The importance and influence of books on me has been cumulative: the result of hearing and reading lots of stories about interesting people and places.

It took a brave editor in the U.S. to sign a contract for Dancing Girls, and without her belief in the book, I'm not sure it would ever have found its way into print.

I don't envy men and I certainly wouldn't like to become one now.

Much of my reading time over the last decade and a half has been spent reading aloud to my children. Those children's bedtime rituals of supper, bath, stories, and sleep have been a staple of my life and some of the best, most special times I can remember.

Don't call 'em dogs. Dogs are loyal and they run after balls.

The importance and influence of books on me has been cumulative: the result of hearing and reading lots of stories about interesting people and places.

Every year I teach dozens of students at the University of Birmingham. Most of the students on the gender and sexuality courses are women. I guess this is because the boys don't think that gender applies to them: that it's a subject for girls.