With the fortune that crime and romance novelist Iris Johansen amassed from her 17 best-selling books, the Atlanta author built one of the biggest residences in Bartow County with room to accommodate her entire family and friends.
But after finishing the 47,000-square-foot mansion just north of Cartersville, Ga., in 2014 following six years of construction, The New York Times best-selling writer changed her plans and decided against moving into the Cartersville mansion.
On Aug. 29 at 11 a.m., the mansion is going on the auction block and, if the minimum bid of $4.6 million is met, the mansion will be sold to a new owner.
"This was her dream home for her family, but her plans changed," said Dewey Jacobs, president of Target Auction Co., which has been hired to auction the property. "She lived briefly in the guest home, but the main mansion has never been lived in."
Jacobs said Johansen's decision to sell "is really a personal one" because "she wants to downsize and be closer to her kids and grandkids in Atlanta."
The Cartersville luxury home, known as "Sundance Estate," includes a guest house, caretaker house and equestrian facilities in Cartersville, midway between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
The 130-acre compound also includes a dog kennel and horse stables. The main residence includes five bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, four half-baths, a 5,000-square-foot closet, a 21-seat cinema, an office/library, a guest plaza and an outdoor kitchen. A commercial-grade elevator serves all four levels of the house.
The residence was listed for sale at $8.5 million for the past couple of years, but the unique property did not sell. Jacobs said an auction helps bring out buyers and encourages a sale.
Jacobs said the house would be a "great house for an entertainer or athlete."
Johansen has written, " Your Next Breath," "The Perfect Witness," "Live to See Tomorrow," "Dark Summer," and many others. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of "The Wind Dancer." In 1996, Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction.
Registration for the auction begins at 10 a.m. Aug. 29 and bidders will be required to submit a $50,000 certified or cashier's check to enter the auction.
Property tours are available by appointment on Aug.19-20 and Aug. 26-28 at www.targetauction.com.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.