Holly Chisholm, Halifax I received Espresso Tales as a gift that lead me to reading the rest of the 44 Scotland Street series. I don't think her character has changed a great deal since its inception, although I suppose we see more sides to her character than we did at the beginning. I very rarely do a substantial rewrite - in fact, I don't like to do that at all.ĭeanna Poirier, Toronto Hi, What was the original inspiration for Precious Ramotswe and how has the character changed since her inception?ĪMS The original inspiration for Precious Ramotswe was from meeting many people like her in Botswana. I think that in general I spend less time revising than other authors. Some books I do revise a bit, but with others I find that I do very few revisals. Tom Taylor, Markham, ON How much time do you spend rewriting and self-editing your first draft?ĪMS It very much depends on the book. I was pleased when the Botswana High Court decided in favour of the Bushmen, and I am sure that the government of Botswana will respect that decision. Nicole Deschenes What do you think of the treatment being meted out to Bushmen in Botswana? Who do you think is responsible for removing these people from the lands they have occupied for 20,000 years?ĪMS The issue of the treatment of the San people in Botswana is a very controversial one, as you know. It was very nice to hear from you - thank you for getting in touch. Neil died a couple of years ago in his own bed, after a very full life on the farm. I still see his daughters, Alice and Mary.
I now live in Virginia.ĪMS Thank you very much for your message about Connachan. I have fond memories of Crieff, Comrie and Amulree. James (Jim) Barnett, Martinsville, VA Would you be related to Neil McCall Smith of Connachan in the Sma' Glen and Hugh McCall Smith of the The Hosh near Crieff? I was a shepherd for Neil, subsequently emigrated to Canada and was a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press and later the Brantford Expositor. However, he shall play a slightly larger part in the next book in the series.Īs for your second question about the women characters, thank you for the point that you make about my need to be more in touch with the lives of modern women in order to write about them. One or two people have asked me to do a full book about him, but I think that would be a bit difficult.
As far as your first question is concerned, I am very fond of Bertie, and I very much enjoy writing about him. Despite that complaint, I do enjoy your writing and look forward to the latest edition of each of your series.ĪMS Thank you very much indeed. I think you need to be more in touch with the lives of modern women in order to be successful in writing about them. I am 54 years old, and up until then, I had assumed that she was older than I am by her attitudes. Pat in Scotland Street behaves as if she lived in the 1950s, rather than the 21st century, and I was amazed when Isabel Dalhousie had a baby. The World According to Bertie and was disappointed in that.Īnother comment rather than a question is that I find the women in your two Edinburgh series to be less realistic than the male characters. Would you consider devoting an entire book to him? I was expecting more of his story in In the Scotland Street series, I know that I am not alone in looking forward to the sections that involve Bertie. Wendy Middleton, Barrie, ON I enjoy all of your various series of novels, particularly for their emphasis on common sense and decency as the best way to approach life. Rra is exactly as it is spelt, with a rolling R. Mma is pronounced "Ma," with a gentle m sound and a shortish a. Alexander McCall Smith Mma and Rra are the formal terms of greeting and respect in Botswana.
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