The following is an interview with David Flores regarding the recent release of his coming-of-age novel, Control; Alt; Delete: Dr Stundel’s Program to Reboot Your Dangerous Teen. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Flores about his creative experience in bringing the world and characters to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent release of Control; Alt; Delete! For our readers who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the story’s premise?
David Flores: Thank you! The story is about Eddie, a sixteen-year-old high school student who unexpectedly embarks on a journey of self-discovery when he learns from the result of a controversial psychological test that he is predestined to become a homicidal sociopath. He and another societal misfit, Angela, whose test results reveal she will become a nihilist with vendetta fixations, are enrolled in a program to prevent them from being a blight on society. More than just being a humorous and satirical examination of how fear can get the better of us, resulting in extreme safeguards, at its core, it’s about self-identity vs. identity that others in power impose on individuals. It also touches on personal responsibility, forgiveness, and the serenity prayer (… grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference).
BD: What can you tell us about your creative process in not only bringing these incredible characters to life on the page, but in crafting a satirical and thought-provoking story that is accessible to young adult readers?
DF: When I first set out to write this story, its initial iteration was a screenplay. I focused it more as a dark comedic commentary on adults’ misunderstanding of teenagers. It was in the vein of films like Election, Donnie Darko, and Heathers. It wasn’t until I pivoted into writing it as a novel that I discovered it had the potential to be so much more. It was in getting into the heads of the two main characters, Eddie and Angela, that I plugged into those familiar feelings of inadequacy and awkwardness back when I was a teenager: not knowing who I was, how people perceived me, or, at times, feeling invisible. I was incredibly introspective, sometimes to a maddening extent, especially when it came to my own identity. It was in this way I channeled these, I believe, universal truths about young adulthood that enabled me to connect with these characters on a deeper level. Instead of presenting it in a strictly dramatic narrative form, I chose to play with some of the absurd aspects of what it means to be a teen: I tend to lean into the humor of these uncomfortable moments as it relates to the human condition.
BD: Do you foresee revisiting the Control; Alt; Delete world or its characters for future novels, or expanding the story into other entertainment mediums?
DF: My objective in writing the book was to breathe life into a screenplay I felt would never be made into a feature. I love the story and ultimately decided it was better suited to be a novel. And because it’s a novel, I suspect there are more stories that can be told for some of the characters I’ve created. Particularly, one character that can be the focus of an entire book. As far as expanding into other entertainment mediums, I can see Control; Alt; Delete as a limited television series. There’s so much going on, with a rich backstory to the history of the psychological test that an eight-episode arc could work.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Eddie and Angela’s story may connect with and impact readers?
DF: Such a great question! On the surface, the book may be perceived as irreverent and sardonic–it provocatively delves into school violence, bullying, and those who display ugly and questionable ethics–but there is an inherent optimism I see in it. Eddie and Angela learn so much about themselves from the challenges placed on them by Dr. Stundel, the presumably well-meaning antagonist. Being in a program to correct them as a form of conversion therapy, the two find themselves questioning their self-perceptions of who they were, are, and who they will become. It’s this self-examination and eventual maturation I hope young adults who read the book will find value in. The adult in the story, Dr Stundel, who is an “expert” in school safety, represents the authority figure that you find in many young people’s lives: these individuals of status we are instructed not to question. The book points to the premise of questioning everything, even if the evidence presented appears irrefutably sound. Because of that, and so much more, this book can appeal not just to young adults but certainly to older readers as well.
BD: Are there any projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
DF: Currently, I’m illustrating a graphic novel that I co-created with my writing partner Jarod Hunter Roe. Together, we released the graphic novel series, The InSpectres Volume One and The InSpectres Volume Two, published by Blue Fox Comics, and will be releasing another comic series called Do Not Disturb published by Invader Comics. I’ve also been commissioned to illustrate a graphic novel based on a wonderful script from two amazing writers. It’ll be a busy year, which I’m very excited about.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Control; Alt; Delete and your other work?
DF: The book is available in eBook and paperback on Amazon. In the coming months, it will also be available on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books. You can connect with me on Goodreads, where you can find more information about Control; Alt; Delete, as well as other books I’ve worked on. You can also subscribe to Monkie Business, my Substack publication. There, I discuss my process in writing, illustration, and graphic novels.
