Louise Brown

“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.”

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

“When dad told me Mr Steptoe had passed away, I broke down.”

“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.”

“I like many types of music and probably too many to mention here.”

“Never give up. And most importantly, be true to yourself. Write from your heart, in your own voice, and about what you believe in.”

“When I was a child and teenager I read whenever I had the opportunity, but since then I've found it hard to read as much as I'd like, children, work, and pets all providing powerful incentives to escape into a book and a practical reason why I rarely do so.”

“The richest most meaningful stories are found in small places: made, carried, crafted, told, and retold by apparently unimportant people.”

“I never felt any different from anyone else though.”