David,

I would like to reiterate the abundance of well-deserved thanks on this forum.

Your answers are an inspiration to us all.

This is more about you than your magic.

If it's not too personal, I would just like to know what non-magic material you read (ha! as if you have the time) and what music you're into. I have an image of you listening to some East Coast stuff (The Eagles et al; I don't know why. And my Cold Reading is crap so I'm probably way off.

Do you listen to music when you're writing and inventing effects? Is there anything in particular that you find is conducive to the Muse?

My favorite author is Dickens.

I used to have a huge record collection (5,000 or so albums). That was sold off -now I have a bunch of CDs. Love 60's rock. Big Alan Price fan. Love Soap Opera by The Kinks. Love that Jimmy Eats World hit (which sounds like 60's rock). I really like Lit (I listen to almost no new music, to be honest). Van Morrison is great. The Andy Pratt Resolution album, one of the best. Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life. I wanted to be a songwriter when I got out of college.

Are The Eagles East Coast?

When I write anything I like silence, though a good book or movie leaves me inspired, as it does everyone.

No, they're West Coast aren't they! Doh!

Geography was never my forte. I used to think the Falkland Islands were off the coast of Scotland! I forgot to do the "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" or "Naughty Elephants Squirt Water" thing.

Like you, I listen to hardly any new music. There's so much "old" music about to be listened to. 5000 albums???!!! My God, did you have a second property just to keep them in?

Dickens is wonderfully evocotive, although I have a thing for Hardy. So to speak.