The Riverdale visionary opens up about his new novel, Down the Darkest Street.
Heres what he has to say:
To most people, Miami seems like an absolute paradise.
Alex Segura: I think as a resident, you get a different perspective.
Youre not spending every day like its vacation.
You go to class, to work, whatever.
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Like any other big city, Miami has its share of crime and corruption.
It was layered, complex, and had a dark side worth exploring.
Tell us a little bit about the genesis of Pete Fernandez as a character.
So strong that you almost feel like the setting is a character in the book.
Thats where Pete started.
I wanted Pete to be flawed.
I also wanted him to be the kind of person I knew growing up.
Cuban-American, like me, too.
I also wanted him to evolve.
He couldnt be static from book to book.
The Pete youll eventually see in Book 3 is different from the one you meet in Book 1.
That keeps it interesting for me and hopefully for the reader, too.
WithDown the Darkest Streetjust getting released, Petes life is more complicated than ever.
Yeah, things dont get easier for Pete.
I wanted that to be clear from page 1.
But by page one ofDown the Darkest Street, you realize things have just gotten worse.
Those two tracks fuel the story.
To me, the best sequels kind of bask in the world you create with the first installment.
First novels are a lot of setup.
First novels are fun because youre flying blind and learning as you go.
You dont have the novelty anymore with the second one the shine is off.
So you have to keep yourself interested and write the book you want to read.
I also had some trouble putting Pete through the ringer.
I felt bad for the guy!
You get emotionally invested.
I like good stories period.
Funny, dark, sci-fi, crime, literary, what-have-you.
Im drawn to a story that features compelling characters and a twist-y plot.
I just get more of a kick out of crime stories.
Speaking of Dark Circle, how are things going with the imprint?
What is next for it, and what, if any, new titles can we expect?
Im finishing the script as we speak!
I cannot wait to see (illustrator) Giseles take on the band.
Time travel opens a lot of doors.
Thats all Ill say.
Will you be writing any Dark Circle books anytime soon?
Nah, I think thatd be a little strange.
Any parting thoughts for our readers?
I hope you enjoy them.
For more information on Alex Segura, visithttp://www.alexsegura.com.
Chris Cummins is hankering for moreSam Hill: Private Eyecomics.
Visit him on Twitter at @bionicbigfootand @scifiexplosion.
