tl:dr
Book club. Me talking ‘bout The Nutcracker Chronicles with Naomi Williams.
Join here. (Scroll all the way to the. bottom to find the brown “register” button.)
There will be snacks! Refreshments! Treats! And signed copies of The Nutcracker Chronicles. Get your ticket here.
Join us for an evening of good conversation (led by Litquake co-founder Jane Ganahl), great company, and seasonal surprises—including your own opportunity to waltz with the flowers. A perfect evening to spend with friends! $15 ($12 early bird)
I’ll be at Barnes and Noble at the Fountains discussing The Nutcracker Chronicles with Robert Seltzer. Drop by, El Paso! I’d love to see you.
Full details here.
It’s that time of year again—when we are in conversation with our loved ones and the ones we wish we didn’t have to love. To prepare for you for Thanksgiving dinner with relatives we wish we didn’t have, we’ll look at compassion through the art of craft the antagonist.
Grotto Nights is a monthly series at the Library featuring The Writers Grotto members who will showcase and discuss their writing around a theme of their choice. Minna Dubin, Terry Tierney and Brad Balukjian will share strategies and discuss the complexities of writing unsavory characters, both real and imagined, with moderator Janine Kovac.
Hello Seattle! Come by Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum at Pike Place Market. I’ll be in conversation with Amber Flame and we’ll talk about the Nutcracker and The Nutcracker Chronicles.
Co-presented with Hedgebrook.
Wine reception to follow.
RSVP here.
OFFICIAL Launch date! Join me at Medicine for Nightmares. I’ll be in conversation with Kaitlin Solimine answering questions about my new memoir The Nutcracker Chronicles.
And yes, there will be dancing.
And maybe even sugar plums.
It’s the official book launch party for The Nutcracker Chronicles! I’ll be in conversation with Grace Kraaijvanger. We’ll talk all things ballet. We might even dance a little. Grab a brew and party with me. Books sales courtesy of East Bay Booksellers.
Pre-order here.
RSVP here!
Sure, we all know Litquake as a slick, well-oiled festival machine that delights young and old. But what about the early years? The ones where we stumbled through as an all-volunteer squad, not really knowing what the hell we were doing? Come and hear stories about our triumphs and pratfalls, from those who have been involved since the early days. See a side of Litquake you didn’t know existed—and we’re glad no longer does. Hosted by Litquake co-founders Jack Boulware and Jane Ganahl.
It’s the first in-person re-order party for The Nutcracker Chronicles!!
I’ll be in coversation with Rebecca Sanders of Sagrada Sacred Arts talking all things Nutcracker: the ballet, the book ,, and the holiday magic. Pre-order your copy from Sagrada and I’ll sign it when the copies arrive in November.
Hope to see you there!
Reserve your spot here.
Join me in conversation with Minal Hajratwala and Tiffany Yu. We’ll discuss our paths to publication and reveal all our secrets!
Register here.
As a queer Cambodian-American, Putsata Reang straddles worlds and translates between cultures. Inspired by her essay for The New York Times’ Modern Love column, Ma and Me is a memoir of reclamation and reconciliation tenderly written around the literary concept of the existential wound. Perfect for readers and writers of memoir.
Register here. Please note that the book is not included and can be purchased here.
ASL interpretation will be available for all book club meetings.
The Sex Lives of African Women, listed by The Economist as a “Best Book of the Year”, is a collection of personal stories that pair bravery with vulnerability and gives readers insight into their own sexuality as well. If you collect oral histories, creating a safe environment for your interview subjects is a must. Join us in August when Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah will discuss her book, her writing, and her interview process.
Register here. Please note that the book is not included and can be purchased here.
ASL interpretation will be available for all book club meetings.
Register here. Please note that the book is not included and can be purchased here.
Dr. Anu Taranath is a professor at the University of Washington and is a racial equity consultant. Summer travelers will benefit from Beyond Guilt Trips as a thoughtful companion on their journeys. If you are a writer looking to integrate social justice missives without sounding preachy, this month’s book club pick is for you.
Please join me for Reading and Meeting Friday June 21 from 5PM - 7PM at the Writers Grotto. "Summer Solstice Reading" will feature Britta Stromeyer, Sarita Sarvate and me! We’ll read from our latest work. Louise Nayer will emcee. As always there will be fabulous company and refreshments.
Register here.
Intrigued by Scrivener but afraid to use it? Help is here! In this introductory class, taught in two 2-hour sessions over Zoom, I’ll cover everything the beginner needs to integrate this robust software with your existing writing process. Topics include Scrivener basics such as menu navigation, organization, and “Scrivener Speak.”
Register here through LitCamp Writers and Page Street.
In 2016 Anu Taranath, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Putsata Reang, and I were in residency together at Hedgebrook. The books we were working on at the time–Beyond Guilt Trips, The Sex Lives of African Women, Ma and Me, The Nutcracker Chronicles—were in their infancy. But the magic of the land was in full force and in the intervening years, all four books found their way into the world.
Join me for a very special reunion as the residents discuss how our books and our processes were nurtured by our time at Hedgebrook and how you can participate in Hedgebrook’s new monthly, alumnae-led book club!
Saturdays, May 4th - 18th | Stuck in the murky middle? Revise Your Book with Scrivener is a great jump start to get your book through its next revision. Perfect for novels, memoirs, and narrative nonfiction drafts that have stalled at their sticky places. Familiarity with Scrivener strongly suggested.
$255
10% Early Bird Discount if you sign up before April 27!
It’s a Literary Hop through Downtown Hayward! FREE! And all ages are welcome. I’m not sure what I’m going to read yet…
I’m a new member of the Writers Grotto! Join me for an evening of reading and meeting and eating.
Featured readers are: Doug Henderson, Moazzam Sheik, Lenore Weiss, and Shikha Malaviya. Emcee’d by Celeste Chan.
Come say hi! I’ll be the one in the corner pretending I don’t have social anxiety.
Join us at MakerSpace NYC for a panel discussion around creativity and community. Literary curator Janine Kovac guides a discussion with MakerSpace co-founder DB Lampman, Brooklyn Ballet director Lynn Parkerson and Books Are Magic events director Amali Gordon-Buxbaum as they trade secrets for luring Zoom Zombies out of the house.
FREE!
Intrigued by Scrivener but afraid to use it? Through four hours of group instruction and one hour of private instruction (scheduled at your convenience), I’ll cover everything the beginner needs to get the most out of this amazing software that helps you see “the forest or the trees.” I’ll cover Scrivener basics such as menu navigation, organization, compiling and “Scrivener Speak.”
Class includes four hours of group instruction plus one hour of private instruction.
Scrivener for the Very Nervous
January 13 & January 20
10AM - 12PM PDT / 1PM - 3PM EDT
on Zoom
$195
Email me at janine [at] janinekovac [dot] [com] to sign up
What happens when your revision needs more than a line edit? Not to worry! Scrivener to the rescue with an organizational overhaul. Think of it like California Closets for your novel. I’ll cover character templates, timeline hacks, labels, statuses, and keywords plus a review of the corkboard view and the outliner view.
What happens when your revision needs more than a line edit? Not to worry! Scrivener to the rescue with an organizational overhaul. Think of it like California Closets for your novel. I’ll cover character templates, timeline hacks, labels, statuses, and keywords plus a review of the corkboard view and the outliner view.
Sometimes revision means cutting a new path and sometimes it means getting lost in the woods (and in your metaphors). How do you explore new possibilities and still keep track of the old ones? Strategies covered in this class include: bookmarks, snapshots, revision mode and a review of the Inspector.
Sometimes revision means cutting a new path and sometimes it means getting lost in the woods (and in your metaphors). How do you explore new possibilities and still keep track of the old ones? Strategies covered in this class include: bookmarks, snapshots, revision mode and a review of the Inspector.
In this first class, we look at what's already on the page. I'll cover compilation formats and exporting to Word/Pages/Google Doc, etc. plus a review of composition mode and binder options.
In this craft talk, we'll discuss how to determine what's already working in your ms and where to go from there.
Each class is two hours long, held over Zoom on Thursday and repeated on Saturday. The Bonus Bundle gives you access to all six occurrences. Familiarity with Scrivener strongly suggested.
Course is divided into three topics on Thursdays and Saturdays. Take them à la carte for $95 each or $255 for all six. Got a buddy? Email me at janine [at] janinekovac [dot] [com] for a special two-fer discount.
Here's the breakdown of topics:
In this first class, we look at what's already on the page. I'll cover compilation formats and exporting to Word/Pages/Google Doc, etc. plus a review of composition mode and binder options. In our craft talk, we'll discuss how to determine what's already working in your ms and where to go from there.
Offered Thursday, September 14 from 4pm - 6pm Pacific. Class repeats Saturday, September 16 from 10am - 12pm Pacific.
Sometimes revision means cutting a new path and sometimes it means getting lost in the woods (and in your metaphors). How do you explore new possibilities and still keep track of the old ones? Strategies covered in this class include: bookmarks, snapshots, revision mode and a review of the Inspector.
Offered Thursday, September 21 from 4pm - 6pm Pacific. Class repeats Saturday, September 23 from 10am - 12pm Pacific.
What happens when your revision needs more than a line edit? Not to worry! Scrivener to the rescue with an organizational overhaul. Think of it like California Closets for your novel. I’ll cover character templates, timeline hacks, labels, statuses, and keywords plus a review of the corkboard view and the outliner view.
Offered Thursday, September 28 from 4pm - 6pm Eastern. Class repeats Saturday, September 30 from 10am - 12pm Pacific.
In this first class, we look at what's already on the page. I'll cover compilation formats and exporting to Word/Pages/Google Doc, etc. plus a review of composition mode and binder options.
In this craft talk, we'll discuss how to determine what's already working in your ms and where to go from there.
Intrigued by Scrivener but afraid to use it? Through four hours of group instruction and one hour of private instruction (scheduled at your convenience), I’ll cover everything the beginner needs to get the most out of this amazing software that helps you see “the forest or the trees.” I’ll cover Scrivener basics such as menu navigation, organization, compiling and “Scrivener Speak.”
Class includes four hours of group instruction plus one hour of private instruction.
Scrivener for the Very Nervous
July 13 & July 15
3PM - 5PM PDT / 6PM - 8PM EDT
on Zoom
$255
Email me at janine [at] janinekovac [dot] [com] to sign up
