If you don't have any plans yet for this evening, head down to Mercbar (151 Mercer St.) at 6 p.m., where mediabistro.com's writing instructors are having a reading. It's part of a new event series we're putting together; tonight's featured guests are novelists Shari Goldhagen, Nicole Bokat, and Gayle Forman.

If that's too short notice for you, mark November 8 on your calendar now, because Sarah and I will be hosting another mediabistro.com book party for YA author Micol Ostow to celebrate the publication of her debut original hardcover, Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa. That party's going to be in the downstairs lounge at Sala. RSVP and let us know you're coming!