ABOUT ME
I'm D.S. Marquis: author, blogger, booklover, Florida State University alumna, retired condo manager, paralegal, teacher, and bartender. I was brought up in the United States, completed master level writing courses at Salem State University, served as military reservist, and worked a variety of odd jobs. At sunrise, you'll find me drinking coffee on the porch with my canine companion. ☕🐾✍️
Enter 80s Florida, a world before smartphones and computers, when information traveled via television, radio, juke boxes, and pay phones. Showing up was the only way to make friends and find jobs. The news was filled with the Iran Contra Affair and the War on Drugs. Airports had no Transportation Security Administration (TSA). And college students completed assignments on paper with typewriters.
This is the world of Lynette and Marie, two badass undergrads -- one cautious, one impulsive, both a mix of grit and vulnerability. They’ve learned that life is messy, and they’re determined to clean it up by finishing school. Whether their affirmations come from Shakespeare and Einstein, or maybe even prayer and clergy --, they are under the influence of pop culture, nature, and their own snappy catchphrases. A favorite? If you can’t be good, be careful.
Their freewheeling experiences, almost farce but grounded in reality, are the heart of this near-miss narrative that not only entertains, but intimately sheds light on serious women’s issues, working student issues, and the trials of adulting and finding love. This book reminds us about the importance of friendship and laughter, and especially about how anyone can be one weak moment away from falling victim to scams or a life-altering mistake.
This story is based on the author’s experiences during her early twenties, when she attended Florida State University (FSU), and bartended at the Tallahassee Airport.
"Riveting, evocative, historically accurate, and humorous! A clever mingling of cultural nostalgia with timeless life lessons!”
— Josephine Strand, author
“A fresh and realistic slice of 1980s Americana.”
— C.J. Pearson, author
“Beautifully written friendship story about the trials of adulting.”
— Paula C. Deckard, author
“An original tale anchored in social justice. The Afterword is a must read!"
— Lori Robbins, author
“A Near miss narrative that entertains and spotlights serious issues!
— Jennifer Cyphers, librarian
Considering a career in property management? Or a move to a community with a homeowner's association (HOA)? The information in this simple guidebook spotlights what to expect.
A relatively new experiment created in the 20th century, condominium living communities are in constant motion, and unit owners and managers learn more about the process all the time.
Cultivate your understanding of life as a residential property manager and life as a condominium unit owner. Learn about the condominium lifestyle paradoxical dynamic. You own your own home, but you share it with other people.
D.S. Marquis’ years of experience as a hands-on site manager overseeing a 33-acre condominium complex gives her the “street smarts” to write an insightful and practical guide to condo living. In The Condominium Living Paradox, Marquis combines valuable advice with humorous anecdotes turning everyday incidents into educational moments. This combined with her deep understanding of condo by-laws and regulations, makes this guide to communal living both informative and engaging.
"Informative and engaging! A must read for anyone pondering condominium ownership, management, or volunteerism."
— T.E. Bean
Stay tuned for the upcoming release of
The Burn - a thriller novel!
When a condominium fire is ruled an accident, the property manager’s obsession with proving it’s arson uncovers secrets that could destroy the entire community—or cost them their life.