Authors Night, a benefit for the East Hampton Library, has become one of the most successful celebrations of books and writers in America and one of the largest events of its kind in the country. Featuring 100 writers across all genres, it will take place on Saturday at 5 under a massive tent in the village’s Herrick Park.
“As we celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Authors Night, we’re excited to once again bring this beloved event to the Village of East Hampton,” Dennis Fabiszak, the library’s executive director, said. “The funds raised at Authors Night allow us to continue offering essential programs and services at the library — completely free of charge — to our diverse community all year long.”
The evening will begin with a cocktail reception featuring hors d’oeuvres, wine, and, most important, the writers, who will be seated at tables with their books, which they will happily inscribe and sell. Tickets to the reception are $150.
Five hundred dollars (and more in a few cases) entitles the buyer to attend both the reception and a dinner at 8 with one or more authors at a private home. Among the dinner party luminaries are Neil deGrasse Tyson (“Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter”), Jay McInerney (“See You on the Other Side”), David Netto and Paul Goldberger (“Rosario Candela and the New York Apartment: 1927-1937”), Florence Fabricant (“Salty, Not Sweet: A Life in the Food World”), Bobbi Brown (“Still Bobbi”), and Don Lemon (“I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America”).
It wouldn’t be an Authors Night without Robert Caro, the author of “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York,” a four-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson, and “Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing,” a reflection on his career.
“I’ve been doing Authors Night from the very first,” he said during a fascinating and forthcoming conversation at his East Hampton home. The idea originated with Fabiszak. “Barbara Goldsmith and I met with Dennis, and I remember thinking nobody was going to come. But we did it. The first year or two we had very few authors. Then it suddenly exploded. All of a sudden friends of mine were asking me if I could get them a table.”
“Every year, under that tent, a scene is enacted that is just thrilling to me. Anybody who thinks books are dead or dying has only to go to East Hampton’s Authors Night, where we now have 100 authors, and we have many more writers who would like to be a part of it.” Caro also cited the hundreds of people walking around with arms full of books, and the lines of people waiting to have their books signed. “Dennis has created something that I think is wonderful.”
Full disclosure: This writer has a dog-eared copy of “The Power Broker,” bought and read in 1975. The book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize, was a National Book Award finalist, and launched Caro’s remarkable career.
Aspiring writers should take note. During the conversation, Caro recalled a lunch with his first editor while working on the book. During that meal, the editor balked at giving Caro the second half of his rather meager advance. “He said, ‘Oh no, Bob, I guess you didn’t understand me. We all like it, but nobody is going to read a book about Robert Moses. You have to be prepared for a small printing.’ “ Never out of print, the book is in its 74th printing.
Other participating authors include Amy DuBois Barnett, Amy Chozick, Tom Freston, Eddie Glaude, Bianna Golodryga, Xochitl Gonzalez, Michael Gross, Madeleine Henry, Steve Israel, Karine Jean-Pierre, Aphrodite Jones, Tom Junod, Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Carol Leifer, Andrew Lownie, Jenn Lueke, Chris Pavone, Ali Rosen, Adam Ross, Sabrina Rudin, Allison Winn Scotch, John Searles, Alyssa Sheinmel, Beth Stern, Michael Symon, and Heather Ann Thompson, among many others.
Tickets and more information can be found at authorsnight.org.
