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Overflow crowd at Authors Night for the benefit of the East Hampton Library. Photos by Douglas Harrington

East Hampton - Some the America's greatest authors greeted hundreds of attendees on the grounds of the East Hampton Library on Saturday, Aug. 8 for the Fifth Annual Authors Night Benefit. It certainly lived up to its billing as the premiere literary event of the Hamptons as 120 writers sat, sold and signed their books donated in support of the library and its programs.

Barbara Walters chats with an admiring fan.

This year's honorary co-chairs were a triple play of three heavyweights - Jay McInerney, Candace Bushnell and Alec Baldwin. They alone would have been worth the price of admission, which was $75 for the three-hour tented reception and book sale and up to $500 for one of 33 private dinner parties with an author at the home of one of the library's local supporters.

There were numerous other authors, both fiction and non-fiction, whose pedigree was just as impressive, as the crowd of book lovers undoubtedly felt like kids in a literary candy store. The event was accented with hors d'oeuvres and wine that was donated by Amagansett Wines and Liquors.

Understandably selling out of all the hardcovers of "The Gate House" was one of the world's most popular authors, Nelson DeMille, whose current book is a sequel to his best seller "The Gold Coast." His table had a line throughout the three-hour event and like all the authors he signed his books, chatted with attendees and had his picture taken with adoring fans. Steve and Jackie Zimmerman of East Hampton were two supporters whose donations afforded them dinner with DeMille at the home of literary editor Jane Freidman. [Hamptons.com has a full length interview with DeMille on the site and in the latest issue of The Hamptonian magazine].

Long lines formed for the three co-hosts Alec Baldwin, Candice Bushnell and Jay McInerney.

Equally long lines formed in front of the three co-hosts who sat side by side at the first table at the entrance of the tent and event. Hordes of women wanted their picture taken with Baldwin, who once again has given generously of his time and talent to yet another in a long line of Hampton good causes he supports. His book, "A Promise To Ourselves," is a recounting of his painful divorce and child custody battle with his ex-wife Kim Basinger, more importantly it is an insightful indictment of the family court system that in his opinion is in desperate need of an overhaul.

I asked Baldwin if it was a tough first book to write, "It was a tough book to write, both as my first book and because of the subject matter. I think it was well written. I hope it is going to lead to some change. There are some state legislatures like Illinois, Georgia, and West Virginia that are having some hearings to begin to change family law now." I have read the book myself and can attest that it is a very well written indictment of a very flawed system, in Baldwin's case, the California family court system specifically.

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps was thrilled to participate in her first Authors Night event.

Another popular author at the event was Molly Haskell who sat and signed with her husband, noted film critic and commentator Andrew Sarris, at her side. Her recent book, "Frankly, My Dear," is a reexamination of the seminal film "Gone With The Wind." It is a fabulous read that has garnered kudos from critics and readers alike. "It is my first time here, helping a library is always a noble cause and for that I am grateful to be able to be here. My home libraries are in Quogue and Westhampton, but I must say the whole Suffolk County library system is wonderful. Particularly online, it is much better than the New York City library system."

As I waited to speak with East Hampton's own Dava Sobel, whose latest book is "Longitude," the avid fan in front of me had purchased a total of seven books from Sobel who was graciously signing all of them. Sobel has been a contributing author at all fives years of the event and was thrilled with the turnout, "It is so successful you can barely move here. I am glad I am standing on this side of the table, as a short person I'd probably get mowed down. It is a fantastic success and I have enjoyed watching it grow each year." As a year-round resident Sobel uses the library regularly, "This is my only residence and I do use the library. This year I was a judge for the Pulitzer Prize and I had to read about 400 books. It was great to have the East Hampton Library to donate those books to and they were grateful."

Dava Sobel has been a participating author every year.

A last minute addition to the writers line-up was the stunningly beautiful Countess LuAnn de Lesseps of "The Real Housewives of New York City." "Class With The Countess" is her first book and her first time at Authors Night, "It is my first book so it my first time here. I am having a great time and I only have a few books left. I was away in Europe and I didn't get involved until the last minute, my books only arrived yesterday. I live in the Hamptons so I am very supportive of the Hamptons."

Sag Harbor writer Grace F. Edwards was making her second appearance at the event with several of her mystery novels including "A Toast Before Dying" in her Mali Anderson series. "I was here several years ago and it was so exciting, I am glad to be back again." Other notables in the writers line-up included Barbara Walters, Dan Rattiner, Steven Gaines, Stuart Woods and Robert A. Caro to name but a very few.

Author Grace Edwards with one of her popular Mali Anderson mysteries.

Five year co-chair Sheila Rogers was overwhelmed by the turnout and success of this year's event in a tough economy, "It is incredible, it's overwhelming. We have so many people here, we have 120 authors and about 800 guests. We were apprehensive initially with the economy, but we had so many people lining up to be hosts for the dinner parties, that I suddenly felt we were going to be okay."

Present as an attendee was James Lipton, moderator of "Inside The Actors Studio." He commented, "My wife and I have weekend guests of Dr. Geoffrey Brackett and his wife, he is the provost of Pace University. None of us could think of any place that we know of where something like this could happen outside of the Hamptons. He is a man with a Masters Degree and a PhD. from Oxford, so he knows something about literature. All of us were so impressed that this event exists."

Impressive indeed and a thrilling event for book lovers throughout the East End. The pundits may say that print is dead, but you would never know it based on the growing success of Authors Night in the Hamptons.