Alexander McCall Smith

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.

That my philosophy of life is, as far as possible, one of enjoyment. I'm not nihilistic.

Manners are the basic building blocks of civil society.

If you lose sight of the smaller accomplishments, you end up with an imbalance in your life.

New York is a wonderful place to be up, an awful place to be down.

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.

As a writer, I have readers who will have a range of political views. I don't think they look to me for political guidance.

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.

I am capable of being idle.

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

Edinburgh used to be a haughty city.

I'm very interested in tea. I wouldn't mind being involved in some aspect of the tea industry.