Author Alexander McCall Smith Comes to S.B.

It’s no exaggeration to refer to author Alexander McCall Smith as “world famous.” The Scottish author’s 1999 novel, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency — now a 15-volume series set in Botswana — has been translated into 46 languages. Now on tour for his newest book, The Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, he took time from his hotel in New York to talk to The Santa Barbara Independent before heading off to a regal-sounding dinner at the home of a well-known New York philanthropist.

“This is my fourth visit to the U.S. just this year,” McCall Smith said. “I went to Key West for a conference in January and during the summer was in Las Vegas for a librarian’s conference. It was wonderful; there were 20,000 librarians there. Can you imagine?”

Since his books lodged themselves in the hearts of readers all over the world, McCall Smith has had a global touring schedule that sounds overwhelming. “It’s true: I do a great deal of traveling. After the U.S. visit, I’ll be off to Botswana and then Cape Town in South Africa. So far, though, I’m coping.”