‘ll keep answering them as long as you keep asking them.

I’m easy that way.

What inspired “Bitter Kiss of the Ronin’s Cup”? by cmdln

My own love of coffee and samurai tales, mainly. But the germ of the idea came from thinking about the future, and how we might eat on other worlds. We’re getting very good at mimicking flavors and textures, but there are some things I believe we will never get right. Coffee has such a complex flavor, tied to not only its freshness but also the surrounding in which it was grown. So it follows that these sorts of food would be the ultimate status symbol in a place where they could not be grown. Anything is luxury if you can’t get it. Coffee, originally a peasant brew used by goat herders to keep themselves awake, makes an eloquent commentary on that.

Also, as a former barrista, I feel it’s important to celebrate the craft.

How did you become so manly, Jared? by ctmiller

By not being afraid to flaunt my feminine side. Nothing more manly than a dude comfortable in his own skin.

What infuriates you?

Story bibles. They are the most seductive possible way to keep you from finishing a story. Unless you are planning a collaborative work of fiction, story bibles are distraction at best and a absolutely useless at worst. If your story is so needless complex that you need a document OTHER than your story to keep track of it, you need help that a story bible can’t fix.

I hate it when people say that they haven’t finished their first draft because they’ve been working on their story bible. HATE. Burn It With Fire hate.

Story bibles are essentially masturbation. Sure, it feels good when you’re doing it, but in the end, you’re just left with a mess you don’t want anyone to see.

If you were forced to choose, what would be your preferred method of time travel? TARDIS, Delorean, going to warp speed around a star, hot tub, etc? by chrismorse

I’ve never seen the show, but there’s no classier mode of chronological transport than the Omni from VOYAGERS. Made of shining brass and containing a highly detailed globe, the Omni clips easily to one’s belt, conveniently accessible in times of need. An accessory that’s also a vehicle, few time machines are more precise, or more stylish.

If you could make your friends do one thing, create one mighty and wonderful thing together, what would you make them do? (This is in some kind of ideal world where no matter what you choose they are all happy to do it.)

We’d found a nation. Preferably an island one. You know, for the beaches. But if the land mass was big enough that it had beaches on two sides, I’ll settle.

I wouldn’t have to be president, of course. It would be enough for me to be a Founding Father.

What gave you the idea to start a webcomic?

I’ve always wanted to do a comic strip. Since I was, like, 9. I drew several, but could never dig in for the long haul. When Mur asked me to do some stuff for ISBW, the first thing I thought of was a comic strip. I’d been wanting to work with Natalie for ages, so it all worked out.

9-year-old Jared would be very pleased with 29-year-old Jared. Not only am I writing a webcomic, but I also have a really awesome Batman costume.

Why do you think your opinions on fashion are considered by some to be controversial? (I don’t)

I’m assuming that it comes from me says that a t-shirt with someone else’s saying on it doesn’t really say as much about a person as one would think. That and people have gotten upset with me saying that they dress like children.

Which, you know, I can understand. No one wants to be told that. But I pass an elementary school every day, and all I see are kids dressed in jeans and t-shirts.

This is not to say that I don’t wear jeans and t-shirts. I do. When I’m playing.

What DC comics superhero do you most want to write? And which Marvel superhero?

I’ve said in the past that all I really want to play with is my own toys. I also seriously doubt that either company would give me theirs to play with, as what I mainly want to do is break them. I love reading classic superhero stories, but that’s not what I really like writing, y’know?

That said? Lois Lane and Blade.

what is your latest Cooking Adventure?

My main quest is the mastery of cacio e pepe, a pasta dish so simple it’s infuriating. All it is is cheese, pepper and pasta, but devil is truly in the details with this bad boy. Mix the cheese wrong, and you’re left with a gloppy mess. Mix right, and you’ve got heaven on a plate.

I think I’ve figured out the secret. But I’ll need another run at it to be sure.