Broke-Ass Stuart is not poor. He's broke. And there's a difference, he says. "Being broke is not having money -- being poor is a state of things." That means that a very large percentage of SF State students can relate to Stuart and his broke ass. "Broke-Ass Stuart's Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco" (Seven Footer Press, 2007) is available at many local bookstores.

[X]press: So, you're from San Diego. What brought you to San Francisco?
Broke-Ass Stuart: I went to school in Santa Cruz and this was the next logical step after that. I've been here ever since.

[X]: You've written two well-received books. Are you still broke?
B-AS: Hell yeah. You don't get into selling books because you think you'll become a millionaire. I got my first royalty check the other day, which was pretty nice after a year and a half. It was pretty underwhelming, but that's what it is. So yes, I am still woefully broke.

[X]: What inspired you to write the books, then?
B-AS: It started out as a zine and it was really popular, as far as zines go. I had done some writing for Lonely Planet and I came back and was like, "I'm tired of doing zines, I wanna do this s--- for real, like a real book." I had done all of the distribution, selling it out of my backpack, you know? [It was] all distribution by foot and mass transit and it was driving me crazy. I eventually found a book deal on Craigslist. It's like some Cinderella s---.

[X]: Who did you write these books for?
B-AS: The young, broke and beautiful, baby -- for anybody who values going out and having a good time and enjoying their life while not spending a lot of money. Sure, it's about cheap places, but it's really a culture of enjoying your life -- not what you have but what you do. Anybody who likes dirty words and cheap stuff will like my book.

[X]: OK, then who shouldn't read them?
B-AS: People offended by bad words.

[X]: Why did you write the book on New York City and not another city?
B-AS: It was the next logical step. I'm all about logical steps. I mean, where else would I do it? For me, being successful in New York meant I was doing the right thing.

[X]: So has the exposure ruined any of the free things you've written about?
B-AS: No, I don't think so. I don't think there are going to be hordes of people flocking [to these places] at a single time. If anything, it'll add business to the people who deserve it. Or don't deserve it. I'm honest about places -- if it's s----y, but cheap, I'm like, "Hey, it's s----y, but it's cheap." I hope it hasn't ruined anything.

[X]: What's your favorite thing to do for free in San Francisco?
B-AS: Bay to Breakers, that's my favorite thing in the world, and I'm a little worried right now. They aren't gonna allow nudity, alcohol or floats. It's like, what the f--- is it then, just another race? Bay to Breakers is possibly one of my favorite days of the year. It's like Mardi Gras, but moving. It's the essence of San Francisco in so many ways.

[X]: You've written about San Francisco and New York City. Which city is better?
B-AS: My heart is in San Francisco, for me at least. New York is not the chick that got away, it's the chick you never had a chance of getting in the first place. She's mean and she's better than you. But San Francisco is like my wife, and I love her and I always come back, you know? New York is the cool mistress.

[X]: What are your plans for the future?
B-AS: I'm in the process of really expanding my web presence right now. We're gonna re-launch my website in like two or three weeks. I've had a website for years, but it's always been in support of the book. But now it'll have tons more content and lots of features. It's gonna be something that people will want to go back to all the time.

[X]: OK, so will you ever be rich?
B-AS: I certainly f-----g hope so. I wouldn't mind being called the Artist Formerly-Known as Broke-Ass Stuart.