The Look Book Goes to East Hampton Library’s Authors Night

Prudence Peiffer

Writer and art historian, Clinton Hill

Linda A. Willett

Board member, Lenox Hill

Debra Rothberg

Content creator, Patchogue

Were you covering the event?

Yes. I interviewed Neil deGrasse Tyson, who was charming. He must have signed hundreds of books, but he was fresh as a daisy for each one. Steve Madden, the shoe guy, was not that open and nice. I was asking questions, and he was like, “You have to read the book.” It’s like, All right.

Jennifer Heffner

Photographer, East Hampton

Sol Rivera

Poet, Shaker Heights, Ohio

Did your dad [Geraldo Rivera] help with your book?

He helped with the business side, but he left the creative side up to me because he knew I wanted to explore this on my own. Also my dad hasn’t even touched a poetry book in his life. He writes mostly autobiographies.

George Schulman

Artist, Patchogue

Bradley Rubin

Scientific-journal editor, Ridge

Noa Santos

Architect and interior designer, Nomad

Did you buy any books?

I bought one called How to Lose Friends and Influence No One, which is a parody of that famous networking book How to Win Friends and Influence People. I had no idea who the author was, but I loved the title so I picked that one up.

Linda Villarosa

Journalist and professor, Park Slope

Jana Welch

Real-estate agent, Park Slope

Patrick Christiano

Realtor, West Village

Laura Belgray

Author and entrepreneur, Greenwich Village

What’s it like being here as an author?

It was fun but hot as balls. I didn’t sell out. I did the old compare-and-despair thing and looked around, and my friend had almost sold out her book. People were really nice. But there were some, mostly older men, who would look at the book, wink, and say, “Great title,” and move on. It’s called Tough Titties.

Carmela Ciuraru

Author, East Village

Was this your first Authors Night?

It was my first as an author, but I’ve gone in the past. Katie Couric is a friend of mine; she’s like a big sister to me. She said, “I’m gonna come and serve as the chum for you.” She was getting people to come over to my table. If they asked for selfies with her, she would say, “Only if you buy Carmela’s book.”

Denise Shaw

International mediator, Upper East Side

Ross Matsubara

Publicist, Nomad

Paul Vogel

Bookbinder, East Hampton

Chloé S. Wang

Anesthesiologist and venture capitalist, Tribeca

Whose book were you most excited to get?

I fought with Steve Madden to get the last signed copy of Jann Wenner’s book. He was like, “I’ve been dying to get your book, and you’re here and there’s one last copy.” I was right next to him. Jann looked at us, and he was like, “I guess the lady has to win.”