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I'm a little slow on the uptake, as I just discovered this thread from October. But thank you, Shelley.
Edbro, John D. MacDonald was a huge influence on my writing. Many reviews of the early Lassiter novels said things like "Jake Lassiter is Travis McGee with a law degree." (L.A. Times, if I remember correctly). In the mid-1990's, I was the second winner (after Elmore Leonard) of the John D. MacDonald Award for Florida fiction, something that's very meaningful to me.
The first line of JDM's "Cinnamon Skin" haunts me still. "There are no 100 per cent heroes." It's always been my touchstone for creating a protagonist.
No doubt in my mind that my old pals Carl Hiaasen and James W. Hall also credit JDM as a major influence.
Thanks.
Paul Levine
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