As the weather starts to change the road beckons and so Alexander McCall Smith travelled from his Edinburgh home to the south and south west of England for a short September tour to meet readers. Where did we go? Alexander – and his publicist Jan Rutherford – started out in the early hours of Thursday […]

Have you ever wanted to know more about Mma Ramotswe’s Botswana? Delve into this exciting new podcast and explore the world of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective, her friends, and her important places. As you listen to the episodes you will be transported between McCall Smith’s fictional world and the true Botswana. You will meet […]

After a few months of delay due to his hectic schedule, Alexander McCall Smith has received the Saltire Lifetime Achievement Award from the prestigious Saltire Society. The presentation took place on Saturday at the Society’s HQ in Edinburgh and was attended by many who have been heavily involved in Scottish culture and society over the years. The […]

Congratulations to Alexander McCall Smith who turns a very youthful 75 today. We wish him a wonderful day visiting Cafe Canna, a fabulous restaurant on the remote Hebridean island of Canna. May the sun shine on you Sandy. Alexander has had an incredibly busy week in the run up to this, his 75 th birthday. […]

On 6 July 2023, His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla toured The Great Tapestry of Scotland in its purpose built gallery in Galashiels. They were introduced to Alexander McCall Smith, Alistair Moffat and artist Andrew Crummy who all worked on the project along with Jan Rutherford, project director for the initial […]

Alexander McCall Smith delighted more than 1500 readers at his UK event this week at Hay Festival on the Welsh / English border, in conversation with journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Lang (much missed from the BBC’s Front Row). The sun shone down, and as the crowds gathered, ripples of conversation, laughter and applause escaping from […]

‘The King gave a Dinner Party at Windsor Castle this evening. From the Royal Court Circular, the following were invited: His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway and the Reverend Dr. Strømmen, His Excellency the High Commissioner for Canada and Mrs. Kendel-Goodale, the Bishop of Coventry and Mrs. Christopher Cocksworth, the Lord and […]

Alexander has had a grand time having fun in the sun in Australia, meeting readers and fellow writers at sold out events across the country. Huge thanks to the teams at Hachette and NewSouthBooks and to all the festival directors and journalists he met along the way. But of course the biggest thanks go to […]

On Memory – very special event at King’s Place, London on 27 May The celebrated author Alexander McCall Smith asks, ‘how do memories make us who we are?’ The answer comes in music – by Harry Whalley – and poetry and scientific exploration informed by neurologist Professor Adam Zeman. Joined by the acclaimed Gildas String Quartet and Soprano Sarah Dacey each movement explores a different […]

Movieweb has charted the HBO/BBC film of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency at number 2 in their Top 13 Lesser Known HBO Series That Are Worth Revisiting: ‘Step into the colourful world of Botswana with The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Based on Alexander McCall Smith’s bestselling series of novels, this delightful show follows the adventures […]

Alexander McCall Smith is travelling in Australia at present, touring literary festivals and doing the full round of media interviews. As he travels he is writing, and now he can reveal what is coming up in the next book in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, From a Far and Lovely Country. Pop the kettle on […]

Alexander’s book, The Private Life of Spies, has been swooped on by the The Australian newspaper as a ‘recommended book for ASIO [Australian Security Intelligence Organisation] boss Mike Burgess… to give to hostile embassies’. A delightful review, written by Charles Wooley (a journalist who lives on a beach in Tasmania), points out that unexpected events […]