Writers on a New England Stage Presents Carl Hiaasen on June 14

“Does anyone remember what we did for fun before novelist Carl Hiaasen began turning outhis satirical comedies…?” — San Francisco Chronicle 

“America's finest satirical novelist...the blazing conscience of the Sunshine State.”—The Observer

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The Writers on a New England Stage series welcomes #1 New York Times-bestselling author Carl Hiaasen with his fiercely pointed, laughter-guaranteed book, BAD MONKEY, on Friday, June 14, 2013. The 7:30 event includes an author presentation and on-stage interview with Virginia Prescott, host of New Hampshire Public Radio’s “Word of Mouth.”  The series’ houseband Dreadnaught will play live music during the one hour event presented at The Music Hall’s historic theater at 28 Chestnut Street in downtown Portsmouth, NH.

Hailed as “Florida’s most entertainingly indignant social critic,” Carl Hiaasen will engage audiences in some serious fun as he talks about his latest novel, in which the greedy, the corrupt, and the degraders of pristine land in Florida—and the Bahamas, too—get their comeuppance in mordantly ingenious, diabolically humorous fashion.

“I look forward to a night of thrills, titillations, and uncontrollable laughter when we welcome Carl Hiaasen on June 14,” said Margaret Talcott, Associate Producer of Writers on a New England Stage.  “We’re on a roll with humor here at The Music Hall – Hiaasen follows on the heels of fellow Floridian and funny guy Dave Barry, who visited in February; he’s also coming just days after tough guy humorist Steve Schirripa, who will be in the Loft with his laugh out loud book BIG DADDY’S RULES on June 7,” she added.  “Hiaasen’s versatility as a writer—from adults-only thriller-satires to children’s books—is awe-inspiring; his gift for entertaining children of all ages makes this a not-to-miss event!”

ABOUT THE BOOK

Andrew Yancy—late of the Miami Police, soon-to-be-late of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office—has a human arm in his freezer. There's a logical, Hiaasenian explanation for that, but not for how and why it parted from its owner. Yancy thinks the boating-accident/shark-luncheon explanation he’s been handed is full of holes, and if he can prove murder, his commander might relieve him of Health Inspector duties, aka Roach Patrol. But first, Yancy must negotiate and survive an ever-surprising obstacle course of events—from the Keys to Miami to a Bahamian island—with a crew of equally unpredictable characters, including his just-ex lover, a hot-blooded fugitive from Kansas; the twitchy widow of the frozen arm; an avariciously idiotic real estate developer; a voodoo witch whose lovers are blinded-unto-death by her peculiar charms; Yancy's new ‘true love,’ a kinky medical examiner; and the eponymous Bad Monkey, who earns his place among Hiaasen's greatest characters with hilariously wicked aplomb. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carl Hiaasen is a Florida native and Miami Heraldcolumnist. He has written more than 11 novels for adults and children, some of which have been adapted for film, including Strip Tease (1996), starring Demi Moore, andHoot (2006), directed by Wil Shriner and produced by Jimmy Buffett and Frank Marshall. 

Together, Hiaasen's novels have been published in 34 languages, which is 33 more than he is able to read or write. Still, he has reason to believe that all the foreign translations are brilliantly faithful to the original work. The London Observer has called him "America's finest satirical novelist";  Janet Maslin of the New York Times has compared him to Preston Sturges, Woody Allen and S.J. Perelman. 

Book Clubs and High School Guests of The Music Hall 

At each Writers event, The Music Hall hosts local high school students selected by their teachers, who come free of charge to the event and get an opportunity to meet the author.  The Music Hall welcomes local book clubs attending on the night to take part in a drawing to be guests at a private backstage book signing/reception with the featured writer.  For more information on how to join theWriters on a New England Stage book club list and drawing, email Associate Producer Margaret Talcott atmtalcott@themusichall.org.  Interested high school and middle teachers can contact Programming Coordinator Chris Curtis at ccurtis@themusichall.org  

Tickets and Signed Books 

Tickets to Writers on a New England Stage: Carl Hiaasen are $13 ($11 for members of The Music Hall and NH Public Radio).  For each 1-2 tickets sold, the purchase of a book voucher ($30) is required. Vouchers can be redeemed on the night of the event for a signed copy of Hiaasen’s discussed work, BAD MONKEY.  Tickets can be purchased at The Music Hall box office in the Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, or over the phone at 603-436-2400. Tickets and vouchers are not available online for Carl Hiaasen.    

About Writers on a New England Stage 

Writers on a New England Stage was created by executive producer Patricia Lynch, also executive director of The Music Hall, and is presented with New Hampshire Public Radio in collaboration with Yankee magazine. The series’ companion bookstore is RiverRun, in Portsmouth, NH.  Since 2005, the series has spotlighted a broad range of celebrated authors including Salmon Rushdie, Mitch Albom, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dan Brown, Isabel Allende, Stephen King, Ann Patchett, E.L. Doctorow, Madeleine Albright, the late John Updike, Wally Lamb, Jodi Picoult, David McCullough, and Cokie Roberts, among many others. Each author’s presentation is followed by an interview with Virginia Prescott, host of New Hampshire Public Radio’s “Word of Mouth.”  Live music is performed by the award-winning house band Dreadnaught.  The live shows are rebroadcast on New Hampshire Public Radio. 

Music Hall 2012-13 Season Sponsor:  

River House Restaurant 

Writers on a New England Stage Series Sponsors (2012-2013):   

Auger Building Company, Inc.;  Calypso Communications; Grill 28; New England Audio Tech; Piscataqua Landscaping Company; RMC Research Corporation; and Haunted Milk Design. 

Evening Sponsor: S.I.S. Bank