Celebrity chasing in the Hamptons reached its summer zenith yesterday during and after the annual authors’ signing and dinners to raise money for the East Hampton Library. Gwyneth Paltrow, Alec Baldwin and Dr. Ruth Westheimer were among the “authors” gathered under a huge white tent behind Guild Hall signing their books for invited guests who paid dearly to meet them. Paltrow’s appearance caused near chaos as she was accompanied by rock star husband Chris Martin of Coldplay and their two kids, Apple and Moses.
Meanwhile, Baldwin circulated with heavily pregnant young wife Hilaria. Elsewhere in the tent there were other stars like ABC News’s Lynn Sherr. “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi had her books for sale, but declined to attend the event.
And then there were actual writers, like the great Robert Caro, who signed copies of his essential tome “The Power Broker” and his biographies of Lyndon Johnson. I ran into Susan Isaacs, as well. Famed artist Eric Fischl was selling his memoir.
David Browne sold out his copies of “Fire and Rain,” about rock music in 1970. Movie critic Jeffrey Lyons brought copies of his memoir about his father, the very famous columnist Leonard Lyons.
Some other notables included Nile Rodgers, A.M. Homes, Nelson DeMille and Kittys than ran from the sublime to the ridiculous: Kitty Pilgrim and Kitty Kelley.
But the curve ball star was Clive Davis, the record biz mogul, who sold out all his copies of “The Soundtrack of My Life.” Getting to Paltrow’s table proved difficult because Clive’s table, just in front of it, was an overwhelming hit. The book has just gone into its 7th printing and the paperback is coming in November. Davis’s stories about his successes in the business — from Janis Joplin to Barry Manilow to Whitney Houston and Santana–were all anyone was talking about in the huge tent.
The signing was followed by dinners all over East Hampton with the writer and authors as featured guests. (see next item)
