Q&A with Alexander McCall Smith discussion

I love all the characters and all the series that you have created!You seem to have an amazing ability to recreate people on paper so that they come alive. My question is, how do you manage to write so many different series and keep them all going at the same time without jeopardizing the quality of the plot?

I also love listening to your interviews as you have an amazing sense of humour!

I'd love to hear an interview--how does one do that?

I have to say: I love the humor in all the books! So gentle and so delightful.

I too love all of the characters in the "Ladies No. 1" series. I have read all of the books in this series and am now listening to your newest one on CD . . . I echo the feeling that they are absolutely marvelous.

I usually need to write down the names of the book characters to keep up with exactly who they are and what part they play in a story line. But, in each of the eight books in this series I have been able to remember exactly who & what they are in the stories with no notes jotted down at all. I haven't faltered yet in having each of them immediately fall into place when I have begin the next in the series.

I am about two hours short of finishing "The Double Comfort" and am finding myself in withdrawal. I'm so happy to know that you've 14 books planned and hope that you will continue on after that . . . I plan to continue reading them!

Thanks for the fabulous entertainment . . . and thanks for lending me these great good friends to salt and pepper my life! I want to live next door to Mma Ramotswe & have lunch with Precious and Grace. And, I want to be present when Grace finally can see Violet crawl in the dust!!! Brava to you Alexander!

You have such a great perspective of men and women. The things you say about men are right on. What aspects of your life have given you such a perspective?

Is the first corderoy novel available online still. If so, where?

I borrowed an interview on CD through Inter library loan at the library. Also I think the BBC must have done interviews occasionally that I listened to.

I'm interested in process too. Do you have a set amount of time to spend on writing in a day or week? How do you keep up the pace without feeling stale or tired of it? Your books are always full of fresh humor and details.

Christine wrote: "I love all the characters and all the series that you have created!You seem to have an amazing ability to recreate people on paper so that they come alive. My question is, how do you manage to writ..."
Dear Christine, Thanks very much for the generous comments. I find that by having very different settings I manage to keep the series apart from one another. I tend to emphasize character rather than plot. All best, AMcS

Readstoomuch wrote: "I too love all of the characters in the "Ladies No. 1" series. I have read all of the books in this series and am now listening to your newest one on CD . . . I echo the feeling that they are abs..."

Thanks so much for your really kind words! Yes, i think you would enjoy having tea with Precious and Grace. As for Violet, she really is incorrigible. I'm not quite sure what will happen to her in the future - I fear that we shall hear from her again! All best, AMcS

Andrea wrote: "I'm interested in process too. Do you have a set amount of time to spend on writing in a day or week? How do you keep up the pace without feeling stale or tired of it? Your books are always full..."

Dear Andrea, I have to put a certain time aside each day or the books would never get written. About two or there hours a day. AMcS

May I ask more about why instead of how... I would say that women and children are the main characters in your books and men are rather supportive characters, would you agree to that? If you would agree then why is that so?

smboro wrote: "May I ask more about why instead of how... I would say that women and children are the main characters in your books and men are rather supportive characters, would you agree to that? If you would ..."
You are probably right. As to why thsi is so - well, I'm not at all sure! I don;t like to analyze my own work too much as it could disturb the spontaneity of it, so I shall have to leave it up to you to speculate. All best, AMcS