Hi readers! So one book that has recently made it's way onto my reading list is Scat by Carl Hiaasen. I have read his two other young adult novels, Hoot and Flush, so I decided to give Scat a try. But I also wanted to find out more about Carl Hiaasen, who all I know about is that he grew up in Florida (which makes sense seeing as how all three of the previously mentioned novels are set in Florida). I read his biography on his website, and Carl Hiaasen has been writing solo since 1986 (25 years). He not only has written novels, but he has written magazine articles and has also been a columnist. Hiaasen has had eight national bestsellers. He has a huge range of work, from articles to books for young adults.
I think Hiassen is a good person to look to if you like to write a little bit of everything. I personally like the short story and fan fiction realm, but I am taking a journalism class next year, so maybe I may get into the non-fiction world. Obviously I also enjoy writing commentary and narrative non-fiction (this blog!). But I've always liked to dip my toes in all realms of the writing world. I think that it's a great way to practice writing, and it's a good way to see what I need to work on as a writer.
Another thing I like about Hiaasen is that he writes stories set in his home state of Florida. Nicholas Sparks is another author who also writes stories only set in North Carolina (which is where he lives). I think that the setting of a story is so important, and when done well, multiple books written in the same place give me a better idea of the place itself. Hiaasen and Sparks are both examples of authors who have learned the art of imagery and giving the reader a clear picture of the setting.
So, check out Hiaasen's young adult novels (I read he has another one set to come out in early 2012), and...
Happy Reading!
