Biography
Janna Grace's short stories and poetry have been published online and in print and her debut novel, The Talkers are Talking, will be published in 2023 through Quill, an imprint of Inkshares. Her first micro chapbook, A Life in Times and Shells (Rinky Dink Press), was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is the editor-in-chief of the literary webzine Lamplit Underground and coordinates the Break the Bechdel with Strong Female Leads Syndicate to support authors who write three-dimensional female-identified characters. She is a poetry reader for one of Duotrope’s 25 most challenging literary magazines and she also helps proofread the Horror Writers Association's monthly newsletter.
Janna has a master's degree in Teaching and Creative Writing from Cardiff University and teaches at various universities, including Rutgers University. She teaches Expository Writing, Composition, ESL, Literature, and Creative Writing. Janna tutors students of all ages and levels and is available for freelance and ghostwriting.
Janna also has a BA in English and a BS in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington and has studied at various international universities, including University College at Oxford. She combines her experience as a crisis management counselor and workshop leader with at-risk youth and homeless teens to explore the relationship between creativity and empowerment.
Janna has lived in a glass barn in the mountains of Pennsylvania and on a boat outside of Dublin and has traveled to and lived in 23 countries. Her longest road trip (including a ferry!) to date was about 2000 miles, from Bulgaria to Wales, UK.
Poetry
Rink Dink Press, A Life in Times and Shells, Micro-Chapbook (Nominated for a Pushcart Prize)
Boats Against the Current, They are Still There, Can be Again
Marrow Magazine, When Your Words are Dough
Bacopa Literary Review, The Writers Alliance of Gainesville 11th Annual Volume, Overheard After Dr. Christine Blasey Ford
Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume VII, La Fille Inconnue de la Monde
Anti- Heroin Chic, Someone Should Have Told You at 15
Wide Eyes Press, the sad bitch chronicles, forthcoming anthology: "Trigger Warning":
It's Perfect! Now, Add a Filter
Ghost City Press, Fences and Ancient Womb Bones
The Woman, Inc., Selected for "Emerging Poet" and "Poem of the Week":
10mg, two times a day, with food
The Opiate, This is Not a Power Play
Why do Snapchats Disappear? (Volume 18, print)
Déraciné, I Cry the Brain Decrepit,
Ice Fishing with One Hundred Thousand Eyes
Nine Muses Poetry, I am just as angry as you
Otoliths, John Kerry Isn't the Anti-Christ
The Rye Whiskey Review, When stepping on an Extraterrestrial
There is a cellar restaurant in Rome
The Black Shamrock, print, Mycellium
The Bogart Specter
"The cancer has spread to the bones"
The moon dropped out of the sky tonight
Eunoia Review, Stealing/Sending Sex Trunks
Red Eft Review, Life and Death Manners
Alpha Female Society, Reflecting Bottles
Tale Spinners, Mine
Plastik Magazine, 6 tweet length poems
Short Fiction
Horla, The Girls Who Die at Night
Cut a Long Story, republished, for sale, The Goldfish Man
Quailbell Magazine, The Goldfish Man
Tale Spinners, selection from Indian Summer
selection from The Isle is Full of Noises
Nonfiction
Other
Words on the Outside, Read by the author for Laura Bynum's Youtube series
Audio recording, chapter from The Talkers are Talking
The Arts in Wales, 90 Straithnarn Street
Poem printed on a tote to raise funds for programming
1,000 Verses for The Uni(verse) Poetry Wall, read verse by Tracy K. Smith for Get Lit Universe
PUBLISHED WORK
Teaching overview
Undergraduate Courses
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
101: Expository Writing - 6 semesters
100/098: Basic Composition and Basic
Composition with Reading - 2 semesters
Farmingdale State College, SUNY, Farmingdale, NY
097, 101, 102, 310: Developmental English,
Introduction to English Composition
Introduction to Literature, Advanced Technical
Writing - 2 semesters
Passaic County Community College, Paterson, NJ
097, 101: Developmental English, Introduction
to English Composition - 2 Semesters
August 2013 - Present
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Develop curricula and lesson plans to meet department-wide learning objectives.
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Participate in department service through presenting and participating in conferences, acting as emergency grader and special tutor.
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Proven results with students showing significant improvement on program-wide and rubric graded exams.
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Garner high level of student satisfaction and interest as measured by consistently high attendance rates in conjunction with anonymous class surveys.
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Work with students from all over the world at all skill levels in class sizes ranging from 9-30.
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Utilize creative teaching methods that step outside the textbook to YouTube/social media, community events, field trips, in-class debates, website and blog building, incorporating new technologies, etc.
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
English as a Second Language, Written and
Oral Communications, Academic Preparation,
Research Paper & Essay Writing,
Presentation/Speech Skills, Language and
Culture - 3 Semesters
Workshops
May 2012 - August 2012
Llamau's Learning for Life, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Creative Writing, Photography, Interview
Readiness & Life Skills, Painting, Gardening,
etc.
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Led series of individual and group educational and counseling sessions to homeless and at-risk teens to encourage empowerment and self-sufficiency.
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Coordinated regional art-competition and increased participants by 85%.
May 2012 - August 2012
Cathay's High School, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Creative Writing
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Developed and facilitated all workshop curricula to encourage creativity and empowerment with a focus on individualized learning and expression.
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Organized and lead educational field trip to the National Museum of Wales.
Editing, Freelance & Industry Related
Founder
Break the Bechdel with Strong Female
Characters Syndicate
Inkshares.com
Editor-in-chief
Lamplit Underground
Brooklyn, NY
Co-Founder
Tale Spinners
Remote
February 2016- Present
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Founder of online syndicate that provides financial support to writers who highlight diverse voices in fiction.
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Group membership ranging from 15-50 members at a time.
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Raised thousands of dollars to date.
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Have helped put over a dozen books into production and supported almost 70 projects.
September 2013- Present
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Founder and editor of up-and-coming literary/arts webzine.
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Features works from Push-Cart Prize winners and nominees, O. Henry Award nominees as well as many other award-winning writers and artists.
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Procure, cull, edit and post all submissions and publications.
September 2013- Present
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Literary hub
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Ghost-writing and editing services
Freelance/Ghost Writer
January 2012- Present
Ariel Books LLC., James Joyce Ramble, Erin Pray, Dr. Benjamin, Patch.com, Stand up for Kids, Overcomers Day Services etc.
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Ghost wrote chapter for 2016 Presidential Candidate
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Profiles & Biographies
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Feature Articles
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Newsletters