Carl Hiaasen Talking With Dave Barry

I am a huge Carl Hiaasen fan. Four years ago, almost to the day, I had the pleasure to spend an afternoon with him in Georgia at a book launch.

Today, I got to watch an interview of him, with his good buddy, Dave Barry, as Mr. Hiaasen discussed his newest book, Squeeze Me.
Here's the Amazon description (I can't make this stuff up):
From the best-selling author of Skinny Dip and Razor Girl, a hilarious new novel of social and political intrigue, set against the glittering backdrop of Florida’s gold coast. It’s the height of the Palm Beach charity ball season: for every disease or cause, there’s a reason for the local luminaries to eat (minimally), drink (maximally), and be seen. But when a prominent high-society dowager suddenly vanishes during a swank gala, and is later found dead in a concrete grave, panic and chaos erupt. Kiki Pew was notable not just for her wealth and her jewels–she was an ardent fan of the Winter White House resident just down the road, and a founding member of the POTUSSIES, a group of women dedicated to supporting their President. Never one to miss an opportunity to play to his base, the President immediately declares that Kiki was the victim of rampaging immigrant hordes. This, it turns out, is far from the truth.

The truth might just lie in the middle of the highway, where a bizarre discovery brings the First Lady’s motorcade to a grinding halt (followed by some grinding between the First Lady and a love-struck Secret Service agent). Enter Angie Armstrong, wildlife wrangler extraordinaire, who arrives at her own conclusions after she is summoned to the posh island to deal with a mysterious and impolite influx of huge, hungry pythons.

Carl Hiaasen can brighten even the darkest of days and Squeeze Me is pure, unadulterated Hiaasen. Irreverent, ingenious, and highly entertaining, Squeeze Me perfectly captures the absurdity of our times.

Mr. Barry asked some interesting questions. One was about angering his fan base.
Mr. Hiaasen said, "If it's going to aggravate your colitis, get you worked up, it is what it is. Some people don't have a sense of humor about anything! Every opinion pisses someone off."
He also believes that writing is his profession. It is his job to get the reader to turn the page. To want to keep reading. If you, as the writer, can't keep up the momentum, you fail your job. Anyone who has ever read a Carl Hiaasen book knows that man is a true professional indeed. If anything, his books are too entertaining causing hysterical laughter and a serious problem of not being able to put his book down. I just requested Squeeze Me from our local public library. I'm number 21 in the line of devoted Hiaasen fans. I am certain to love this newest. I can't wait.

"I've always enjoyed making people laugh.
But in order for me to be funny,
I have to get ticked off about something."
-Carl Hiaasen

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