Commercial Investment Real Estate is the magazine of the CCIM Institute, the leading provider of commercial real estate education. CIRE covers market trends, current developments, and business strategies within the commercial real estate field.
Issue link: http://cire.epubxp.com/i/128835
CCIM Q&A; Novel Inspiration by Jennifer Norbut C Commercial real estate may not seem like suspense novel material, but truth can be stranger than fiction, according to literary great Mark Twain. On a quest to follow in his footsteps, Robin Eschliman, CCIM, senior vice president of business development for Coldwell Banker Commercial Thompson Realty Group in Lincoln, Neb., and author of The Agent novel series, bases much of her material on real-life experiences in commercial real estate. With more than 25 years in the industry, Eschliman, who specializes in office and retail, says commercial real estate provides a wide range of ideas and themes for her work. "Besides, I always wondered why John Grisham and lawyers should get to have all the fun," she jokes. Commercial Investment Real Estate asked Eschliman to share her writing insights. CIRE: What inspired your commercial real estate suspense series? Eschliman: I have discovered over the years that commercial real estate agents, particularly women, can f nd themselves in potentially dangerous situations — in empty warehouse buildings, with strange clients, and such. I found a way to blend this with my other life experience, serving on my local city council, where I had the opportunity to meet politicians on every level from local to national. Over the years I observed the back-room deals, intimidation, maneuverings, relationships, and unfortunately anti-business and anti-growth attitudes that are far too ofen a part of politics. I strongly felt that someone needed to shine a light 12 May | June | 2013 on this because communities that attempt to hamper business and growth cannot thrive. CIRE: Have real-life clients and transactions influenced your characters and themes? Eschliman: My first selfpublished book, Te Agent, was inspired by a client I had long ago who had abusive tendencies. Fortunately, there was no violence and we went our separate ways, but I always imagined how things could have gone. Te book's main character, who is a single female real estate agent, Robin Eschliman, CCIM is working on a water park project for her community. She attends a retail convention in Las Vegas and meets the quintessential f lawed politician — the character is a composite of nearly all the politicians I've met in real life — and makes some grave mistakes as they work together to get the project pushed through city hall. CIRE: Have you ever tapped into your CCIM network for ideas or assistance? Eschliman: For my second book, Te Agent: Over the Pond, the same fctional real estate character travels to London and works in Commercial Investment Real Estate