Kristan Higgins, Robyn Carr, SEP, Elizabeth Hoyt, Beverly Jenkins and Meredith Wild to take Bryant Park

Next week will offer some extra fun times for romance readers! If you happen to be in New York City on Wednesday (July 22), you can stop by Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan at lunchtime to catch a panel discussion with some of our favorite romance authors ever: Kristan Higgins, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Robyn Carr, Elizabeth Hoyt, Beverly Jenkins and Meredith Wild. I'll be moderating the whole shebang — which is probably a good thing, since I'm sure these authors will be a rowdy group. Kristan in particular can be a real handful. : )

The fun starts at 12:30 p.m. ET at the Bryant Park Reading Room. Look for the burgundy and white umbrellas. Find out more about the event at www.bryantpark.org and on Facebook.

And, hey, while you're around, you might consider checking out the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing that evening at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. There, you'll find hundreds of romance authors signing their books and chatting with readers. Bonus: Proceeds from the book sales benefit ProLiteracy Worldwide, Literacy Partners and Literacy Assistance Center. These annual signing events have raised more than $878,000 since 1990 to help support literacy programs.

The two-hour signing kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET in the Westside Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis. (Note: The line to get into the event will form in the sixth-floor Broadway Ballroom.) Find out more at www.rwa.org.