In the past, people generally believed they could acquire magic in two ways: through learning the craft, either from another practitioner or from books; or through obtaining magic from a powerful being-think Faust or the classic, demonized witch, both of whom get their mojo from Satan.

In my research, what I found most interesting was how common and ordinary magic was to people in the past.

I was always a big Justice League fan. I always loved Batman, Superman - I have a weird Martian Manhunter fixation.

Oh yeah, I grew up with comics. You know, I always like to describe myself as a 'narrative junkie.' I love novels, I love comics, movies, TV. If it's a good story, I'm hooked.

Politics is the enemy of the imagination.

As far as the creative side, the more I do this, the more I know that it's all about the writing. We don't always celebrate that enough, but without the writing, you can't do much. You got on a film sometimes, and it's sort of half-written, and they expect and think that the actor's job is to bring the extra part and the good part. It's not.

Shakespeare fascinated me. He hardly ever left the country. His imagination was worldwide though reading.

I spend a lot of time upside down. It increases the blood flow to the brain, so it really helps your creativity.