I Was a Teenage Dominatrix is the true story of one woman’s quest for self-education, in academia and beyond. As the reader follows a low income punk rock grrrl into college under the crushing weight of capitalism, the coming-of-age confessional takes outrageous, humorous and moving turns, leaving the reader with plenty to ponder about modern day relationships, shame and self-actualization. Shawna Kenney wrote a sex work memoir before the term ‘sex work’ was commonplace, unwittingly becoming part of what the New York Times dubbed the ‘sex work literati’ of the early 2000s.

The book has enjoyed two prior US printings, translations abroad, and options for film. Out of print since 2012, I Was a Teenage Dominatrix enjoys a new incarnation, thanks to popular demand and Punk Hostage Press. A new cover, new chapters, a “where are they now?” of beloved characters, and a foreword from the author all allow us to revisit this 90s cult classic through a modern-day lens.

Shawna Kenney grew up in the Washington, DC punk scene, with zines as her first love. She booked punk shows while working every job imaginable to pay her way through college, also writing articles about music, art, and skateboarding for national publications. She moved to Los Angeles in 1996, where she wrote I Was a Teenage Dominatrix, a memoir about her experiences in the dungeons of the nation’s capital. Kenney hosted literary events in the LA scene for years, and her storytelling has since manifested in many forms, including film, journalism, podcasts, anthologies, museum exhibits and more. Kenney’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, Creative Nonfiction, Brevity, Vice, and Narratively, among others. Her other books include Live at the Safari Club: A History of Hardcore Punk in the Nation’s Capital, Book Lovers and Imposters.

Author: Shawna Kenney
Illustrator: Jeffrey Everett
Editors: Anne Cleary / Iris Berry
Publisher: Punk Hostage Press
Pages: 155pp
Size: 6 x 9
Notes: paperback
Release Date: April 19, 2023
ISBN: 978-1940213248