Funny interview with Carl Hiaissen

[Robert Roaldi]

This is a 40 min or so podcast interview with Florida author and columnist Carl Hiaissen, https://www.npr.org/2020/08/18/903536600/author-carl-hiaasen-skewers-palm-beach-and-florida-life-in-squeeze-me. The first part is about his new novel "Squeeze Me" and the second half (more or less) is a wider ranging discussion of Florida politics in this Covid year. It's a little difficult keeping real life apart from his novels, that is, it's a toss-up about which is nuttier.

If you haven't read his books, they are very funny. His wiki entry, among other places, gives a list of his books. He has made a career out of skewering Florida politicians and public life there in general, and it seems to be a target rich environment. Anyway, it's good fun.

[Peter McLennan]

One of my favourite authors.  If anyone needs a lesson in the insanity of life in Florida (or the USA), Carl is your instructor.

Many, many years on the Miami Herald crime desk have informed his work perfectly.  As they say, "You can't make this stuff up."

[James Clark]

Hiaissen is one of my absolute favorites, and one of the few authors that can make me literally laugh out loud in public with his books.  (The other is Christopher Moore.  Far sillier but ridiculously funny)

[Robert Roaldi]

If you like Hiaissen, you'd probably also like Tim Dorsey. His novels are also set in Florida, but the plots are more idiosyncratic, giving his peculiar anti-heroes Serge Storms and his drugged-up sidekick Coleman. Seems like there's enough mayhem in Florida to sustain two comic authors. (If you like Christopher Moore, you'll feel right at home with Dorsey.)

[John Camp]

I'm a novelist myself, which many of you know (John Sandford) and Carl is an old friend of mine. I was actually his boss at the Miami Herald for a few months back in the day, and assigned him to do one of his more infamous stories. I'll be interviewing Carl on Sept. 1 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (6 p.m. Pacific) in a remote podcast from the Poisoned Pen bookstore website.

https://poisonedpen.com



 

[Robert Roaldi]

I'm a novelist myself, which many of you know (John Sandford) and Carl is an old friend of mine. I was actually his boss at the Miami Herald for a few months back in the day, and assigned him to do one of his more infamous stories. I'll be interviewing Carl on Sept. 1 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (6 p.m. Pacific) in a remote podcast from the Poisoned Pen bookstore website.

https://poisonedpen.com

Thanks for the head's up. I know a few fans of you both and will pass on the info.