Alexander McCall Smith has written and contributed to more than 100 books, including academic titles, short story collections, and immensely popular children’s books. He is best known for his internationally acclaimed and bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which currently has 18 volumes. The series has been translated into 45 languages and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

Before becoming a beloved author, McCall Smith had distinguished career in medical law and taught at universities around the world. He was born in what is now Zimbabwe and spent many years in Botswana. He now resides in Edinburgh with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to write and plays the bassoon in “The Really Terrible Orchestra,” a group he co-founded.