Alexander McCall Smith picks comforts of home to launch new book

Published on Saturday 23 January 2010 10:22

IT IS the latest in a series of global bestsellers, destined to be translated into 45 languages and sold around the world, but the next book in the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is to be launched by a small independent bookshop on the doorstep of its author's home in Merchiston.

Alexander McCall Smith has chosen The Edinburgh Bookshop in Bruntsfield Place to host the launch of The Double Comfort Safari Club, the 11th novel in the Botswana-based series.

The shop will host a public launch on 3 March, with staff moving across the road from the bookshop to neighbouring Christ Church in order to accommodate the large audience expected.

The author said: "Independent bookshops are vital for a healthy and varied publishing industry. It is very disappointing that Edinburgh, a UNESCO City of Literature, has very few independent book shops and none of the size that one finds in comparable cities south of the Border.

"I am delighted to do anything I can to support local bookshops – both chains and independents – and it is a particular pleasure for me that this new book, which will be published all over the world, will be launched in a bookshop right on my doorstep."

Bookshop owner Vanessa Robertson said: "He's been in the shop a couple of times and he's a lovely man. I chaired one of his events at the Book Festival last summer so I flagged up that I'd like to do something.

"He's brilliant when he does events, so we were just delighted really when he said he'd like to do this. He's such an institution around here and we're very much his local bookshop."

At the launch, which will be compered by bookshop staff, Mr McCall Smith will talk about the book and then read from it, before answering questions from the audience.

The Edinburgh Bookshop's sister store, the Children's Bookshop, will also host a smaller publicity launch at the end of January for Mr McCall Smith's new children's book.

Precious and the Puggies is the first book featuring the childhood adventures of No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency founder, Precious Ramotswe. It is being launched first in a Scots translation.

The author has already made an impression on one young bookworm during a visit to the shop.

Mrs Robertson said: "Recently he came into the Children's Bookshop. He was chatting and a little boy was there and happened to pick up one of his books and came to the counter. He said 'I'll buy that' and signed it and they had a chat about cricket."

Tickets for the launch of The Double Comfort Safari Club, cost 5, with 5 off the purchase of the book. For more details call 0131-229 9207 or see www.edinburghbookshop.com.