Carl Hiaasen: Difference between revisions
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In addition to writing, Hiaasen also does speaking engagements and lectures. |
In addition to writing, Hiaasen also does speaking engagements and lectures. |
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Hiaasen is also noted as the person who discovered and helped bring the young adult fantasy novel [[Eragon]] to the public. The book, written by [[Christopher Paolini]] was self-published and self-promoted throughout the United States without |
Hiaasen is also noted as the person who discovered and helped bring the young adult fantasy novel [[Eragon]] to the public. The book, written by [[Christopher Paolini]], was self-published and self-promoted by tour throughout the United States without much attention until it came to Hiaasen's notice in 2002. Hiaasen immediately recommended the novel to publishing house [[Alfred A. Knopf]]. The novel went on to become an astounding success, marking the start of a book series that sold over 30 million copies worlwide. |
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== Bibliography == |
== Bibliography == |
Revision as of 04:16, 29 May 2012
Carl Hiaasen | |
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File:Carl Hiaassen.jpg | |
Born | Plantation, Florida, U.S. | March 12, 1953
Occupation | Novelist, Journalist |
Nationality | American |
Genre | Crime Fiction, Thrillers, Satirical Fiction |
Subject | Environmentalism, government corruption |
Spouse | Fenia Clizer (1999–present) Connie Lyford (1970–1996) |
Website | |
http://www.carlhiaasen.com/ |
Carl Hiaasen (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈhaɪ.əsɛn/; born March 12, 1953) is an American journalist, columnist, and novelist.
Early years
Born in 1953 and raised in Plantation, Florida, of Norwegian heritage,[1] Hiaasen was the first of four children and the son of a lawyer, Kermit Odel, and teacher, Patricia. He married Connie Lyford just after high school graduation and entered Emory University in 1970, where he contributed numerous satiric pieces to the school newspaper, The Emory Wheel. In 1972 he transferred to the University of Florida, where he wrote for The Independent Florida Alligator. Hiaasen graduated in 1974 with a degree in journalism. Carl and Connie divorced in 1996, and he married Fenia Clizer in 1999. He has one son from each of his two marriages.
He was a reporter for Cocoa Today (Cocoa, Florida) for two years, beginning in 1974, then was hired by the Miami Herald in 1976, where he still (as of 2011[update]) works.[2] In 1979 he switched to investigative journalism, initially focusing on property development and the construction industry, exposing schemes to despoil the natural beauty of Florida for profit; several of his novels have plots based on such themes. He began writing a regular column in 1985; initially three times a week, but after the success of his novels, he cut back to weekly.[3]
Novelist
After becoming an investigative reporter, Hiaasen began to write novels. His first three were co-written by fellow journalist Bill Montalbano: Powder Burn (1981), Trap Line (1981), and A Death in China (1986). Montalbano accepted a job as a foreign correspondent in 1986 and Hiaasen wrote his first solo novel, Tourist Season, where most of the themes and style used in subsequent books were introduced.[2]
Hiaasen's fiction mirrors his concerns as a journalist and Floridian. His novels have been classified as "environmental thrillers" and are usually found on the mystery shelves in bookshops, although they can just as well be read as mainstream reflections of contemporary life. His books have been published in 33 different languages.
He said this about Florida: "The Sunshine State is a paradise of scandals teeming with drifters, deadbeats, and misfits drawn here by some dark primordial calling like demented trout. And you'd be surprised how many of them decide to run for public office." [4] He has called Florida Governor Rick Scott "an ideological extremist who doesn't like any form of government snooping."[5]
Hiaasen's Florida is a hive of greedy businessmen, corrupt politicians, dumb blondes, apathetic retirees, intellectually challenged tourists, hard-luck redneck cooters, and militant ecoteurs. It is the same Florida of John D. MacDonald and Travis McGee, but aged another 20 years and viewed with a more satiric or sardonic eye.
Hiaasen's first venture into writing children's novels was Hoot, which received the Newbery Honor Award and was made into a movie, with Jimmy Buffett playing the role of a classroom teacher and Hiaasen appearing in a cameo role.[6][7] Hiaasen's second children's novel was Flush,[8], then Scat and lastly, Chomp.. Hiaasen's young adult novels follow the theme of environmental issues. They also have his characteristic unique characters and some theme of adventure.
Hiaasen worked for several years with British theatre producers for the adaptation of his bestseller Lucky You; the resulting play includes music by Loudon Wainwright III, and premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008.[9]
In addition to writing, Hiaasen also does speaking engagements and lectures.
Hiaasen is also noted as the person who discovered and helped bring the young adult fantasy novel Eragon to the public. The book, written by Christopher Paolini, was self-published and self-promoted by tour throughout the United States without much attention until it came to Hiaasen's notice in 2002. Hiaasen immediately recommended the novel to publishing house Alfred A. Knopf. The novel went on to become an astounding success, marking the start of a book series that sold over 30 million copies worlwide.
Bibliography
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)[2]
- Stormy Weather (1995)
- Lucky You (1997)
- Naked Came the Manatee (1998) (Collaboration with 12 other authors)
- Sick Puppy (2000)
- Basket Case (2002)
- Skinny Dip (2004)
- Nature Girl (2006)
- Star Island (2010)
With Bill Montalbano
- Powder Burn (1981)
- Trap Line (1982)
- A Death in China (1984)
Young Adult Fiction
- Hoot (2002) (young adult novel) (released as a movie in May 2006 by director Wil Shriner)[2]
- Flush (2005) (young adult novel)
- Scat (2009) (young adult novel)
- Chomp (2012) (young adult novel)
Short stories
Non-fiction
- Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World (1998)
- Kick Ass (1999)
- Paradise Screwed: Selected Columns (2001)
- The Downhill Lie (2008)
Collections
- A Carl Hiaasen Collection (2000) (an audiobook set containing Tourist Season, Stormy Weather, and Strip Tease)
Awards
Hoot, Hiassen's first book for young readers, has won both a Newbery Honor from the Association for Library Service to Children and won the 2005 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, selected for the latter honor by school-age children (grades 4-8) in the U.S. State of Illinois.[10]
References
- ^ "My Lunch with Carl Hiaasen". Salon. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ a b c d "Biography". Carl Hiaasen's Official Website. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ [1] Miami Herald, Columnists, Carl Hiaasen
- ^ Kroft, Steve: "Florida: A Paradise Of Scandals" CBS News 60 Minutes, April 17, 2005
- ^ Sullum, Jacob (2011-03-02) Why Would Anyone Object to Government Monitoring of Pain Treatment?, Reason
- ^ "The Book". Official Hoot Site. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "Hoot". New Line Cinema. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "Books: Flush". Carl Hiaasen's Official Website. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "Fringe Brochure 2008" (Archived at Scribd). Edinburgh Comedy Festival. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "Past Winners of the Caudill Award". Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
External links
- Ill-formatted IPAc-en transclusions
- Nexstar Media Group
- University of Florida alumni
- 1953 births
- Living people
- American children's writers
- American crime fiction writers
- American humorists
- American columnists
- American novelists
- Writers from Florida
- People from Miami, Florida
- Absurdist fiction
- Newbery Honor winners
- American people of Norwegian descent
- People from Florida
- Agatha Award winners
- The Miami Herald people
- Environmental fiction writers
- Dilys Award winners