I always knew I had this voice, but it wasn't until I was in my 20s that I realized I had the power to do something with it.

The world is full of magical places, and the library has always been one of them for me. A library can be that special place for our children.

I think I'm one of the very lucky ladies.

All careers go up and down like friendships, like marriages, like anything else, and you can't bat a thousand all the time.

Can I give them what they think they're going to get from me? That's always the big question.

Sadly I don't sing. I missed it for a long time, but my daughter Emma said something wonderful when I was feeling blue one day: "Mom, you've just found a different way of using your voice, and that's with your books." In a way, she's right. It's just a different way of expressing what I feel about music, individuality, art and all the things I've always loved.

I am a liberated woman. And I do believe if a woman does equal work she should be paid equal money. But personally I am feminine and I do like male authority to lean on.