Learn how to apply Scrivener’s basket of tools to track cover letters, artist statements, and submissions. Familiarity with Scrivener suggested.

$75
Taken this submissions class before? Returning participants pay just $55!

Email me at janine [at] janinekovac [dot] [com] to sign up!

With Katya Cengel, Janis Cooke Newman, Saeeda Hafiz, Janine Kovac, Tania Malik, Bridget Quinn

Want to hear about my experience hybrid publishing with She Writes Press? Come to the Bay Area Book Festival. I’ll tell you all about it!

Reserve your spot!

Lost in revisions? Scrivener for Murky Muddles is your lifeline! Learn how labels, keywords, index cards, bookmarks can help you revise structure while snapshots, revision mode, and split screens help you revise at the line-edit level. Perfect for novels, memoirs, and narrative nonfiction drafts that have stalled at their sticky places. Familiarity with Scrivener strongly suggested.

Register here.

Join me at Salesforce Park for the Words & Stories series where I’ll have the pleasure of playing emcee to fabulous Grotto authors JD Beltran and Samantha Schoech.

tl:dr
Book club. Me in conversation with Dionne Ford ‘bout her novel Go Back and Get It: A Memoir of Race, Inheritance, and Intergenerational Healing.
Join here. (Scroll all the way to the. bottom to find the brown “register” button.)

Join me at Salesforce Park with authors Heather Bourbeau and Jesus Francisco Sierra for the Words & Stories series. I’ll be reading from The Nutcracker Chronicles, the teen angst years.

In 2015 Nicole Cuffy decided to write the book she wanted to read—the story of the first Black principal dancer of New York City Ballet. And she did it!

Dances follows prima ballerina Cece Cordell as she takes her place on the stage and in history as the first Black principal dancer of the iconic (and very white) NYCB. I loved Nicole’s insider take on the ballet world which avoided all the tropes and brought a new narrative to the page. and I can’t wait to talk about her book with her for SFPL’s book club On the Sam Page.

Join here!

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.

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!

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!