Born in 1953 and brought up in Plantation, Florida, of Norwegian heritage, Hiaasen was the first of four children and the son of a lawyer, Kermit Odel, and teacher, Patricia. He married Connie Lyford just after university graduation and entered Emory High school in 1970, where he contributed numerous satiric pieces to the colledge newspaper, The Emory Wheel. In 1972 he transferred to the High school of Florida, where he created 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.
(Carl Hiaasen photo #2)
He was a reporter for Cocoa Today for two years beginning in 1974, then was hired by the Miami Herald in 1976, where he still books. 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 stories have plots based on such themes. He began composing a regular column in 1985; initially three times a week, but after the success of his stories, he cut back to weekly.
(Carl Hiaasen photo #3)
After becoming an investigative reporter, Hiassen began to write stories. His first three were co-written by fellow journalist Bill Montalbano: Powder Burn , Trap Line , and A Death in China.
Carl Hiaasen
