On Friday, November 19th, a new book entitled A Westhampton Beach Christmas, became available on both Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. This wonderful book by Robert Babirad is set entirely in Westhampton Beach and East Hampton.
In an interview with Hamptons.com, author Robert Babirad, announced that on Thursday, December 16; 7:00-8:00 pm Robert and Christie Leigh Babirad, a brother and sister writing duo, are returning to the Hampton Bays Public Library, via Zoom.The authors of In-Transit Passenger: Making the Journey Matter and As the Winds Change will be discussing their latest books, A Christmas Heart, A Westhampton Beach Christmas, and Scarlet Secrets: Poems, which will all be out this season.
Mr. Babirad said, “I grew up in North Babylon, N.Y, but our families would spend our summers out in Remsenburg. We had family and friends there and on Shelter Island.” He actually went to law school in Topeka, Kansas and did some major secondary schooling at Kings College in London, where he earned a degree in European Union Law. He then explained it was through his sister’s career at a large free local publication, Dan’s Papers, that he was able to “attend many functions” and get a grip on the mechanics of how the social life works.
The book, A Christmas Heart, A Westhampton Beach Christmas, revolves around, “the celebration of being in the Hamptons around Christmas.” Babirad said. The main character Fran is “…a take on, you know how all year they have the real estate magazines. She is an angel investor. So, she is into real estate, but she is also in charge of a luxury publication. She is the one who plays a big part, like interviewing people like Danny and making her dream of (an East End) winery happen.” Robert Babirad then weaves a wonderful, heartfelt Christmas story that obviously has a lot of heart and soul and a unique east end feel.
He explained how his sister’s experience covering the east end wineries gave him a unique view to the inner workings of that industry on the east end, to make that aspect of the story very authentic. He explained, “When I decided to write this book I got in touch with a lot of local winemakers. They were very friendly and very helpful. They gave some advice and information, such as the topping of the barrels in the winter because of the evaporation, and what actually goes into winemaking. So, writing this book was also an educational experience for me because it gave me the opportunity to learn a lot that I didn’t really know.”
With all this research and inside knowledge Mr. Babirad has created a wonderful east end Christmas tale that is a terrific read for this time of year.
So, on Thursday, December 16 from 7:00-8:00 pm the public is invited to attend Robert and Christie Leigh Babirad, Hampton Bays Public Library, “Meet the Authors” via Zoom. The authors of In-Transit Passenger: Making the Journey Matter and As the Winds Change as well as, A Christmas Heart, A Westhampton Beach Christmas, will be available for stimulating conversation on their works, their east end observations, and more.
To sign up, email [email protected] with the subject “Meet the Authors” for the Zoom link.
