He started as a journalist, working for the Miami Herald for over 20 years. While there, he wrote a satirical column called "Sick!," where he began developing his unique brand of humor and social commentary.
His first novel, "Tourist Season," was published in 1986, and he continued writing novels while simultaneously pursuing his journalism career. However, his success as a novelist eventually led him to focus solely on writing.
Therefore, it's hard to pinpoint a specific moment when he decided to become an author. He likely felt drawn to it through his writing in the "Sick!" column and saw an opportunity to explore his storytelling abilities further.