The House Is on Fire Book Launch
“Beanland’s research is meticulous, her characters are well drawn, and her writing is gorgeous.
The House Is On Fire is a stunning achievement.”
—Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle
You’re invited to celebrate the launch of
THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE
A novel by Rachel Beanland
April 4, 2023
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Monumental Church
1224 E. Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
hors d’oeuvres ◆ drinks ◆ signed books ◆ tours of Monumental Church
Drinks will be sold by Historic Richmond’s junior board.
Cash and credit card accepted.
All bar proceeds benefit Historic Richmond.
Fountain Bookstore will be on site selling books.
If you already pre-ordered from Fountain, you can email them at [email protected]
to confirm you’d like to pick your book up at the party.
Didn’t pre-order? Never fear.
Extra copies will be available to purchase on-site.
Cash and credit card accepted.
This event is free and open to the public.
Since capacity is limited, advance registration is strongly encouraged:
Parking
Free parking is available any time after 5 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Virginia Department of Transportation (1401 E. Broad Street). If driving East on Broad, take a right on Old 14th Street to access the parking lot. If approaching via I-95 (exit 74C), take a slight right onto East Broad Street, then immediately move into the far-left lane, so you can turn left onto Old 14th Street at the first light.
Accessibility
The first floor of Monumental Church is wheelchair-accessible.
About THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE
The House Is On Fire, which will be released by Simon & Schuster, is a novel based on the true story of the 1811 Richmond Theater fire, an incendiary tragedy that shocked a young nation and tore apart a community in a single night. The story is told from the perspectives of four people—Sally, Cecily, Gilbert, and Jack—whose actions during the inferno change their own lives and the lives of countless others. In the days after the fire, as news of the disaster spreads across the United States, the paths of these four people will become forever intertwined.
The Richmond Theater Fire and its connection to Monumental Church
Many people don’t realize that Monumental Church sits on the site of the Richmond Theater. After the theater burned, the remains of the victims were buried in the ruins, and Richmonders rallied for a monument to be built in their memory. “Monumental” Church was designed by Robert Mills and opened its doors, with much fanfare, in 1814. For 150 years, it served as an active, Episcopal church, however, in the twentieth century, as parishioners moved out to Richmond’s suburbs, the church’s membership dwindled. In 1965, the church was deconsecrated, and for several years its future seemed uncertain. Thankfully, it is today owned by Historic Richmond, a not-for-profit dedicated to preserving and protecting the city’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, and places. Visit their website at historicrichmond.com to learn more about Monumental Church and support important restoration work on this historic landmark.
About Rachel Beanland
In addition to The House Is On Fire, Rachel is the author of the novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, which was selected as a book club pick by Barnes & Noble, a featured debut by Amazon, an Indie Next pick by the American Booksellers Association, and one of the best books of 2020 by USA Today. It was also named a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was recognized with the 2020 National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction. Rachel earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family.