The following is an interview with two-time Anthony Award-winning crime novelist Jason Starr regarding the upcoming release of the science fiction thriller, The Next Time I Die, from award-winning publisher Hard Case Crime. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Starr about tackling the sci-fi genre in his prose work, why Hard Case Crime serves as the perfect home for the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Next Time I Die! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the premise of this story?
Jason Starr: The Next Time I Die is about a New York-based defense attorney who intervenes trying to stop a crime, and winds up getting stabbed in the gut. He should’ve died from his wound, but instead he finds himself living in a new reality, somewhere between Philip K. Dick and The Twilight Zone.
BD: You’ve previously taken on sci-fi themes in your comic book work with DC and Marvel. What intrigued you about tackling this genre with your latest novel?
JS: Yeah, I’ve delved into sci-fi before in my Wolverine comics, my Ant-Man novel, and my Gotham tie-in novels, but it’s never something I’ve done in an original novel—until now! I’ve been a Philip K. Dick fan for years, and I love alternate reality stories, so I wanted to do my spin on the genre. While The Next Time I Die has sci-fi themes, it’s also a crime thriller. It really depends on your mindset and how you interpret the story.
BD: What makes Hard Case Crime the perfect home for The Next Time I Die?
JS: I’ve had a long relationship with Hard Case Crime. They published my crime novel, Fake I.D., as well four novels that I co-wrote with Irish novelist, Ken Bruen. They rarely publish books with sci-fi and fantasy elements, but they have done it before with novels by Stephen King, Michael Crichton, and Ray Bradbury. I think Hard Case Crime sees The Next Time I Die the same way I do—as a book that straddles the science fiction and mystery/thriller genres.
BD: Do you foresee expanding the characters or world of this story into subsequent books or even into other entertainment mediums?
JS: The Next Time I Die is currently in development for film/TV with Gil Adler (Valkyrie, Superman Returns) executive producing. I definitely see it as a potential TV series. I’ve mulled writing a sequel to the book—we shall see!
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 this story will connect with readers?
JS: I’d recommend that book to anyone who is looking for a summer beach read, whether you’re into crime thrillers or sci-fi thrillers. I think there is a big “high concept” to this book and there are a lot of twists, which makes it appealing to fans of my comics as well. If you’ve read my comics before but haven’t read my novels, The Next Time I Die is the one to start with.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
JS: I have a few TV projects in the works—stay tuned for more details. I love to hear from readers. Definitely reach out and let me know what you think of The Next Time I Die on Twitter and Instagram: @JasonStarrBooks and at www.jasonstarr.com.
