 631-324-0222, ext. 7.