Give'm Hell, Alec

This past weekend the book publishing industry gathered at its annual convention, BookExpo America.  Set this year in downtown Los Angeles, the show naturally took on a bit more Hollywood luster than it usually does when it's in New York or Chicago.

Friday night's hot, hot St. Martin's Press party was in honor of Alec Baldwin, who is coming out with his book A Promise To Ourselves: Fatherhood, Divorce and Family Law, in the Fall.

Appearing poolside at the Sunset Towers Hotel, Alec addressed the well-feted guests with an impassioned mini-rant about divorce and parental custody laws. In case you don't know, this heated topic of his forthcoming book is based on his not-to-distant and over-publicized divorce to actress Kim Basinger and custody trial of their teenage daughter.

Afterward, I chatted with him about the book, where he reiterated that the book really isn't about his ex-wife, per se, though she and the divorce trial aren't avoided, either. "Many people will say how can you be so mean about her, but when my friends and family read the manuscript, their feedback was 'how can you be so KIND'," Alec said, slapping me on the back. The guy isn't shy about voicing his opinions, for sure!

His brother, Stephen, who accompanied him to the party, is also a published author.  As one industry insider commented, "How often do you get two Baldwins for the price of one?!"

 

 

David Nudo