Henry Franken has a problem with money. He has too much of it.
When his unprincipled father dies, 33-year-old Henry inherits a massive estate – including an Upper East Side residential building. He must confront the reality of his new financial status, directly conflicting with his well-honed identity as a “progressive liberal.” When he shows up to collect keys to his father’s building, he notices a sign: Doorman Wanted. Seeing a chance to stave off the responsibilities of his inheritance, Henry applies for the position under a pseudonym… and gets it.
Now, no one in the building knows that Doorman “Franklin Hanratty” is the building’s new mysterious owner.
Through interactions with residents and the homeless outside his door, Henry develops from an idealistic young person avoiding the complexities of a disreputable fortune, into a man who accepts the opportunity to direct that wealth toward a broader good. Key relationships fostering Henry’s growth are his fast-talking lawyer; a homeless artist; and a love interest from the building with financial secrets of her own. The novel looks at the complex relationships we have with money and perceptions of wealth.
“This gem of a novel is equal parts wit and heart. Set in a Manhattan luxury condominium and its environs, Doorman Wanted is written with flair and elegance and has a cast of believable characters whose actions surprise, infuriate and ultimately, inspire us.“
— Lorna Landvik, author of Last Circle of Love
“With the deft touch of a master storyteller, Glenn Miller brings us into the life of a New York City apartment building and peoples it with individuals whom we want to know… With a style that flows like a soft breeze and characters as distinctive as the city in which they live, Doorman Wanted is a delightful, meaningful and important book that belongs on the top shelf of any library.“
— Greg Fields, author of Through the Waters and the Wild
Inspiration
The idea for Doorman Wanted came to me while I was walking one day in the neighborhoods of New York’s Upper East Side. I saw the mundane act of a doorman greeting two people entering a building, and I couldn’t help but think — what secrets does he know about the people within? Better yet, what secrets might he have that would surprise those residents? My walk turned into a long ramble as I started to plot out the blending of the doorman’s job with an aspect of life that many people are often uncomfortable talking about: money.
Tip Sheet
Playlist
One of my favorite places in all of New York City is Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel. I became aware — or, I should say, highly aware — of this bar shortly after its renovation in the early 2000’s. The New York Times had a lengthy article about it, how the renovation allowed Ludwig Bemelmans’ magical murals of Central Park to glow (this, after decades of the bar being a “smoke-filled” bar), and how the drinks were poured generously. Since reading that article, every trip to Manhattan has included a visit to Bemelmans. Here’s a fun fact about the bar: the martini is the number one served drink at Bemelmans, with bartenders serving over 1,000 of them each night. On the occasion of celebrating a milestone birthday at the bar, I made the mistake of consuming a higher percentage of their nightly output of martinis than any responsible human being should have (I partially blame the bartender — he heard of our birthday celebration and generously sent over a round on the house. Who could turn that down?). This Spotify playlist often reminds me of the wonderful live music that is played nightly at this favorite bar. I like to think that it is the type of music that might have been playing in the critical scene between Doorman Franklin and Wendy. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWU6MDxlH7Sr1?si=41a901522e4e4a34
Photo credit: Bemelmans website
Glenn R Miller 