East Hampton Library's Authors Night Goes Virtual

The literary event of the summer on the East End has gone virtual.

This year East Hampton Library’s 16th Annual Authors Night will take the form of a series of interactive Zoom events, starting Thursday, August 6, and continuing through the weekend. Every year, the event draws well-known authors and celebrities to its annual book-signing event that attracts hundreds of guests ready to have books signed by their favorite authors.

The event, which is usually held under a tent in East Hampton, has in the past attracted names likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Alec Baldwin, Christie Brinkley, Susan Lucci and many others.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to translate the spirit of Authors Night to an online platform and to continue the tradition,” says Dennis Fabiszak, the library’s director.

Each one-hour author event will be a conversation between the featured author and a noted interviewer, followed by a Q&A with the participating online audience.

Among the literati-filled lineup will be Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton with their book Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years. The mother-daughter duo will be interviewed by Bridget LeRoy. Baldwin will interview Mike Birbiglia, the author of The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad.

Allison Pataki with her book The Queen’s Fortune: A Novel of Desire, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire and former Governor of New York George Pataki with book Beyond the Great Divide: How A Nation Became A Neighborhood will be interviewed together by Ken Lipper. The father and daughter will open the weekend’s programming on Thursday afternoon.

Guests can login in to hear sex therapist Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer discuss her books Sex for Dummies, Rollercoaster Grandma and Heavenly Sex. She’ll be interviewed by Patti Kenner and Fabiszak. Famed shoe designer Steve Madden will discuss his book The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever. He will be interviewed by Stacey Griffith.

Regular Authors Night participant Robert A. Caro will hold a discussion with Douglas Brinkley. J. Courtney Sullivan will discuss Friends and Strangers: A Novel, with podcaster Zibby Owens. Harlan Coben, the bestselling author of suspense novels will discuss his latest thriller The Boy from the Woods.

“Transforming Authors Night to a multi-day online experience will provide the Library with a dynamic new way to connect our community with the literary world,” Fabiszak continues.

The funds raised at Authors Night are used for programs and services at the library throughout the year. Tickets to individual events are $50 and can be purchased at authorsnight.org. Visit the website to find a full schedule of authors and events.