Fiction Writer.
Bee REscuer.
ABOUT
Jesse McKinnell is a writer living in Southern Maine. His first novel, Dead Cats and Other Reflections on Parenthood was published in 2018 and was a semifinalist for Publishers Weekly’s Booklife Prize. His second novel, Anarchy and Other Lies was purchased by Montag Press and published in 2020. It was a 2021 Readers' Favorite Gold Medalist. He thinks if you get stung by a bee, you probably deserved it.
Books
ANarchy and Other Lies
Anarchy and Other Lies is a farcical look at modern society through the lens of new age everyman, Jake Anderson, as he transforms from a silverware designer to reluctant vigilante, living on the outskirts of society with a pair of terrorists. Anarchy peels back the many mini-catastrophes taking place right under our noses and examines our inability and disinterest in confronting them.
Published by Montag Press | Buy Anarchy and Other Lies (Amazon)
Dead Cats and other reflections on parenthood
Joel Peterson’s bottom is deeper and darker than he ever imagined but with the help of the ghost of Kurt Cobain he hatches a plan to capture the attention of his estranged family and reclaim his life.
Short Stories
Meat Santa
‘Twas the week before Christmas
On a laptop with no mouse
Jesse was typing
At night in his house
He was crafting a story
Of Christmas and dread
Something to get stuck
Deep in your head
(950 words) | Read Meat Santa
But is it art?
Hubert Dotter's murder sets off a world-wide fascination. Art critics and tourists descend on his dusty Texan hamlet to write NY Times think-pieces, snap gruesome selfies, and look for a chance to step into immortality.
(1,400 words) | Read But Is It Art?
Nevermore
IWhen Goodlife Pharmaceuticals invents a new wonder drug with the potential to end all human suffering, they’re going to use it for good, right?
(1,800 words) | Read Nevermore
Hi, My Name is Mark
Mark works at CVS and he is very happy to meet you, no matter what name you call him.
(3,500 words) | Read Hi, My Name is Mark
cyberlibrarian * Midwest book Review * Bookreporter * Genuine Chit-CHat * WOCA Radio * Sun journal * Blog Talk Radio * Wicked Local Scituate
Awards and Press
Reviews
“McKinnell is a top-tier storyteller. Anarchy and Other Lies reads like Pat Frank through the lens of Mike Judge.”
— Connor de Bruler, author of "Goodbye, Moonflower"
“The effortless way in which each hilarious and cringeworthy moment is painted makes for an immersive experience into a place you never knew you wanted to go but are glad you did.”
— Amazon Review of Dead Cats
Poised for beauty and bleakness, mendacity and madness, Jesse McKinnell delicately handles a misguided search for love and hope amidst the inevitable disorder of a crumbling world.
— Nathan Elias, author of The Reincarnations on Anarchy and Other Lies
“Not for the faint of heart, but not to be missed, Dead Cats is horrifying and hilarious at once … A quick read and a seriously impressive debut by McKinnell.”
— Kate, Amazon Review of Dead Cats
“loved it. relentlessly, darkly funny and unique. a great beach read if you're in a drug-induced haze and trespassing on a private beach.”
— Amazon Review of Dead Cats
“grotesque and simultaneously hilarious … Highly recommend!”
— Amazon Review of Anarchy and Other Lies
for press inquiries or to request a signed Book
Contact Jesse
for publishing inquiries, please contract Elisa Saphier at MacGregor and Luedeke Literary
