One of the things I experienced in life was tenant organizing. What is TENANT organizing? Here on the east coast, they refer to people who pay rent as “tenants.” In other parts of the country, we refer to those who pay rent as RENTERS.
Years ago, I moved into a lovely garden apartment in New Jersey. It had five acres of lawns, trees, and flowers, but on one cold winter night, we renters had no heat. We complained to the landlord, but with poor results. We soon set up meetings in the laundry rooms and began discussing what to do.
We contacted a statewide organization and learned how to put the pressure on the landlord. Most of this activity involved contacting health boards, city rent boards and fire code inspectors. We also attended a few city council meetings and did interviews with the local media.
All through this process, a few tenants spoke of a murder that they claimed occurred in a certain apartment. This rumor kept popping up at so many of our meetings, from so many different tenants. I had to find out what it was all about.
After a few months of struggling with the landlord, we finally got our point across and many repairs completed. Our tenants’ rights group settled into everyday complaints about potholes in the parking lot and porches with burnt out light bulbs.
I was then able to devote less time to the turmoil—and more time to my writing. I was looking for a way to let other renters know how to fight for their rights. Should I write an article? Or maybe—oh yeah, that murder! Why don’t I write a murder mystery?
I had never written a mystery before. I spent four years studying and writing this mystery. It was great fun. You’ll never believe who committed the murder or why! But since I’m selling this novel now, I have to ask you to buy a copy to find out.
If you’re a renter, you get the additional insight into how to deal with your landlord. Please buy the ebook for $3.99. My publisher is iUniverse, but you can get the book at Amazon and B&N also. Here’s a link to my publisher:
I must confess that I'm writing more than reading and mysteries are way down my list of promised reading. So I hope you will accept my apologies for what I think because of your great experience in writing, will be a great book to read… Especially for renters. After living in about 20 rental arrangements and apartments during all my schooling, I managed to buy my first house. Two houses later, I hope I never have to go back in an apartment where the guy next door can treat me to a fire.
Ron