Five by Five: Janine Kovac goes from the stage to the page

Janine Kovac

By Max Bowen

Author Janine Kovac began her life on stage dancing in Ballet El Paso’s production of “The Nutcracker.” After leaving the stage, Kovac adjusted to her new roles as a mother and audience member, watching her husband, children and students as they performed. Transitioning to writing, she penned her autobiography, “The Nutcracker Chronicles,” which pairs her story with that of the classic tale.

In this interview, Janine talks about how she made this pivot, her motivation for writing her memoir and what she hopes people take from the story.


Why did you want to write your memoir and what do you hope people take from reading your book?
I have been trying to make sense of the “Nutcracker” ballet since I first saw the production as a little girl. (The story that was adapted for the stage from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” leaves lots of room for questions).

At the same, I have been trying to make sense of the many roles dancers have. There are the roles onstage in the “Nutcracker”: baby mice, stalwart soldiers, delicate snowflakes and sugar plum fairies. But there are also the roles offstage. We start out as young, ambitious students. We become dedicated professionals. After we retire from the stage we are spouses, parents, teachers. Even though we might never wear another pair of pointe shoes, we are still dancers. Even when we can’t dance anymore. We are still dancers.

Writing this memoir—in which each chapter follows the sequence of events in the “Nutcracker” ballet with the stories that happen both onstage and off—was like solving a puzzle. In my book, I tell the story of Clara and the Nutcracker in a new way while also telling the story of what it means to be a professional ballet dancer.

My hope is that dancers and artists who integrate their passions with the grind of daily life will find this book and see themselves in Clara’s journey.


What connection do you see between your work as a dancer and as a writer?
Ballet taught me to show up every day whether I felt like it or not. It taught me that even though I might feel competitive with my fellow dancers, the only control I had was over my own work. And often that wasn’t really “control.” It also taught me the uselessness of perfectionism. If you don’t try to find joy in the moment, it will pass you by.

These lessons help me every day as a writer. I can only write my ideas. I can’t try to be someone else. I can keep chasing the next big project, but I’ll miss it if I don’t stop to appreciate the work that is happening right now in the present.

Ballet also taught me the value of mentors, friends and chosen family. We learn from those around us. If you surround yourself with dancers and artists and writers who are better than you are and kinder than you are, you will improve. You will become kinder.


What kept you in the world of dance despite the challenges you faced?
I stayed in the world of dance because of the challenges. The human body should not be able to dance en pointe—and yet we do! We turn and jump and balance on the tips of our toes—our entire body weight is supported on less than two square inches. And we look graceful at the same time! Every day it is a challenge to be met and it’s a thrill that never gets old.

The most difficult challenges, however, weren’t physical. They were financial. It was hard to string together enough work to pay the bills, and I often moved to the city or country where the jobs were. Miraculously, it always worked out—a company that offered free housing for its dancers or a tour that paid double. But it was hard to have the faith that good things would just drop out of the sky. When they did, it was always a better opportunity than what I had imagined for myself. In many ways, I stayed in the dance world because I was curious to see what would happen next.


Is there a central message that readers can take from the book?
The love of dance and the desire to dance lives inside you. No one can dim that light. No one can take it away.


Any advice for creatives who are looking to pivot to a new medium?
I think there is overlap in most of the arts. Writing is physical—maybe not to the extent that dancing is, but you still have to eat well and sleep well. The ergonomics of writing—posture, typing, back support affect your writing.

But here are some questions creatives can ask themselves:

• What worked for you in your old medium? How might that help you in your new medium? 
• What were some of the blind spots? 
• What were some of the characteristics of the mentors in your old medium that inspired you? Look for these characteristics in the people of the new community. Those will be your mentors. 

And remember, even though the form changes, we ultimately gravitate back to a central theme we are working out for ourselves. For me, I am always trying to unlock the secret to seeing others (be they characters or real people) the way they want to be seen and how this plays out in the power dynamics or our daily lives.

Heidi McLaughlin gives a new perspective in new book

In our second episode of the pre-Rhode Island Author Expo interviews, I’m joined by New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today-bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin. 

Heidi has a new book out on Dec. 3 called “Forever My Boy,” which provides a new angle on “Forever My Girl,” which was adapted to a movie in 2018.

Heidi and I talk about the book and the new direction it goes in, as well as how it fits into the Beaumont Series, which “Forever My Girl” kicks off. We talk about the characters and the different things we’re learning about them in the new book as well as revisiting “Forever My Girl” in the writing process.

We also go into her 60-plus books since 2012 and how she has made such a massive collection work.

Jeff Michaels talks about returning to music and charting new paths

Jeff Michaels of the Jeff Michaels Band is an old friend from our days in Boston. It’s been a while since we spoke and there’s a lot to cover, so let’s get to it!

Curtis, Max and Jeff talk all about their days in the Boston music scene and some of Jeff’s favorite venues to perform at. Jeff goes into a long break he took from music and the old friend who got him back to it. He shares some personal stories that are captured in his songs, especially “Luckiest By Far.”

While some musicians will opt for the crowdfunding, Jeff received his support from the State of Massachusetts and talks about all that he was able to do with the cash. He also goes into his relationship with fellow musician Scott Barkan and what he brings to the musical table.

Jeff shares some plans for the future, which include lots of new music, as well as his thoughts on getting back on stage. We also talk about how after 20 years, he remains relevant as a musician.

Opening this episode is an excerpt from Jeff’s single, “Lost in the Night” and closing out the show is “Luckiest By Far.”

Five by Five: Lyn Squire goes for a unique take on the mystery genre

By Max Bowen

In his new book, “Fatally Inferior,” author Lyn Squire brings back his protagonist Dunston Burnett. A lot has changed with the character, and he’s feeling more like an investigator after the events in the first book. A good thing too, because in “Fatally Inferior,” he’s got a perplexing murder to solve.

In this interview, Lyn talks about Dunston’s growth, the mystery he’s tasked with solving and the setting of Victorian England.

How has Dunston changed from the last book?
Dunston Burnett, my protagonist, is a diffident, middle-aged, retired bookkeeper. In “Immortalised to Death,” the first book in The Dunston Burnett Trilogy, he comes out of his shell enough to engage in a mild flirtation. It does not end well. After that experience, his unease around women becomes even more pronounced in the second book, “Fatally Inferior,” and a bachelor he will remain for the rest of his days. He did however earn the respect of his policeman colleague in book one, and this bolsters his confidence as an investigator in book two.

What went into creating this mysterious disappearance?
I wanted to move away from the standard ‘locked-room’ mystery in which the corpse is found in an enclosed space without any feasible means of exit for the killer. In “Fatally Inferior,” the body vanishes, seemingly spirited out of a snowbound, locked-tight country house. The only tracks in the white surrounding the house lead from the backdoor, but that door was locked the entire night of the disappearance and all keys were safely secured. This apparent impossibility is the mystery confronting Dunston at the start of “Fatally Inferior.”

How does this particular case challenge Dunston?
As in all his cases, the mystery at the heart of “Fatally Inferior” pits Dunston’s limited sleuthing skills against the complexity of the crimes he confronts. Whether he succeeds or not is an open question. But this time he also faces a greater and more personal challenge. Initially, Dunston was intrigued by the case as an intellectual puzzle, but when he suffers a devastating loss, he becomes a man on a mission, driven and determined.

Where do you see this character going?
The third book in the trilogy, “The Séance of Murder,” is a story of greed. Dunston is invited to a distant relative’s house where he finds himself involved in a séance and a murder. After more deadly deeds, Dunston’s fate hangs in the balance. He is presented with the unexpected prospect of an affluent lifestyle, but only if he can expose the killer before he himself dies. Either outcome – wealth or death – brings Dunston Burnett’s life as an investigator to an end. “The Séance of Murder” will be released in 2026.

What’s the influence of setting this in Victorian England and involving the family of Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin’s life and times drive and shape “Fatally Inferior” in two ways. One stems from the uproar that greeted the publication of “The Origin of Species.” Darwin was immediately bombarded with scathing reviews, blistering editorials and crude cartoons. This avalanche of disgust and hatred from believers in God’s creation of man, led me to imagine a more malicious assault on the scientist, the abduction of a family member. The other arises from his marriage. Darwin and his wife were first cousins. In the 19th century, the offspring of such marriages were thought to suffer loss of vigor and infertility. This brought to mind an image of a couple desperate for a grandchild only to be cruelly robbed of this happy outcome by a vile act of revenge. Together, the invective and Darwin’s blood relationship with his wife, are the structural foundations of “Fatally Inferior.”

An intro to the Rhode Island Author Expo and the work of Scott Jablonski

Scott Jablonski

On Dec. 7, the Rhode Island Author Expo returns, and we’re previewing this event by speaking to some of the writers who will be there. 

First up is Scott Jablonski, a writer, musician and teacher who has been encouraging kids to become their best version through his “Stand Out! Stand Out!” series.

In this interview, Scott talks about his work as a teacher and how it’s tied into his writing and music. 

He shares his hopes for the children that read his books and some of the messages he’s imparting through them.

Citywide Bytes-How a dog helped Anne Abel to heal

For this episode, we’re talking all about dogs, and how one dog named Milo and his owner overcame their difficult pasts.

After the untimely death of her beloved pet, Mattie, author Anne Abel rescued an initially aggressive dog named Milo. Anne's commitment to Milo's rehabilitation became a powerful metaphor for her resilience and growth. Amid many challenges and recovering from childhood trauma, Anne found strength, rediscovered her capacity to love and transformed both herself and Milo in the process.

Anne wrote about this in "Mattie, Milo and Me," and we talk all about those early days with Milo and how she helped to ease his aggressive tendencies. She talks about her own past trauma and how working with Milo changed that, as well as sharing the story multiple times as part of the Moth StorySLAMs.

A steampunk adventure with Nikola Tesla

To wrap up our Halloween coverage, we’re talking historical fiction, steampunk and Tesla….no not that Tesla. Joining us is author Matthew Donald to talk about his new book, “Teslamancer.”

The book is Donald’s second in this alternate history steampunk series, following “Teslanauts” in 2022. In the new book, protagonist Raymond Calvert is an experienced Teslanaut, completing missions across many countries, thwarting numerous underground factions using Tesla's cutting-edge volt-tech. In 1924, the world braces for the emergence of the Teslamancer, the ultimate wielder of Tesla's breakthrough science.

In this interview, Matthew talks about what inspired the series and how he changed history for the books. We go into Raymond’s character and how he’s changed over the two books and what lies in store over the next three titles. And of course, the interview wouldn’t be complete without talking about the tech to be found in this series.