Dear Readers,   A book with the title From a Far and Lovely Country could come from a number of countries fitting that description, but this one happens to come from Botswana. And in my mind, that is exactly what Botswana is – a land that may be far from many of those who read […]

August 2023 Dear Readers, It is now twenty-five years since the first book in the Mma Ramotswe series was published. This year sees the publication of volume twenty-four in the series – a slightly longer time than normal having elapsed between the appearance of volume one and volume two. The reason for that is that […]

March 2023 Newsletter Dear Readers, 44, Scotland Street is an address in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is partly fictitious: Scotland Street exists, although it stops just short on No.44. It is also the name of what the French call a roman-fleuve, a novel that goes on through various volumes but that deals with […]

December 2022 This year has been for so many of us an unusual one. The difficulties that the world have faced hardly need to be recited – and they have had an impact on the lives of us all. I count myself fortunate in having been able to continue working at what I am called […]

Earlier this month the world celebrated International Literacy Day and it was also National Read a Book Day! As a special treat, Alexander McCall Smith wrote the poem below about the magic of storytelling. Then somebody told a story. . . Gathered around in the firelight Of some darkened cave, shadowy But comfortable when compared […]

Precious Ramotswe was the owner of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, if not the sole private investigation business in Botswana – one or two others claimed to offer such services – then certainly the longest established, most reputable, and definitely the only one run by ladies. This last attribute was important, she believed, and […]

Spending Summer with Isabel Dalhousie How does our favourite moral philosopher spend her summer in Edinburgh? Follow in the footsteps of Isabel Dalhousie with a range of activities taken from The Sweet Remnants of Summer. Visit the Scottish Highlands Oddly, and for no particular reason, she pictured the mountains of Moidart, a remote and rugged […]

Discovering the music from the Isabel Dalhousie series In The Sweet Remnants of Summer, as in the other books in the series, there are references to Jamie’s musical career. Living with a musician, Isabel would hardly be unaware of his taste in music, which, fortunately, very much matches her own. She attends his concerts whenever […]

A Love Letter to Edinburgh This month we’re celebrating Edinburgh as the location of the 44 Scotland Street series with a brand-new poem from Alexander McCall Smith and a lovely giveaway. In this city A love letter to Edinburgh Sometimes, in the fulness off summer, Scotland may forget its geographical position, May fail to recall […]

April 2022 Dear Readers, In a Time of Distance is a collection of poems that I have written over the past few years. The title refers to the experience that we have all had recently of being cut off from many of those with whom we normally lead our lives – a strange period. The […]

The next charming and heart-warming instalment in the classic THE NO.1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY series is almost here! In Mma Ramotswe’s twenty-first adventure, she’s tempted to put the brakes on a business venture before it even gets rolling. The Joy and Light Bus Company Alexander McCall Smith We are so excited to announce the next […]

December 2019 Dear Reader, The end of the year is such an important – and enjoyable – time. Here in Scotland, where I live, it is a season of very short days (we are further north than one might imagine). It is also a good season for reading, and I always hope that any presents […]