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Key West Writer’s House Lottery
by John Urban
A well known Key West writer’s house is being sold for just $9.99. The catch? You have to purchase the best selling author’s latest book to be entered into the lottery. Still, the chance to pick up a prime island estate for just ten dollars will be enticing, especially to William Tennessee’s loyal readers.
Tennessee, known to his readers as Bill, moved to the Florida Keys in the early 70s when the economy was slow and real estate was cheap. He had just sold his first book, which he wrote for his masters thesis at the University of Iowa. “I moved down to stay with a friend on Islamorada, then I found my own rental in Key West. The advance on that first book arrived in the mail and I figured if I didn’t invest the money I’d end up drinking it away. It was summertime, the local economy had bottomed-out, and the house needed work. But, looking back, it was a steal.”
In the years that followed, Tennessee shifted to mystery books. Several became best sellers. Along the way, book sales allowed him to restore the property and he eventually bought the house next door and combined the two homes into one large house. The home, which is located just a few doors down from the restaurant Louie’s Backyard, has a very large pool and a private beach.
Local tax records give Tennessee’s house a $3.75M assessment value, but local real estate broker H. Morrison Flagler says that price might even be low. “With that location and today’s improving market, I think you could get a bit over $4M, especially since it’s still zoned as two parcels.” When asked if he’ll be buying Tennessee’s book, Flagler said, “Everyone on the island’s going to be in line on this one.”
(A large pool area allows for ample seating and entertaining)
Tennessee never married and he has no heirs. In an interview with local station KEYW, the author said, “I suppose some people will think this is a ploy to sell books, but that was the last thing I had in mind. I come from a small southern family and I’m the end of the line. I’ve got more than I need and the old house is too big for this old man. I said to myself, readers gave it to me, so I figure I’ll give it back.”
Tennessee’s latest book, Stella’s Shout-out, is due out later this year. When interviewed the author said, “It’s the last in my Stanley and Stella murder series, but it takes us back to the beginning. It’s set in Key West, back when the place was a lot more sleepy than today, back when you might sit down in a bar, find Truman Capote to your right, a commercial fisherman to your left, and nobody in the room gave a damn about your business as long as the beer was cold and the stone crabs were fresh.”
(Furniture will be included with the house. Several best sellers were written from this desk in the author’s office.)
Sales for Stella’s Shout-out go on sale March 29th, 2014 and Tennessee will close out the lottery as soon as 25,000 copies are sold.
According to Tennessee, “This may end up being the first e-book collectors item. As soon as the the 25,000 copies are sold I’ll pull the book off of Amazon and my agent will notify the winner the very next day. My books sell fast, so I know this one will move quickly. The lawyers readied the papers and I’ll be giving the winner the keys and handing over the place, fully furnished.”
The author closed the KEYW interview with advice: “I just hope some fool doesn’t get disappointed because he waited until April 1st to buy the book.”
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