Quotes from Alexander McCall Smith

That of all people, it should be him; that took her aback. That the heart should settle on somebody like him; that surprised her. But she was so certain about it, so certain.

My Botswana books are positive, and I've never really sought to deny that. They are positive. They present a very positive picture of the country. And I think that that is perfectly defensible given that there is so much written about Africa which is entirely negative.

Many of my books are written from a female perspective. I rather enjoy the take that women have on the world, and certainly I enjoy the conversations that women have.

You're always told by your publisher that you must only write one book a year and some years you should perhaps write none at all.

I write four books a year. I'm very fortunate that I write quickly; around 3,500 words a day. Being strict about delineating my writing time and personal life, as well as keeping distractions at bay, is the only way I can accomplish this.

I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds.

Every single day, I get letters - very moving, overwhelming letters - testifying how much my books have meant to people in times of crisis in their lives, when they were very ill, say. If I ever doubted that writing could play an important part in people's lives, I don't doubt that now.

I have three older sisters, so we were a reasonably large family and, in general, a happy one.

Oh I love gadgets and I pride myself on keeping at the cutting edge of technology.

But don't we often lie to people we love, or not tell them things, precisely because we love them?

It's a different sort of love taht puts up with illness. Old love.

I cannot see myself in a new car. I am a tiny white van person. That is what i want!

As a writer, you have to realize that people want to like the characters, so you have to be careful to keep them involved.

Baboons take a bit of getting to know but, apparently, once you break the ice, so to speak, they are complex and interesting creatures with elaborate societies.

It's through the small things that we develop our moral imagination, so that we can understand the sufferings of others.

I have always taken the view that one should never hold against a man anything he says after twelve o'clock at night or after a glass or two of anything.

Every novel presents a slice of life. A noir policier for example presents one slice, one that perhaps addresses social dysfunction or some sort of pathology, while mine present a slice that is more upbeat and affirmative.

There is plenty of work for love to do.

The point of opera is that people are moved by the emotions and music.

I've always had a creative urge and I get immense satisfaction from creating something because it feels like I'm making sense of the world and imposing order on it.

Edinburgh used to be a haughty city.

It seems to me that we're in danger of losing sight of certain basic civic values in society by allowing the growth of a whole generation of people who really have no sense of attachment to society.

Our stomachs live in towns, " said Mma Potokwani, patting the front of her dress. 'That is where the work is. Our stomachs know that. But our hearts are usually somewhere else.