About Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is an American journalist and novelist born and raised in South Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism in 1974 and began his career as a reporter at Cocoa Today (now Florida Today). In 1976, at age 23, he joined The Miami Herald, where he worked as a city-desk reporter, general assignment reporter, and later as part of the newspaper’s investigations team. Hiaasen was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1980 and 1981 for investigative series on medical malpractice and drug smuggling, respectively. From 1985 to 2021, Hiaasen wrote a widely read opinion column for The Miami Herald, known for its sharp commentary on Florida’s politics, environment, and social issues. His columns often addressed topics such as pollution, overdevelopment, the criminal justice system, and national events like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the Trayvon Martin case. For his work, he received several awards, including the Damon Runyon Award, the Heywood Broun Award, and the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. Hiaasen began writing novels in the early 1980s, initially collaborating with fellow journalist William D. Montalbano on three mystery thrillers. His first solo novel, Tourist Season, was published in 1986. Since then, he has published more than 20 novels for adults and five for young adults, all set in Florida and noted for their satirical humor and social commentary. His books have been translated into 34 languages and include bestsellers such as Strip Tease, Stormy Weather, Skinny Dip, Bad Monkey, and Squeeze Me. Hiaasen remains a prominent voice in American literature and journalism, celebrated for his advocacy of environmental preservation and his distinctive, irreverent style. His most recent novel, Wrecker, was published in 2023.

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