Litquake! Make My Knees Shake!

Litquake, San Francisco’s Literary Festival, kicks off tonight — nine days, 850 authors, 150 Bay Area locations. There are readings in bars, bookstores, boats, and one barbershop! Writing Mamas member Janine Kovac gives us the behind-the-scenes peek at the excitement and amazing amount of planning that goes into this “Woodstock” of the writing world.

I think I have stage fright.

I am so nervous.

I’m not reading (all authors—except for those in LitCrawl—who read in the Festival have had books published within the last two years.) But as a member of the executive committee, I’ll speak at a handful of events to say things such as “Welcome to Litquake!”

This is my first year on the committee. Most of the committee members are published authors or editors of literary magazines. Some are publicists, others are booksellers and publishers. Me, I write my mommy blog and watch my kids. Most of the books I read are written in rhyme (“A comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush.”) Most of my public speaking happens at the park playground: “GET DOWN FROM THERE RIGHT NOW!”

My “real” role at Litquake is to design a database to keep track of books and authors.

But starting tonight my role is to help where help is needed. I’ll pack audio equipment, unload books for the children’s festival, “Kidquake” and schlep boxes of programs to the Book Club of California and the houseboats of Sausalito. I’ll pass around a hat for donations, collect surveys, and make more speeches.

Just thinking about it all makes my palms sweaty. I’ve never tended bar before! What if I’m the worst helper of all time? What if I can’t figure out how to fold a video tri-pod or I forget some cords? What if the venue host asks questions I can’t answer?

I’m not festival-certified!

That’s when I have to hope my mommy chops save me. After all, if I can assemble a pack-n-play in the dark in under 25 seconds, I can fold a tripod. If I can mix a bottle of formula, I can make a vodka tonic. And if I can explain to my daughter, Chiara why we had to flush the goldfish down the toilet, surely I can handle any festival questions that come my way.

But stay tuned. Just in case.

The festival kicks off tonight, Friday, at the Verdi Club in San Francisco and finishes one week from Saturday with the famous “Lit Crawl” on Valencia Street in the Mission. Go to the Litquake site for comprehensive event information.