I really struggled, growing up, with reading and writing. I had a hard time to do that, but I was really passionate about storytelling and about books.

When you're growing up with a learning disability, it shoots your confidence and belief in what you can accomplish academically; it really damages it.

It can't be articulated enough, that feminism means the desire to have equality between men and women. I believe that, and I act on those beliefs by going to marches and making a difference where I can.

Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in male characters.

My focus is mainly on education. I believe education made all the difference for me, and it is certainly going to make all the difference for other children, too.

I was born in Edinburgh, in Scotland, a few days after the end of the Second World War. Both my parents had left school at a very young age, unwillingly in my father's case. Yet both had deep effects on my education, my father influencing me toward measurement and mathematics, and my mother toward writing and history.

I wanted to study at the Art Students League in New York when I was young, but I didn't have the money. Then I was fortunate enough to become Johnny Cougar Mellencamp. At the time, I thought I'd make a couple of records and get back to painting. It never dawned on me that I'd be 64 years old and still making music.

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.