SmokeLong Quarterly

Okay, let’s get this out of the way: Have you ever eaten anybody?

Not yet.

Why do people find it so hard to walk away, but instead, see things through?

Sometimes it’s really hard to walk away from what you’re used to, especially if you think it won’t be better anywhere else.

Need some advice: Do you ever drain the grease when crockpotting, or do you let it become part of the dish?

I am a rule follower, so I follow the recipe directions to the letter. Whatever the recipe says and, if it doesn’t, leave it in.

When I chose your story, the other editors and I had a talk about motivation, that perhaps we needed more here (from the protagonist, not the husband). I actually liked it a lot better without, especially in a short. Now that the story’s been posted, what do you think? As in, why?

The question of motivation definitely came up more than a few times when workshopping this story, but I always felt very strongly from the beginning that I should never explain it. So, my answer is: I don’t know for sure! All I know is that she does have a motive and that it’s probably a pretty good one.

What goes better with husband, red or white wine? Or perhaps it’s beer—maybe a pilsner or a wheat? I’m having trouble pinning down the flavor profile.

Through process of elimination, I’m thinking a red, if only for ambiance.