Laferrière published his first novel, Comment faire l'amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer [How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired] in 1985. The novel was later adapted into a screenplay by Laferrière and Richard Sadler, and earned a Genie Award nomination for best adapted screenplay in 1990. His short stories have also been adapted into the recent film Heading South. He received the Prix Médicis for L’énigme du retour. Laferrière divides his time between Montreal, Quebec, and Miami.