#Kenna Jenkins

[khruschevshoe]

Sometimes I see people say that a book reads like a well-written fanfic (derogatory) and I'm like oh, y'all really don't understand what I'm into. You're saying this has a heavy focus on character development, a slight overindulgence in commas that leads to an almost lyrical rhythm, a few too many fragments so the narration feels more natural/lived in, a couple too many metaphors (though I can never have enough metaphors), just enough world-building to buttress character arcs, and a nice dash of good-old fashioned fanservice? And that annoys you?

Do y'all just not like fun anymore?

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Look at my book baby!

Got my editor's copies of my book today! Aren't they gorgeous? (Ignore the "not for sale" line through the cover- that goes away during publication- and the shitty quality of my camera!) I'm going through the book to make final edits- it really is looking like this book about a sapphic ex-Chosen One (gotta love an unlikable lady protag) falling for her rival is going to be able to go up for y'all by the end of March.

(Also face reveal? I guess? None of y'all care about that, but I will be one of those annoying parents who poses with my kids, aka my characters.)

Which means there's only one real question: do y'all want me to post the playlists for the characters/ships here as a lead-up to the book coming out?

To everyone who has liked my posts about the book so far or liked my last book: @henrythepug @mywily @artemisiaarm @lilyoflolana @randomhobbitgoblin @khruschevshoe @thanatosdetesreves @kayechanted @neshatriumphs @evelynhug0 @sillylittlecheeto @harrietmjones @jaceum @jacksope-lives @marchionessdebrannas @screechingdonutengineer @beeesworld @meet-me-behindthemall12 @neutral-wizard @elposting @little-bloodied-angel @thearcaneuniversity @artemisbones @mikereads @augment-techs @snazzy-hats-and-adhd @safesoundxswift @sapphicsigh @anaddictiontofanfiction @aboutblankpages-blog-blog @weedpoop @aboutblankpages-blog-blog @danieldeluca01 @suz-blog @morganmara @shehungthemoon @man-me--a-sand @geekerne @madhare0512

[alittlethinghappened]

Book club? Book club.

I have recently read and fallen in love with Kenna Jenkins' "Burn the House Down" and I need others to read it too because I am going FERAL bc I have no one to talk to abt this book—please some of y'all take me out of my misery and enjoy this with me. It's got a little something for everyone, too! Some of the features:

The 1st woman President (in 1945) who ISN'T demonized for wanting power

Messy mother-daughter relationships for those with mommy issues

"Love as a religion" casual queer blasphemy all over the place

Folklore vibes

a racist sexist Senator gets called out and shouted at in middle of white house foyer

A well-done and thematically enhancing pro-choice subplot

THE WHITE HOUSE BURNS DOWN

Political Hozier vibes

Wlw/mlm solidarity AND wlw/mlm hostility (2 for the price of 1!)

The tragic arc of ambition destroying everything Janine holds dear for all y'all Succession gremlins

Alternate history that ISN'T about the nazis winning

Complex drag queen character who is more than just comic relief

Attention to fashion and queer history!

A satisfying redemption arc for my fellow angst-with-happy-ending simps

aromantic rep

Indie published!

Complicated, well-developed queer main cast

Both-ways bearded marriage btw secretly lesbian president and her gay congressman best friend

TWO GODDAMN BREATHTAKING PLOT TWISTS AT THE END

[beeesworld]

Love is like a religion. You are devoted to one person. You want to lay your name at their feet and carve their dreams into your bones. Their name becomes sacred in your mouth. Their ambitions become your own.

------

I was mad at her, so mad at her, but Lord, was she gorgeous. I think that’s what love is: no matter how angry you get, your love filters over everything. You hate them but they’re still beautiful. They’re still golden. Their gilt can’t rot away.

Cynthia

[sugdenlovesdingle]

I'm an adult and I make responsible financial decisions

Like buying a copy of a book I already own just because of the pretty cover

[bracketsoffear]

Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk) "The way Tyler acts and is very Desolation in my opinion just fights and destroys stuff. Also, the strong theme of capitalism and capitalism also has ties to Desolation."

Burn the House Down: A Biography of America's First Woman President (Kenna Jenkins) "In 1935, Janine Moore was just another Congressman’s widow who ascended to his seat by promising to continue his legacy. Twelve years later, the White House burned, with President Janine Moore left standing in the ashes. It’s been fifty years since Janine Moore was president. Few remember her “Accidental Presidency,” and even fewer know that it was no real accident. After half a century of the truth gathering dust, the story of the first female president finally spills from the lips and pens of the most important people in her life—a gripping tale of political intrigue, heedless ambition, desperate motherhood, and a sixty-year forbidden love affair that will shake everyone’s ideas of what truly went down in an administration destined to burn. What lengths was a farmer’s daughter willing to go to in order to climb the stairs to the White House and break the greatest glass ceiling in the world? Why did her famously temperamental relationship with her second husband crash and burn? And most importantly, who burned down the White House that fateful night?"

[youroldfriendmurkyaura]

I saw you like well-developed, researched, authentic sapphic historical fiction (such as A League Of Their Own) and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president in 1945 and her secret interracial sapphic relationship and her bearded marriage with her mlm best friend/biggest foil. It also has a subplot about arson at the White House, ft. an entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters, and has a really satisfying ending!

Guess what! I had this sitting in my inbox for almost a year now, and didn't realize until recently that the message sender was also the you who likes my posts and posts things I like, and I would think of it from time to time but it wasn't available at the library or anything

Meanwhile, sometimes I would go to your tumblr and see your pinned post and every time I thought it sounded good and missed book clubs and wished you had people to share your joy with (it now occurs to me that maybe you do! I hope so) and recently ordered the book because you like it so much and it sounded good, and it has come

Tonight, just now, I looked at the inbox message again and was like, "hold on — is that the same author as that other book???" and went and checked and it is the very same book

because you are you

[weirdcatperson1]

I saw you like sapphic stories and Hozier (especially the more political, historic symbolism/messages in his songs) and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president and her secret sapphic relationship/bearded marriage with her mlm best friend and has massive Hozier vibes (especially Nina Cried Power, Arsonist's Lullaby, The Wages, Better Love, Moment's Silence, and Nobody). It also has a subplot about arson at the White House, a pro-choice subplot with strong Swan Upon Leda energy, and ft. an entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters!

I have not! I’ll definitely check that out, thank you!

[xhaoticprince]

I saw you love red, white, and royal blue and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president and her secret sapphic relationship/bearded marriage with her mlm best friend. It also includes a subplot about arson at the White House, ft. An entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters, and has a really satisfying ending!

I had never heard of this book I'll definitely get it ! It sounds like a really good book and it's not often that I find sapphic books

(THANKS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE WAY)

[donnaemerson]

I saw you like Taylor Swift and well-developed, researched, authentic sapphic historical fiction (such as Portrait of a Lady On Fire) and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president in 1945 and her secret interracial sapphic relationship and her bearded marriage with her mlm best friend/biggest foil. It also has Taylor Swift vibes (especially illicit affairs, gold rush, I Did Something Bad, anti-hero, and last great American Dynasty), a subplot about arson at the White House, ft. an entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters, and has a really satisfying ending!

OH OKAY!!! I have GOT to read this. Thanks so much buddy for this recommendation. I really appreciate it 🥰

[neutral-wizard]

I saw you love red, white, and royal blue and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president and her secret sapphic relationship/bearded marriage with her mlm best friend. It also includes a subplot about arson at the White House, ft. An entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters, and has a really satisfying ending!

I have, it's phenomenal, I recommend everyone reads it. Briefly considered messaging you to thank you for all the hard work you do because any time I check out the RWRB tag I usually see you recommending this book to others.

[khruschevshoe]

Book Club? Book club.

I have recently read and fallen in love with Kenna Jenkins' "Burn the House Down" and I need others to read it too because I am going FERAL bc I have no one to talk to abt this book—please some of y'all take me out of my misery and enjoy this with me. It's got a little something for everyone, too! Some of the features:

The 1st woman President (in 1945) who ISN'T demonized for wanting power

Messy mother-daughter relationships for those with mommy issues

"Love as a religion" casual queer blasphemy all over the place

Folklore vibes

a racist sexist Senator gets called out and shouted at in middle of white house foyer

A well-done and thematically enhancing pro-choice subplot

THE WHITE HOUSE BURNS DOWN

Political Hozier vibes

Wlw/mlm solidarity AND wlw/mlm hostility (2 for the price of 1!)

The tragic arc of ambition destroying everything Janine holds dear for all y'all Succession gremlins

Alternate history that ISN'T about the nazis winning

Complex drag queen character who is more than just comic relief

Attention to fashion and queer history!

A satisfying redemption arc for my fellow angst-with-happy-ending simps

aromantic rep

Indie published!

Complicated, well-developed queer main cast

Both-ways bearded marriage btw secretly lesbian president and her gay congressman best friend

TWO GODDAMN BREATHTAKING PLOT TWISTS AT THE END

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

This Rotten Work Has Been Published!

Do you like Carry On or NBC's Community? Do you like messy lesbians in an enemies-to-lovers dynamic? Do you want to know what happens to Chosen Ones after they defeat their villain? Do you wish for a version of Harry Potter that isn't transphobic, homophobic, antisemitic, and racist? (Did you enjoy the seventy million fics I wrote about the mentors coping with the aftermath of the Hunger Games?) Do you like messy background poly bisexuals?

Well, here it is, y'all: all of the edits are done and my book baby has been published! Rachel and Daiyu are finally here for y'all to meet! I'm ordering my own copies now (and will definitely update y'all with photos when they arrive, especially now that I can get a photo with BOTH of my books), but for now, I just wanted to give y'all the link so you can check it out. I'm going to put the blurb below to those who are confused as to what this might be!

Amazon.com: This Rotten Work: 9798879537734: Jenkins, Kenna: Books

The moment Chosen One Rachel Barsky finally kills her magical high school’s evil Headmaster, she’s out. No pressure, no politics, and certainly no more death tournaments for her. She ditches the Magical Realm for a far more chill Normie community college with her two best friends, determined to finally get some blessed peace and quiet—maybe even a good nap. It’s what she deserves after giving up her teenage years to a prophecy that nearly killed her more times than she can count.

But of course Rachel can’t catch a break. Her first day of classes, tragedy arrives on campus in the form of Daiyu Nightbane, Rachel’s archrival and the annoyingly attractive daughter of the now-dead Headmaster. Daiyu’s acting suspiciously normal, Rachel is pissed, and her friends are preaching forgiveness and peace. What gives?

Rachel expects to have to grit her teeth and soldier through the annoyance of her rival haunting her early retirement, but she quickly learns that expectations are never made to last. After an explosive duel that ends up with one of them knocked off of their feet, Rachel is forced to see a kinder side of Daiyu than she ever glimpsed during high school.

Over a school year filled with Shakespeare, lightning magic, and quite a lot of kosher BBQ, Rachel finds herself toppling head-over-heels into an unlikely romance with her rival while she struggles with nightmares, grief, and lingering questions from her high school years. Is it possible to finally make a life for herself? Can the Chosen One really have a happy ending with the golden girl that ruled the school?

---

And to all those who have been following this saga (or liked my fics with similar premises/themes), I think I've managed to gather all of your usernames here for the official publishing!

[digital-hell]

I saw you love red, white, and royal blue and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president and her secret sapphic relationship/bearded marriage with her mlm best friend. It also includes a subplot about arson at the White House, ft. An entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters, and has a really satisfying ending!

I saw someone else respond to this, and I haven’t read the book but it is on my reading list now :)

[valenschmidt]

I saw you love red, white, and royal blue and I've just gotta ask you: have you heard of Burn the House Down by Kenna Jenkins? It's an alternate history novel abt the 1st woman president and her secret sapphic relationship/bearded marriage with her mlm best friend. It also includes a subplot about arson at the White House, ft. An entirely queer main cast and really fleshed out characters, and has a really satisfying ending!

Sorry I never responded!!!! I forgot to check my asks! I'll check it out thank you!

[bracketsoffear]

Burn the House Down: A Biography of America's First Woman President (Kenna Jenkins) "In 1935, Janine Moore was just another Congressman’s widow who ascended to his seat by promising to continue his legacy. Twelve years later, the White House burned, with President Janine Moore left standing in the ashes. It’s been fifty years since Janine Moore was president. Few remember her “Accidental Presidency,” and even fewer know that it was no real accident. After half a century of the truth gathering dust, the story of the first female president finally spills from the lips and pens of the most important people in her life—a gripping tale of political intrigue, heedless ambition, desperate motherhood, and a sixty-year forbidden love affair that will shake everyone’s ideas of what truly went down in an administration destined to burn. What lengths was a farmer’s daughter willing to go to in order to climb the stairs to the White House and break the greatest glass ceiling in the world? Why did her famously temperamental relationship with her second husband crash and burn? And most importantly, who burned down the White House that fateful night?"

Universal Harvester (John Darnielle) "Universal Harvester is perhaps best described as a thriller, a slow-burn manifestation of the Desolation. Jeremy (who has a dead mother) works at the local Video Hut when a customer comes in with the odd complaint, “There’s another movie on this tape.” Watching it later at home, he discovers a short clip on the film of a dark warehouse, with the sound of harsh breathing... Universal Harvester is a Desolation-Eye smoothie about the stories we construct out of trauma." Spoilers under the cut.

Eventually, after a nasty car crash, the culprit is revealed to be a half-orphan herself, who interviews Jeremy about his own loss.