Five on Friday - Alex Segura

Happy Friday, friends! I hope today finds you happy, healthy and stocked up on good reading material. It is, after all, a holiday weekend, which means extra time for reading, right?

A couple odds and ends to share with you quickly. First I was sad to see this. While I'm certain Longmire will be able to find a new home, it was unfortunate that Warner and A&E couldn't come to a mutual agreement.

Next, I wanted to let you know that starting next week, Mondays will be dedicated to non-crime fiction books and topics. Since I'm reviewing a lot more non-crime fiction for Shelf Awareness and there have been other books I'm interested in come to my attention recently, I wanted to have a day specifically for that kind of coverage. It may be that I need another blog altogether for that content, but for right now I want to try one day a week on here. Keeping up with just this blog is work enough! But, I hope you'll check out those posts as well as the crime fiction stuff. However, if you're a purist and don't want to venture outside the realm, you now know Mondays will be different content.

For those anticipating the Gone Girl movie. Here's a new trailer.

Craig Sisterson who runs the Crime Watch blog down under invited me to participate in his "First Taste" series. I got to pick a series character and write about my first reading experience with him/her. I chose Walt Longmire--what can I say, he sent me the request while I was in Wyoming, so of course it was my first thought. Anyway, you can read my contribution to his series here.

I do believe that's it for my odds and ends this week. Now let me do a rundown of contests/sweepstakes. I have a couple extras this week so here you go:

Win and advanced copy of Consumed by David Cronenberg from Simon & Schuster.

Win admission for an early screening of Dennis Lehane's upcoming The Drop. The screenings are in Chicago, Boston, Houston, San Francisco, New York and Washington DC, so if you're not in one of those areas, sorry--neither am I if it makes you feel any better.

At Criminal Element this week you can find the "Thrillers and Killers" sweepstakes. Seven books in that prize bundle!

And since I'm writing this before Lesa is posting her new contest, I don't have the details, but be sure to stop over to her site and see what fun she has in store this week!

And now on to our Five on Friday. Alex Segura published his first novel, Silent City, but he's not new to the publishing industry. He's also been involved in the comic side of publishing for some time. In fact, he wrote the Archie Meets Kiss storyline and graphic novel. I've had a couple of splendid opportunities to meet Alex in person and he's been reading at some NYC Noir at the Bar events. Sadly I haven't been at those, I just see the pictures afterward *sob*.

So, if you would be so kind as to help me, let's welcome Alex Segura!

Better not mess with Alex. He's got friends in capes!

1. The last book I recommended to someone was: I was just talking to a friend of mine over email about Megan Abbott. He was asking if he should check out THE FEVER, her new novel, to which I responded: “YOU SHOULD READ ALL HER BOOKS.” She’s that good. You can’t go wrong. I suggested Megan’s work because I’ve never been let down by her writing – she’s so deftly brought the noir sensibility to modern storytelling I’m in awe of her work. Her prose is masterful and I’m jealous of anyone reading her work for the first time. I’ve also been loving anything Kelly Braffet writes, and I suggest her to anyone looking for a good read.

2. My biggest pet peeve is: I get really grumpy when people are rude – to me, strangers, etc. My commute to work is a bit long, so I get to see a wide range of people on my way there and it really runs the gamut. I just think the world would be a better place if more people opened doors for each other, or offered up their seats or didn’t cut in line. Commuting is a weird microcosm for the world, I think. You get people at their best and worst together.

3. My favorite toppings on a pizza are: Pizza is a rare treat for me, being vegan, so if I find a place with a vegan pizza option, I’m very happy. So, I guess by default my favorite topping has become any kind of cheese/dairy alternative. Exciting, right?

4. My favorite t-shirt is: I have this LCD Soundsystem shirt I bought while at one of their final shows at Terminal 5 in NYC – a terrible venue, but they put on an amazing show. The shirt itself is pretty neat looking and extremely comfortable – a rare combo for a band show shirt.

The #1 item on my bucket list right now is: I’d really like to visit Cuba, which is where my parents were born. It’s such a part of my personal and cultural history, and I want to spend some real time there and explore where my parents and grandparents grew up. It also strikes me as a great setting for a crime novel, so maybe I can chalk it all up to research! 

Exactly! Research and a tax write-off. Creative thinking on Alex's part! And I'm on the exact same page as Alex about rudeness. I, however, have no commute. So now when I have to venture out of my hobbit hole, I'm acutely aware of rudeness all around.

Thanks so much to Alex for taking time out with us. You can learn more about Alex at his website and find all his social media links there. But I'm going to personally recommend you follow Alex on Twitter where I know first-hand that he's enjoyable to interact with.  

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, my friends. Happy reading!