Recommended authors for fans of Carl Hiaasen?

[Bill]

I'd call Carl Hiaasen's style "quirky humor," though some would place him in "satire." Regardless, since I've read all his books, and he's not terribly prolific, can anyone recommend another author in the same territory? I don't care if it takes place in Florida, that's not what draws me to Hiassen (so for example, Tim Dorsey is too "over the top" for me). Thanks!

[Lisa]

Not to sound like one of those annoying authors who constantly self-promote (honest, I NEVER do things like this!) I have been told my books are Hiaasen-esque.

[Bill]

I'll have a look, Lisa! How would you characterize your books, cozy food-focused mysteries? I know that's a sub-genre these days, because I discovered it at Bouchercon 2015!

[Lisa]

I think my books are almost cozy food-focused mysteries. My heroines aren't as sweet and gentle as those found in cozies. But I do have food and drink in abundance; they're almost side characters in the book. Thank you for considering my "stuff"! And if you do find others who write like Hiaasen, please let me know. I'm constantly looking for something quirky like that.

[Bill]

(straining with all his might not to promote himself...)

[Lisa]

Let loose the bonds of shame! I didn't realize you were a writer. I'll take a look at your stuff, too.

It's so much easier to write a book than to promote it, isn't it? I sometimes wish I had a split personality and that my alter-ego had the balls of Donald Trump.

[Bill]

You can say that again! Finishing up my third now. Are there any blogs/podcasts on marketing and promotion that you find helpful? I haven't done any active marketing in months because I'm preparing for a "relaunch" of my first two titles along with the third.

[Lisa]

Bill wrote: "... Are there any blogs/podcasts on marketing and promotion that you find helpful? ..."

Oh my, but you are a funny boy! Just about everyone says the same thing and it barely works for anyone because no one seems to have the magic sauce. I'm working on building "my list" of website visitors for a newsletter. That seems to be what's working for some right now.

Unless you have a major budget to buy ads in places that work (the Sunday New York Times is a good one, I hear) it's really pretty much a crapshoot for it all.

I hope I don't sound jaded. But lucky timing really does play into this quite a bit. I know a woman who self-published a book she wrote while working as a night clerk at Walmart. When she'd get bored waiting on people to come in the store, she'd write on her Blackberry. Did no editing. Didn't have a cover. The only promoting she did was to tell a few friends. Didn't have a Facebook account and didn't have a blog. She sold nothing for about 6 months and then sold over 300,000 Kindle versions in one month simply because she was writing erotica when 50 Shades went viral.

Go figure.

I bought BATTLE AXE last night. Looking forward to reading it later this week while waiting on my kids to compete in a 4-day drum line and color guard competition. After visiting your website, I kind of think we have similar styles. I write very place-specific work, too.

[Lance]

I have read both your messages with interest. I LOVE Carl Hiaasen and I have read all his books. I even read my kids Hoot and Flush back when they were indeed children and not just pretending to be adults like now. My wife saw Carl Hiaasen give a speech at a journalism convention back when Tourist Season was just released, came home, told me about him and I bought his first book in paperback. Since then I have devoured all his books as they came out. In fact (insert shameless self-promotion here), I had a review for my book Ripped Tide on Amazon which said "reminds me of the style of writing of Carl Hiaasen and John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series". I was ecstatic (the John D. reference made sense since my main character was reading a Travis McGee paperback throughout). Both authors have definitely been an influence on my writing.

I have looked up both your books on Amazon and plan on giving them a try as well as reviewing them. I have read some of the "cozy/food" mysteries in the past and have enjoyed them (my book is not so much cozy as it is medical and more beer than food). And the idea of music and humor definitely intrigues me (warning-more shameless self-promotion ahead) as one reviewer tagged my book as "Rx, Drugs and Rock n' Roll".

And now back to your original question. Another humor author I met on Goodreads, John Martin from Australia, recommended Mystery Man by Colin Bateman to me. He is an author from Ireland. I thought it was the funniest, most unique book I had read in a very long time. I have a review of the book on Goodreads if interested.

[Bill]

Thanks for the note, Lance. That tagline is amazing: "Rx, drugs and rock n' roll." You need to get that ON the book cover! I'll check out both your book and Mystery Man (as well as your review of it). Ironically, I'm about through with my third book, which takes place mostly in Ireland. I appreciate you checking out my first two, however, if you're not in a big hurry, I am planning on re-tooling both of them to coincide with the launch of #3. While I love them as-is, after reading a lot more about story structure and plotting (have you read "The Story Grid?"), I realize they're far from perfect and I'm going back at them with a semi-objective eye. I'm also going to have the covers re-done to put them more in Hiassen territory. I would welcome an offer to read/review my new book, "Blarney Rubble," when I finish it up, though! Oh, and finally, yeah--I read my kids "Hoot," "Flush" and "Chomp" and we even went to see "Hoot" in the theater!

[Lance]

I absolutely love the title "Blarney Rubble", Bill. And I'm part Irish which makes it even better (to which my wife would reply, "Scottish!") I have already purchased Battle Axe but I will await the other to be re-tooled as well as your new one. I definitely will check out "The Story Grid". I am rewriting and editing my new book; it is in third person which is more challenging than the first person of Ripped Tide.

It is always fun to hook up with authors of like mind on Goodreads. Thank you for responding!

[Bill]

Thanks! I think Battle Axe is stronger as-is, but even it could stand some restructuring. I wouldn't discourage you from reading it now, and if you find anything you'd suggest, from one writer to another, I'd gladly welcome the critique (and the eventual review)!

Funny, all my books are in third person--I tried a middle grade novel in first person once, but I just never got in the groove and had to switch to third (before abandoning it altogether).

I'm in Raleigh, by the way, and am WELL acquainted with NC beaches, so I look forward to visiting vicariously through your book. The last scene in Ring of Fire, in fact, takes place on Holden Beach.

[Lance]

Excellent! I've played many a round of golf on Holden Beach but have not actually been to the beach there. My parents own a house on Oak Island and we have been going there for almost thirty years. My daughter is attending UNC-Wilmington and I think I've been to OKI every month of the year these last two years. That eight hour drive actually seems a lot shorter now. In fact, my Spring golf trip with the guys is approaching so it's back to OKI. Can't wait!

I will definitely review your book after I read it. I always do that for independent authors. I'm not as good at critiquing but I will try to do that as well if anything comes to mind. If you get a chance to read mine I would welcome both for my book. I'm not sure when my new book will be out; I'm in the rewrite and edit phase which I also call the "hate" phase of an author's love/hate relationship with his writing.

[Bill]

Trying to book a place now for Memorial Day but having trouble finding something pet-friendly for the dog! My brother went to UNCW and I know that town very well. I'll get your book and definitely read/review, although I'm not the fastest reader, particularly when I'm in the midst of writing!

[John]

I've come into this conversation late but if you're still not sorted with your Carl Hiassen-type fix, I have some suggestions.
From my neck of the woods, try A Man You Can Bank On by Derek Hanson, which is Australian crime fiction with a sense of humour.
I read Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All recently. It's written by Swedish writer Jonas Jonasson and it's very quirky and funny.
I'm reading The Lubetkin Legacy by Marina Lewycka at present and that is full of quirky characters. Her first book, A History of Tractors in the Ukranian is as quirky and funny as they come.
Finally, as my friend Lance Carney says, I'm a big fan of Northern Irish writer Colin Bateman. Most of his stuff is quirky. Mystery Man is very funny.
I like Carl Hiassen books too. I discovered him too late to get into his books for kids, but I await his next one for adults