November Genii Speak

A little over a year ago, Richard Kaufman (Genii’s previous editor for about a quarter of a century) contacted me and asked a favor. He’d already told me that he was going to be retiring as executive editor. “Would you consider stepping in, as interim executive editor, and set up the new Genii with the new team?” Richard asked me for a one-year commitment. That was the job. He was anxious to retire, and he knew that he had to find someone who would be willing to take on that specific task. I didn’t have to think about it for very long. It was an exciting project, and the “interim” position made it all very workable and interesting.

But that means that there’s been a ticking clock inside of our genie lamp. For a few months, we fretted about finding someone who could step into the executive editor job for the long term. But after a few conversations we found the perfect editor.

I’m extremely proud to introduce your new executive editor—our first choice and the new Genii team leader—Will Houstoun. Will is an old friend, which is a funny way to say that he’s a young guy who I’ve known for a number of years. He’s a brilliant writer, magician, and magic consultant based out of London, England. He’s a scholar in our art (his doctoral thesis was about Professor Hoffmann).

But don’t be intimidated by any of that. He’s a charming, funny, and remarkably perceptive expert in magic. And starting with the March 2026 issue, he will become your new executive editor.

I say “perfect editor” with assurance, as most amazingly, for the last 13 years Will has been the editor of one of magic’s most prestigious publications, The Magic Circular. When it comes to producing a magazine, he knows what he’s doing, and he’s been doing it for thousands of devoted magicians around the world. All of us at Genii are thrilled that Will has agreed to take a seat in the captain’s chair. (OK, right, we’re going to move that particular chair to the U.K.) He’ll be drawing upon his years of editing to be a part of this magazine’s legacy. Will’s been very interested in the new approach that Genii has been taking, and we’ve been really thrilled to hear about his ideas and approaches to our art.

In the next few months, you’ll get to know Will much better, and in March 2026, I know that you’ll all appreciate his experience and expertise. Oh, one more thing… since you’ll soon be friends, I’d like to explain (for those of you who have visited Texas), Will Houstoun spells the name a bit differently, and doesn’t pronounce it as “HEWS-tun.” Will pronounces it, “HOOS-tun.”

Be sure to check out this month’s Genii Speak video, below, where I’ll introduce you to Will. I’ll also say hello to columnist Lindsay Benner, who is in this month’s issue with an amazing essay about a very tough subject: finding an authentic voice on stage.

The November issue will also introduce you to a number of new friends. You may have used the Conjuring Archive, but you should know more about the amazing magician behind that online effort. Denis Behr has been performing and writing about magic for most of his life. Richard Hatch provides the profile of this magician… and maybe Denis really is “The Most Interesting Man in
Magic.”

Another new friend to many will be David Merlini, a Hungarian escape artist who made his name performing daring, dangerous escape acts, and found his calling with a birthplace museum for Harry Houdini. Merlini’s story is told by John Lovick, who had a chance to interview him in Budapest. John Gaughan and Gay Blackstone provide additional perspectives: “David Merlini and the Legacy of Houdini.”

Finally, you’ll be fascinated to see the work of Manuel Rosenberg—“Rosie” to his newspaper friends through most of his career. His story has been told by his great niece, Anita Rosenberg, using his archive of drawings and his written accounts of celebrities. Who was Manuel Rosenberg? Let’s just say that Rosie was a deft artist whose work enhanced the pages of the Cincinnati Post. And it seems that he happened to meet a magician or two over the years: “A Sketchbook of Spiritualists and Magicians.”

From our editor Chloe Olewitz, who assembled the beautiful two-page feature at the back of the magazine: This month’s photo essay features Piero Venesia’s Tailor Act, a beautiful piece I’ve loved a little more each time I’ve seen him perform it. 

In collaboration with his friend and director Andrea Rizzolini, Piero searched for a dramatic way to represent the Needle Swallow with a logical premise. Framing himself as a tailor flanked by his sewing table gave him a reason to put the needle in his mouth to begin with. “I’m a strong believer that creative teamwork is an incredibly prolific way to create art, and it’s something that is usually overlooked with FISM-winning acts,” Piero told Genii. He took second place in Parlor Magic at FISM this year.

Alba explains why you’re longing for a certain kind of audience, and who that is. Annanya George explains a project “in the works,” and his inspirations for getting it over the finish line. Nikola Arkane discusses—briefly—removing her thumb in the Genii Questionnaire—or maybe she refuses to discuss it.

There’s Doug Henning and Dai Vernon at The Magic Castle; a visit to 69 Atlantic, and David Kaye’s discoveries in his pockets. Boyce and Holtzclaw are back discussing the attitude that surrounds the magic onstage.

Don’t miss a sensational magic section, starting off with Luis Olmedo in Richard Kaufman’s Magicana (and if you are inspired, you will want to check out Derrin Berger’s review of Olmedo’s Masterclass). Abby Segal is back with a delightful (and beautifully explained) version of Oswald Rae’s Hold Up. Roberto Mansilla offers an elegant stand-up prediction effect. Blake Vogt and Eric Stonestreet chat as they work out a new trick.

And then, in the back pages of this issue, John Gaughan tells you about a mysterious goddess named Isis, and comic book writer Mark Waid explains his interest in magic.

Next month, December, our magic editor Noah Levine has organized a particularly magic-heavy assortment—to celebrate the forthcoming publication of a special book. We’ve started work early! It’s going to be a memorable issue and an important look at magic. See you then.