What could be better than books and the beach? How about books and the people who wrote them, near the beach — the Chilmark Community Center, to be exact.

On Thursday, July 24, the 2014 Author Lecture Series will begin with Ward Just discussing his newest novel, American Romantic. The series continues on Sunday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m., with the Beekman Boys (Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge), discussing their book The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook at the community center.

The lecture series comes close to home again with Dixie Redux: Essays in Honor of Sheldon Hackney on Thursday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m. Some of the essayists who contributed to this collection will be presenting.

Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog and Townie, discusses his latest book of stories, Dirty Love, on August 3. Ron Suskind arrives on August 7 to detail the journey he and his wife are on with his son Owen, who has autism. Mr. Suskind’s new book is Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism.

On August 10, Alan Dershowitz reflects on issues such as censorship and the First Amendment, civil rights, abortion and homicide with his book Taking the Stand. On August 14, Richard North Patterson talks about his latest novel, Eden In Winter, and on August 21 a panel of memoirists includes Gail Sheehy, Richard Hoffman and Katie Hafner.

Tickets are available at ticketsmv.com, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore and the Chilmark Community Center. Books will be available for signing and purchase throughout the series.