On Thursday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m. the 2012 author lecture series begins. This year’s summer lineup includes Pulitzer Prize winners Richard Russo and Jennifer Egan, also Peter Beinart and Henry Louis Gates Jr.

The series is designed to celebrate and support the authors and independent bookstores. The price of admission is free if you buy the author’s book. If you choose not to buy a book, the cost is $10.

Mr. Russo and his daughter lead off the series on Thursday night. All readings are held at the Chilmark Community Center and begin at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, July 22, Peter Beinart reads from and discusses his book, The Crisis of Zionism. Alan Dershowitz joins Mr. Beinart at the podium for a discussion.

Jennifer Egan, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for A Visit from the Goon Squad, about an aging punk rocker turned music producer and kleptomaniac, reads and talks about her career on August 2.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. concludes the series on August 18. His new book is the Henry Louis Gates Jr. Reader, which compiles over three decades of his essays, editorials, interviews and other writings.

The books, which can serve as tickets, are all available at Bunch of Grapes bookstore in Vineyard Haven.

Tickets are also available at the bookstore and the Chilmark Community Center from 9 a.m. to noon or ticketsmv.com.