Q&A with Alexander McCall Smith discussion

Your series all seem to evolve so organically, so I'm guessing there might be some things that end up surprising you as you're writing.

What has been the biggest surprise to you for each of the series?

I have read a number of the Isabel Dalhousie books, both Professor Igelfelds and most of the Number one detective agency as well as Dream Angus and The girl who married a lion and some of the other short story collections. Those are ideal for picking up and reading whilst I wait for a passenger who has a hospital appointment &c. when I am doing my WRVS driving.
My question is, do you prefer writing about women to men? The two big series both have strong central women characters, and the men are far less confident or memorable characters. Even the Prof. had a distinctly feminine slant to his character. Your women are so believable, did the women in your life also feature larger than the men?
Menawhile, please keep writing. I have to ration how often I read one of your books, because I can't let myself run out of ones to look forward to, so I am very thankful that you are so prolific! Mma Ramotswe & c. are my favourites, and I hope to see Motholeli grow to be another of your strong women characters!