What do you do for a living?

Create graphic novels; write/illustrate books for adults and children and anyone in between.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing that.

Herpetologist, because I love mucking around in ponds.

What do you do in your free time?

In the rainy season, I hunt king boletes and candy caps. In the dry season, I draw outdoors.

What brought you to Santa Cruz?

UCSC mascot, the Banana Slug.

What's your favorite street?

Empire Grade.

Name something you're excited about.

Forget Sorrow, my graphic memoir published this month by W.W. Norton. It took 14 years to complete.

Name a pet peeve.

Americans are no longer makers. We don't need one more financial adviser, thank you.

What are you reading?

Caesar and Christianity by Will Durant; also Forbidden Nation, a history of Taiwan.

What's the most important thing you've learned in the last three years?

Being able to say, "No. I am going to disappear," so I can protect my solitude.

Recent personal food trend?

I've just discovered Chinese.

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