Carl Hiaasen was born in March 12, 1953 in Florida where he still lives today. He started writing when he was six years old when his parents got him his first typewriter. He graduated in the University of Florida in 1974 in a degree in journalism. He has been employed by the Miami Herald since 1976 as a reporter and columnist. His first three novels were Powder Burn, Trap Line, and A Death in China which he wrote with one of his good friends, William D. Montalbano. His first children's novel was Hoot written in 2002. His other children's novels include Flush, Scat, and Chomp. He has received numerous honors and awards including the Damon Runyon award from the Denver Press Club and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.