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. ”