Author's note: Yes! Webnovel let me know that we're going to be hosted on Fresh Stories!
I'm so honored that so many people are loving this novel! I think I'm going to answer some more audience questions.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for this novel?
A: I knew I wanted to have a magic system that was logically consistent and had zero ass pulls or bullshit.
I also was reading lots of "good" novels (Harry Potter, Jane Austen) and wanted to show them how it was done.
As for the interesting mechanic… Well, you don't want to read about the same old types of power that are in every work, right? I knew I had to create a wholly original ability. It's also the type of magic I wish I had sometimes—I could have ended so many horrible dates sooner rather than later! Imagine if I was on a date with a girl and could see that she had… you know… just yesterday? I'd know to leave right then and there.
Also—if a woman makes me wait more than fifteen minutes at a first date, without warning, like "sorry, I'm gonna be late," etc., I ghost. No respect given, no respect returned IMO.
Also no talking about money. I'm supposed to figure out if we like each other, not how much she can milk me.
There is also a phenomenon, I've observed, where girls on apps like Tinder and such swipe on you, but only go out with you if you choose a fancy restaurant, then eat and dump you. Too bad, I never pay on a first date. I split the bill.
As for where I've obtained this information: I have female friends—sadly, none of them are hot, but they're not ugly either. Also, I have a great first date tactic.
I always act like we're never going to see each other again. That way, I can "self delude" to not be tense and be myself instead of worrying "omg what will she think."
Q: What books do you like to read?
A: It's ironic but most published books are barely worth reading. I was reading this book that was supposed to be the "Harry Potter for adults" and it was horrible. First of all, the author uses really odd words that I've never found in other books. It's like he's screaming the whole time "I have a major in English literature you dimwit!"
I had to read about a guy giving a blowjob just because the author wanted to make readers know he was inclusive. But the scene had no plot relevance at all. I don't get this stuff. I mean, I never introduce myself stating my sexual preferences, but in "inclusive" works author need to make sure you know there are all kinds of people
Like, I'm all in for a transgender character, a gay character, a whatever character, if it has a meaning to the plot or their character development, but someone saying, "Hi, my name is XYZ and I'm bi with a preference for men" sounds utterly idiotic.
This SJW trend is bizarre to me. I was playing this game recently that was an awesome Metroidvania but it was absolutely ruined by the fact that everyone was LGBQIA+. And the only white cis male was basically Hitler.
Q: What medium do you most want to see Digital Infinity adapted into?
A: Digital Infinity would make an awesome video game! I imagine it would be a particularly good real-time strategy game.
I just have no faith in the games industry anymore. Especially their adaptations.
I was watching The Last of Us and it was just filler. Especially episode three, which the writers even admitted was just an excuse to force us to watch a gay love story.
Q: What kind of cat is Pumpernickel?
Pumpernickel is a black cat. I feel bad but she kept sitting on my chest and I couldn't even write so I had to take her out of the room and close the door. I can hear her rubbing her paws against the door.
Q: What do you think of the girl from Squid Game?
A: Flat, square jaw; thin as a straw; a solid 3/10. There are so many videos of pretty Korean girls that without makeup are straight-up monsters. They have mastered the art of making a literal mask of makeup.
Q: Who inspired Mario from Chapter Six, "Sin and Punishment"?
A: My cousin, Ezio, is homosexual. In my country—my country before I came to America—we call "top" and "bottom" attivo and passivo.
Many of my works were originally written in my native language. This is my first work in English. English is very precise, more precise than my native tongue, though not as beautiful. But it is difficult to know all the idioms. If there are any errors in my English usage, please let me know in the #corrections text channel.
Q: What kind of music do you like?
A: I don't like music.
Q: What is your advice to aspiring authors?
A: If you want to go big, you have only two choices. One, write something you like, that you believe in, and hope to meet people's tastes and expectations. Two, write something terribly cliche that is sure to meet people's tastes and expectations. Digital Infinity belongs to the first category, but there are plenty of books that fall into the second category. I can't write shit knowing it's shit, so the first category was my only option.
Q: What does Cassandra's power represent?
A: Cassandra's power doesn't represent anything. I have no respect for readers who hear that a curtain is blue and assume that it means the character is depressed or something. If I wanted to say something, I would have said it in an author's note. I'm not here to waste anyone's time with filler or "English literature major" bullshit.
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
A: The amount of works with zero merit that are constantly published.