Best birthday present: "A spider monkey for my 13th birthday. Franklin was his name. It was the neatest thing that ever happened to me -- until he bit my ear off. Then we had to get rid of him."
First thing you remember writing: "I don't know what I wrote. At the age of 10, I taught myself to type and right after that I wrote something typing it. I loved doing that."
Best subject in school: "Math and science, by far, and music."
Instruments you play: Bass, rhythm guitar and piano. ("If you take piano lessons as a kid, don't quit.")
Worst subject in school: "History. It's one of my biggest interests now as an adult."
Favorite book: "As a very tiny child, 'Harold and the Purple Crayon.' I love the idea that you can draw your world and live in it. I do that nine hours a day now."
