HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Carl Hiaasen (; born March 12, 1953) is an American journalist and novelist. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and by the late 1970s had begun writing novels in his spare time, both for adults and for young-adult readers. Two of his novels have been made into feature films. Hiaasen's adult novels are humorous crime thrillers set in
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...
. They feature casts of eccentric, sometimes grotesque characters and satirize aspects of American popular culture. Many of the novels include themes related to environmentalism and political corruption in his native state.


Early life and education

Hiaasen was born in 1953 and raised in Plantation, Florida, then a rural suburb of
Fort Lauderdale A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
. He was the first of four children born to Odel and Patricia Hiaasen. He has Norwegian and Irish ancestry. He started writing at age six when his father bought him a typewriter for Christmas. After graduating from Plantation High School in 1970, he entered
Emory University Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of h ...
, where he contributed satirical humor columns to the student-run newspaper '' The Emory Wheel''. In 1972, he transferred to the
University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...
, where he wrote for '' The Independent Florida Alligator''. Hiaasen graduated in 1974 with a degree in
journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (pro ...
.


Journalism

Hiaasen was a reporter at ''TODAY'' (
Cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...
, Florida) for two years before being hired in 1976 by the '' Miami Herald'', where he worked for the city desk, Sunday magazine and award-winning investigative team. Hiaasen was a columnist for the newspaper from mid-1985 until he retired in March 2021. His columns have been collected in three published volumes, '' Kick Ass'' (1999''), Paradise Screwed'' (2001) and ''Dance of the Reptiles'' (2014), all edited by Diane Stevenson. His only brother was Rob Hiaasen, an editor and columnist at ''
The Capital ''The Capital'' (also known as ''Capital Gazette'' as its online nameplate and informally), the Sunday edition is called ''The Sunday Capital'', is a daily newspaper published by Capital Gazette Communications in Annapolis, Maryland, to serv ...
'' newspaper in
Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...
, who was killed in the mass shooting at the newspaper's office on June 28, 2018. Carl Hiaasen's 1991 novel '' Native Tongue'' carries the dedication "For my brother Rob."


Novelist

After becoming a reporter, Hiaasen began writing novels in his spare time. The first three were co-authored with his friend and fellow journalist William Montalbano: ''Powder Burn'' (1981), ''Trap Line'' (1982), and ''A Death in China'' (1984). His first solo novel, '' Tourist Season'' (1986), featured a group of ragged eco-warriors who kidnap the
Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Miami metropolitan area. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935, making it, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, the second-oldest bowl game in ...
Queen in Miami. The book's main character was whimsically memorialized by
Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (born December 25, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffe ...
in a song called "The Ballad of Skip Wiley," which appeared on his '' Barometer Soup'' album. In all, twenty of Hiaasen's novels and nonfiction books have been on the New York Times Best Seller lists. His work has been translated into 34 languages. In 2016, his novel ''
Razor Girl ''Razor Girl'' is a 2016 novel by Carl Hiaasen. Plot summary Merry Mansfield is a free-spirited con artist who assists mobsters in abducting defaulting fugitives by rear-ending their cars on the highway. Unfortunately, after completing one su ...
,'' was short-listed for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse award for comic fiction in England. An earlier Hiaasen novel, ''Strip Tease,'' was adapted into a 1996 feature film starring Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds. Another book, '' Bad Monkey,'' is being adapted for a series on
Apple TV An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus '' Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, ...
. It will star Vince Vaughn and is being written and executive produced by Bill Lawrence, who co-created Ted Lasso. The series is tentatively scheduled to begin airing in the spring of 2023. Hiaasen's first venture into writing for younger readers was the 2002 novel ''
Hoot Hoot may refer to: Publications * ''Hoot'' (novel), a young adult novel by Carl Hiaasen * ''Hoot'', a 1996 children's novel by Jane Hissey * ''Hoot'' (comics), a British magazine published from 1985 to 1986 * '' The Brandeis Hoot'', a student n ...
'', which was named a Newbery Medal honor book. It was adapted as a 2006 film of the same name (starring Logan Lerman, Brie Larson and Luke Wilson). The movie was written and directed by Wil Shriner.
Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (born December 25, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffe ...
provided songs for the soundtrack, and appeared in the role of Mr. Ryan, a middle school teacher. Hiaasen's subsequent children's novels were '' Flush,'' '' Scat''; '' Chomp'' and, '' Skink-- No Surrender,'' which introduces one of his most popular adult characters to teen readers. In 2014, ''Skink'' was long-listed for a
National Book Award The National Book Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The N ...
in Young People's Literature. All of Hiaasen's books for young readers feature environmental themes, eccentric casts and adventure-filled plots. His latest, '' Squirm,'' which is set in Florida and
Montana Montana () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West List of regions of the United States#Census Bureau-designated regions and divisions, division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North ...
, was published in the fall of 2018 and opened at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list for middle-grade novels. His latest adult book, ''
Squeeze Me "Squeeze Me" is a 1925 jazz standard composed by Fats Waller. It was based on an old blues song called "The Boy in the Boat". The lyrics were credited to publisher Clarence Williams, although Andy Razaf has claimed to have actually written the ...
,'' was published on August 25, 2020, and debuted at #2 on the New York Times Combined Print and E-Book Print Best Sellers List. The novel takes place during the glitzy Palm Beach social season, and features wild pythons and a fictional, well-fed U.S. president who has a vacation mansion on the island. Amazon and the Washington ''Post'' listed ''Squeeze Me as'' one of the best novels of 2020. Hiaasen's most recent nonfiction work is ''Assume the Worst: The Graduation Speech You'll Never Hear'', which was published in April 2018 and illustrated by Roz Chast, who is well-known for her cartoons in ''
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issue ...
''. During the 1990s Hiaasen co-wrote the lyrics of three songs with his good friend and famed L.A. rocker, the late
Warren Zevon Warren William Zevon (; January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer, songwriter, and musician. Zevon's most famous compositions include " Werewolves of London", "Lawyers, Guns and Money", and "Roland the Headless Tho ...
. "Rottweiler Blues" and "Seminole Bingo" appeared on Zevon's '' Mutineer'' album in 1995. The third song they wrote together, "Basket Case," was done in conjunction with Hiaasen's novel of the same name, and appeared in 2001 on Zevon's album ''
My Ride's Here ''My Ride's Here'' is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. The album was released on May 7, 2002, by Artemis Records. Zevon described it as "a meditation on death"; it was released several months before Zevon was d ...
.'' In addition to being a prolific writer, Hiaasen is also a talented fly fisherman. His fishing career includes six wins of the prestigious Invitational Fall Fly Bonefish Tournament in Islamorada, fishing with famed guide Tim Klein.


Works


Fiction


Adult fiction

*'' Tourist Season'' (1986) * '' Double Whammy'' (1987) * '' Skin Tight'' (1989) * '' Native Tongue'' (1991) * '' Strip Tease'' (1993) (filmed in 1996 as '' Striptease'' by Andrew Bergman, starring Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds) * '' Stormy Weather'' (1995) * '' Naked Came the Manatee '' (1996) (A Mystery Thriller Parody with 12 other authors) * '' Lucky You'' (1997) * '' Sick Puppy'' (2000) * '' Basket Case'' (2002) * '' Skinny Dip'' (2004) * '' Nature Girl'' (2006) * '' Star Island'' (2010) * '' Bad Monkey'' (2013) * ''
Razor Girl ''Razor Girl'' is a 2016 novel by Carl Hiaasen. Plot summary Merry Mansfield is a free-spirited con artist who assists mobsters in abducting defaulting fugitives by rear-ending their cars on the highway. Unfortunately, after completing one su ...
'' (2016) * ''
Squeeze Me "Squeeze Me" is a 1925 jazz standard composed by Fats Waller. It was based on an old blues song called "The Boy in the Boat". The lyrics were credited to publisher Clarence Williams, although Andy Razaf has claimed to have actually written the ...
'' (2020) With William Montalbano * ''Powder Burn'' (1981) * ''Trap Line'' (1982) * ''A Death in China'' (1984)


Fiction for young readers

* ''
Hoot Hoot may refer to: Publications * ''Hoot'' (novel), a young adult novel by Carl Hiaasen * ''Hoot'', a 1996 children's novel by Jane Hissey * ''Hoot'' (comics), a British magazine published from 1985 to 1986 * '' The Brandeis Hoot'', a student n ...
'' (2002) (released as a movie in May 2006 by director Wil Shriner) * '' Flush'' (2005) * '' Scat'' (2009) * '' Chomp'' (2012) * '' Skink - No Surrender'' (2014) (young adult novel featuring a recurring hero from his adult fiction series) *''Squirm'' (2018)


Short stories

* "Tart of Darkness" (2003, '' Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'') * The Edible Exile (2013)


Non-fiction

* '' Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World'' (1998) * '' Kick Ass'': Selected Columns (1999) * ''Paradise Screwed: Selected Columns'' (2001) * ''The Downhill Lie'' (2008) * ''Dance of the Reptiles: Selected Columns'' (2014) * ''Assume the Worst: The Graduation Speech You'll Never Hear (2018)''


Collections

* ''A Carl Hiaasen'' (2000) (an audiobook set containing '' Tourist Season'', '' Stormy Weather'', and '' Strip Tease'') 34 books in total


Awards and achievements

;Journalist * 1980: National Headliners Award from Sigma Delta Chi. * 1980: Heywood Broun Award from Newspaper Guild. * 2004 : Damon Runyon Award from the Denver Press Club. * 2010 : Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. ;Writer * 2003 : Newbery Honor from the Association for Library Service to Children, for ''Hoot''. * 2005 : Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, for ''Hoot''. * 2005 : Dagger Awards Nominee - Best Novel, for ''Skinny Dip''. * 2009 : Sélection prix Nouvel Obs et BibliObs du roman noir, for ''Croco-deal'' (''Nature Girl''). * 2011 : Prix du Livre Environnement de la Fondation Veolia Environnement - Mention jeunesse, for ''Panthère'' (''Scat''). * 2011 : Prix Enfantaisie du meilleur roman, for ''Panthère'' (''Scat''). * 2012 : Prix Barnes & Noble du meilleur roman jeunesse, for ''Chomp''. * 2013 : Prix Science en toutes lettres from The Académie de Rouen, for ''Panthère'' (''Scat''). * 2014 : National Book Award Longlist Selection - Young People's Literature, for ''Skink : No Surrender''. * 2017 : Marjorie Harris Carr Award for Environmental Advocacy from the Florida Defenders of the Environment


References


External links

*
Hiaasen's columns in ''The Miami Herald''
* *
Roger Nichols of Modern Signed Books interviews Carl Hiaasen about his latest novel, Razor Girl
*
Hiaasen interviewed about his book 'Assume the Worst'
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hiaasen, Carl 1953 births 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American male writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American children's writers American crime fiction writers American columnists American humorists Emory University alumni Environmental fiction writers Miami Herald people Living people University of Florida alumni Absurdist fiction Agatha Award winners Dilys Award winners Newbery Honor winners People from Plantation, Florida Writers from Miami American people of Irish descent American people of Norwegian descent American male novelists Novelists from Florida American male non-fiction writers Plantation High School alumni People from Vero Beach, Florida