Jack Kerouac’s home will be filled with literary lights, laughter and luminescence Saturday, as writers, sellers, artisans and makers come together for one of Wordier Than Thou’s semi-annual Underground Book Fairs.
The organization advocates and produces literary-centric events around St. Petersburg. And what better locale than the last place Kerouac, the legendary Beat writer who all but transformed American fiction, lived his last days?
Ken Burchenal, who bought the nondescript house at 5169 10th Avenue North in 2022, uses it as a space for community events and intimate “house” concerts.
“So many people know it’s here; it’s like local lore,” explains local journalist (and Wordier Than Thou director) Tiffany Razzano. “But nobody ever really got to go inside and see it because of all the legal nonsense and things that were taking place around it. It was never really open to the public.
“We envision these markets as just a fun, low-lift, low-key way for people to get the chance to take a peek inside.”
Jack Kerouac lived in St. Petersburg until his death in 1969. Photo: PBS.
Kerouac, along with his mother and his third wife, lived in the home between 1968 and his death, from complications due to alcoholism, the next year. It was not his finest hour.
Wallpaper, fixtures and some of the original furnishings remain; what’s been introduced is period-appropriate. “It’s like a little time capsule in a way,” Razzano exclaims. “It’s neat to check out, whether you like Kerouac or not. People go in so many directions with him. And that’s fair.”
The event, 12 to 4 p.m., carries a suggested $5 admission, which will go to Burchenal’s nonprofit Jack Kerouac House of St. Petersburg Inc.
The list of vendors includes The Chandelier Queer, Katelyn Curran, Damian Demogines, Discipline and Anarchy Books and Gifts, Elsie Gilmore, Cat Johnston, eLayne Kelley, Perci Kleinops, Literary Labyrinth Books, Robert Ortiz, Pages & Perks, Lori Seppala, Eddie Valentine, David Wood and Lisa Wilkes.
Razzano will be there, too, with her pop-up “queer and feminist” shop, This Bookstore Kills Fascists.
Creative types will materialize in every room – bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room and screened-in patio. “Pretty much every nook and cranny in the house will have some type of vendor set up,” Razzano says. “There’s just a lot of good energy as you walk through the house.
“It’s fun, and it’s a relaxed day. It’s like a really nice way to get to chat with local writers. And I think they’re energized by being in a literary landmark.”
Authors will read from and discuss their works, and shops will talk about what they do. Drinks will be available for a donation.
Find tickets for Saturday’s event at this link.
Wordier Than Thou, which keeps a busy schedule of special “Read No More” events, book fairs and literary conferences, is partnering with The Studio@620 Oct. 17 for an interactive Halloween show, Performer Purgatory, at FloridaRAMA.