I’ve followed Jessica Stephenson from the very first days of when she started her bookstore, Lit. On Fire, located in the back of The Sunbeam building. The store began in one room, some piles of books and a drive to make her own vintage, used bookstore a reality in Peoria, Illinois. The bookstore has evolved from a few piles of books, to bookshelves overflowing, to a popular monthly gathering of art, music, poetry, conversation and of course books at her Get LIt. events and she’s also been publishing a Get LIt. Zine! And now the business grows even more as she’s expanded her store into another adjoining room and tonight there’s a party to celebrate the Re-Inspired Lit. On Fire bookstore and so it’s off we go on a rare Friday night out on the town!
As I head up Main Street towards Lit. on Fire in the Sunbeam Building, my speedometer is giving me a Lost In America flashback! 22...22...22!
Here we are at the back of the Sunbeam Bullding, which leads right to Lit. on Fire. Hey, check out the press on Jessica and the bookstore, did she get a press agent since the last time I saw her? Let’s go in and see what’s going on inside of Lit. on Fire!
The front of the store looks great and there’s the hostess of the evening and the owner of Lit. on Fire, Jessica Stephenson! Let’s go check out the new space in the back...wow, it’s really cool back here and it’s loaded with non-fiction books, my favorite kind of book! Note the comfortable reading area in the middle of the room! Very nice!
Here’s just a small sampling of some of the titles available back here!
I love this display of books that Jessica dedicated to her mother! That’s a wonderful tribute!
Meanwhile, back up in the front of the store I ran into my dueling photos friend, Kevin, but he didn’t have his camera on him, so you’ll just have to make like Johnny Lemon and imagine!
Here’s Lexa showing me a caricature that she got done by an artist outside of the store, which reminds me, there’s a whole celebration going on out there in honor of the expansion of Lit. on Fire, so let’s go take a look!
Here’s the Suit and Tie Guy providing the music for the evening. You can follow him on Twitter right here if you’re so inclined! There’s the crowd enjoying the evening and the music and seated over there to the side is Mike Danger/Farmer! And as you can see, there’s more people over here, so let’s keep moving along!
Suddenly...snacks! And check out the art over there!
Okay, this fellow went from painting live at the party to becoming art via getting his portrait drawn by caricaturist Dang, who’s part of the Home Team Caricature group! Dang works quick and does a great job, check out this portrait which he sketched in minutes!
Okay, now it’s time for my time in the hot seat with caricaturist, Dang!
Here’s Karen, who I met at a Get Lit. event a while back and she volunteered to take photos of Dang and I while he did a caricature of me! Thanks, Karen!
And here we go, Dang works quickly and check it out, it’s me in caricature form! I love it and this was a lot of fun!
Congratulations to Jessica on the success of Lit. on Fire, and check it out, the 2016, Summer edition of the Get. Lit Zine is out, stop by and pick one up...and you might want to check out this guy’s books on sale here too! Thanks to Jessica for a fun party last night and we’ll see you all tomorrow!
Lit. on Fire Used Books
929 N Sheridan Road
Suite 1A (In The Sunbeam Building)
Peoria
309-634-5383
Related Posts: MBIP Looks @ Books—Lit. On Fire Used Books In The Sunbeam Building, Get Lit. W/ MBIP @ Lit. on Fire Used Books and Get Lit. Open Mic Night and Then a Couple of Drinks @ Broken Tree.