The good part of aging is that you read more and more. You discover poets you never heard of when you were younger.

To me, part of what I love about puzzles is that they fuel my curiosity and I’d say curiosity and gratitude are my two favorite virtues. My last book was about gratitude; this book is all about curiosity. Curiosity is what drives puzzlers. They’re like, ‘Why is it? What is it?’

Number two I’d say to young people, be curious.

In that brief transition time, it felt like the question to ask yourself is what is the biggest learning opportunity? Where can I grow more?

I know what I’m doing when I’m doing it but I almost don’t know what I’m doing when I’m doing it.

I don’t want my children to look at Netflix and see me on screen in the arms of someone who’s not their dad.

Whenever we went out to dinner or a party, especially when I had a temper tantrum, drawing was the remedy of choice. It only calmed me down. [Laughs] It still does.

Yes. Although I acted early on, I always wanted to be a painter.

I know when it’s completed but I don’t have a formula for this.

I can start from any space when I feel it and find my way back from there.