Shawna Kenney
Encyclopedia
Shawna Kenney is an American author and journalist.
Kenney was born in Auburn, New York
. She authored the memoir I Was a Teenage Dominatrix (Last Gasp
) at the age of 29. The book developed an underground cult following, receiving a Firecracker Alternative Book Award in 2000, with translations published in Italy and the UK. Kenney's personal essays appear in several anthologies, most notably Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class (Seal Press, edited by Michelle Tea
) and Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache: Adventures in the First Person (edited by Michelle Tea
and Clint Catalyst
), in which she wrote about surviving an abusive relationship.
Kenney has covered music and popular culture for numerous magazines including Juxtapoz, Herbivore, SG, AP, Transworld Skateboarding
, Heckler Snow & Skate, Slap, Metal Hammer
and Mix Mag UK, among others. She is a regular contributor to Roger Gastman and Shepard Fairey
's publication Swindle Magazine
, with her work spotlighting feminist and countercultural artists.
Kenney promoted punk shows at the Safari Club in Washington, DC throughout the late 80s, while writing and publishing DC-area fanzine No Scene Zine. She graduated from the American University
in 1995. After moving to Los Angeles, she founded Puppet Terror (featured in Spin
Magazine, May 2001) with authors Pleasant Gehman
, Iris Berry, and Clint Catalyst
. She also hosted literary events, including a monthly spoken word series entitled The Unhappy Hour at the Parlour Club
, which was founded by punk poet/actress Lydia Lunch
.
While primarily a nonfiction writer, Kenney has also written and published fiction.
Essays
Other appearances
Kenney was born in Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
. She authored the memoir I Was a Teenage Dominatrix (Last Gasp
Last Gasp
Last Gasp is a book and underground comix publisher and distributor based in San Francisco, California.- History :Founded in 1970 by Ron Turner to publish the ecologically-themed comics magazine Slow Death Funnies, followed by the all-female anthology It Ain't Me Babe, Last Gasp soon became a major...
) at the age of 29. The book developed an underground cult following, receiving a Firecracker Alternative Book Award in 2000, with translations published in Italy and the UK. Kenney's personal essays appear in several anthologies, most notably Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class (Seal Press, edited by Michelle Tea
Michelle Tea
Michelle Tea is an American author, poet, and literary arts organizer whose autobiographical works explore queer culture, feminism, race, class, prostitution, and other topics. She is originally from Chelsea, Massachusetts and currently lives in San Francisco...
) and Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache: Adventures in the First Person (edited by Michelle Tea
Michelle Tea
Michelle Tea is an American author, poet, and literary arts organizer whose autobiographical works explore queer culture, feminism, race, class, prostitution, and other topics. She is originally from Chelsea, Massachusetts and currently lives in San Francisco...
and Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst is an American author, actor, spoken word performer, and stylist.Catalyst has covered music, fashion, LGBT issues, and popular culture for magazines including LA Weekly, Frontiers, Out, Surface and Swindle.-Early life:Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Catalyst was raised an only child...
), in which she wrote about surviving an abusive relationship.
Kenney has covered music and popular culture for numerous magazines including Juxtapoz, Herbivore, SG, AP, Transworld Skateboarding
Transworld Skateboarding
Transworld SKATEboarding is a skateboarding magazine, website, and production company.Founded in 1983, TWS was a response to Thrasher Magazine and specifically to the December 1982 article ‘Skate and Destroy’ written by C.R...
, Heckler Snow & Skate, Slap, Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
and Mix Mag UK, among others. She is a regular contributor to Roger Gastman and Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
's publication Swindle Magazine
Swindle Magazine
Swindle was a bi-monthly arts and culture publication founded in 2004 by artist Shepard Fairey. Swindle has not been published since 2009 and is, in effect, folded....
, with her work spotlighting feminist and countercultural artists.
Kenney promoted punk shows at the Safari Club in Washington, DC throughout the late 80s, while writing and publishing DC-area fanzine No Scene Zine. She graduated from the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in 1995. After moving to Los Angeles, she founded Puppet Terror (featured in Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
Magazine, May 2001) with authors Pleasant Gehman
Pleasant Gehman
Pleasant Gehman is a magazine writer, poet, actor, dancer and musician from Los Angeles.In the 1980s, she was the singer for the punk rock band Screamin' Sirens, and later, The RIngling Sisters and Honk If Yer Horny. All three bands have released numerous titles on vinyl, as well as cd...
, Iris Berry, and Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst is an American author, actor, spoken word performer, and stylist.Catalyst has covered music, fashion, LGBT issues, and popular culture for magazines including LA Weekly, Frontiers, Out, Surface and Swindle.-Early life:Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Catalyst was raised an only child...
. She also hosted literary events, including a monthly spoken word series entitled The Unhappy Hour at the Parlour Club
Parlour Club
The Parlour Club was a venue located on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California and managed by Andrew Gould. Among its notable events included the speakeasy-themed night Bricktops, series of spoken-word sessions The Unhappy Hour , and performance art night Touché .- Notable...
, which was founded by punk poet/actress Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
.
While primarily a nonfiction writer, Kenney has also written and published fiction.
Works
Books- I Was a Teenage Dominatrix: A Memoir. Los Angeles: Retro Systems, 1999. ISBN 978-0867195309
- Reprinted: Last Gasp Books (San Francisco, 2002), Corgi/Random House (UK 2002), Baldini Castaldi (Italy 2004)
- Imposters. Mark Batty Publisher 2008. ISBN 0979048680
Essays
- "Punk LA" in The Underground Guide to Los Angeles. Manic D Press, 2002. ISBN 978-0916397814
- "Something from Nothing" in Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class. Seal Press, 2003. ISBN 978-1580051033
- "Shiny Baubles" in Pills, Thrills, Chills, and Heartache: Adventures in the First Person. Alyson Publications Inc., 2004 ISBN 978-1555837532
- "The Wild Dogs of Nicaragua", The Florida Review Special Edition, May 2005
- Thoughts of Yesterday, My First Time: A Collection of First Punk Show Stories. AK Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1904859178
- "Seven Minutes" in Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys: Professionals Writing on Life, Love, Money, and Sex. Soft Skull, 2009. ISBN 978-1593762414
Other appearances
- Etiquette for Outlaws. Harper Collins, 2001. ISBN 978-0380801527
- "Joe Strummer: Still Punk, After All These Years?" in Let Fury Have the Hour: The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer. Avalon Publishing Group, 2004. ISBN 1560256257
- Putting Your Passion Into Print. Workman Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-0761131229
External links
- ChuckPalahniuk.net interview
- Salon.com interview
- Portland Mercury article
- "A Southern tradition of celebrating the dead strengthens the bonds among the living" by Shawna Kenney, Star News Online, October 21, 2007