Kristen Hennke’s mom jokes that it was impossible to ground her as a child. Hennke actually enjoyed going to her room, where she could read books about Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and Peter Rabbit. In middle school, she discovered fantasy stories but traded reading for other hobbies.
Now that she’s rediscovered her love of words, she co-founded House of Flame and Revelry, an Arizona-based book community and immersive event company.
House of Flame and Revelry will host an official Universal Pictures/Focus Features “Sense & Sensibility” viewing party and market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Arizona Science Center’s Dorrance DOME, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. Tickets to the science center are not required.
Tickets to the indoor market are $5, with children ages 12 and younger admitted free. Complimentary Fetzer wine and Alter Eco chocolate tastings are included.
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“Fetzer is the official wine of the new movie,” Hennke said. “They reached out to us because they wanted to put an event together to celebrate the movie and the sponsorship, and Universal loved the idea.”
The $40 VIP ticket includes admission to the market and the watch party, the welcome drink and crafts. Seating is limited. Regency-inspired attire is encouraged.
The market has 15 interactive vendors: a mobile charm bar, permanent jewelry, hair tinsel, a photo‑keychain booth, and AZ CuddleCo’s stuff‑your‑own bear station — complete with tiny Regency outfits.
“That’s going to be really cute,” Hennke said.
At 4:30 p.m., VIP guests will head into the Dorrance DOME for the “Sense & Sensibility” watch party, featuring a welcome drink and a craft experience.
“Sense & Sensibility,” which opens Friday, Oct. 16, stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw.
Proceeds from the party benefit the Book Blossom Foundation, the nonprofit that Hennke and Samantha Innes, her business partner, recently launched.
“Books are inspiring,” Hennke said. “You can read a story about average people facing impossible odds, and that’s powerful. We wanted to donate those books to people who might need them the most — at‑risk youth centers and women’s shelters.”
Born in New Jersey and raised in Arizona from age 10, Hennke grew up on fantasy films — “Legend,” “The NeverEnding Story” and “Labyrinth.”
Working as a photographer, Hennke was acquainted with Innes through the trade.
“We met because I was doing weddings with her husband, who’s a videographer,” Hennke said. “We were supposed to meet to discuss upcoming weddings and to market our businesses together.”
Innes attended the meeting and read. Later, the women exchanged book recommendations. They founded House of Flame and Revelry in 2023.
“Now we’re business partners, and our first event was the Night Court Ball. That was really incredible,” Hennke said.
“We were really overwhelmed with that. It sold out in 30 seconds. We realized that people in the community really wanted this.”
Since then, their markets, themed gatherings, and reading retreats have become hubs for Valley book lovers.
“Reading is kind of a lonely hobby,” she said. “You do it by yourself, but getting people together who have this shared love is really special. I’ve literally seen friendships form.”
“We wanted to bring a little bit of that Jane Austen magic to the Valley,” Hennke said. “It’s the kind of thing you see at movie premieres that only celebrities and influencers get to go to, but we wanted to make it accessible for everyone.”
