Mma Ramotswe

Totally star-struck while Alexander McCall Smith signs my books.

 

Last Thursday at the Octagon Theatre in the University of Western Australia, I spent a most-enjoyable hour giggling as a master storyteller regaled us with quick peeks into his world.

As a HUGE fan who had the affectionate nick-name ‘Susie Matwetwe’ when I lived in Africa, I remain in awe of  Alexander McCall Smith; his energy, his easy characterizations and perfect stories…

I love his Botswana stories and find his list of publications absolutely inspiring – he only came to fiction in 1998 and has not stopped producing delightful stories since.

Presented with so many of his wonderful words lined up in boxes in the foyer,  it was very difficult to decide what to buy.

He generously signed two books for me.  The queue was so long, I was grateful I’d lined up quickly and was in the first 20.  (I think every one of us wanted a quiet moment with the master.)

My first purchase that night was  “44 Scotland Street” .  I’ve heard such lovely things about this series and although I haven’t finished reading all 15 of the “No I Ladies Detective Agency“ series, I’m looking forward to plunging into this one.

The other is “Trains and Lovers ~ The Heart’s journey”.    Although my copy’s cover is different from the one shown on his website, how could I resist reading this one when my I had written my own  ‘Rail Tales’ from the same ‘platform’.

When it was my turn – actually came face to face; I smiled and said, “How are you?”  I know, such an inane thing to say – but I was in awe!

I did recover and ask the question I had wanted to ask in the Q & A after his talk:  ‘What about a new TV Series?’

I loved the TV Series Anthony Minghella produced, co-wrote with Alexander and other wonderful writers, and naturally directed with such affection, beautifully.

I’ve always been a fan of Minghella’s ‘big’ films, starting with ‘The English Patient’ – he directed so many.  He “used expansive tastes in literature and a deep visual vocabulary to make lush films with complicated themes that found both audiences and accolades. “   His films were so layered, he  “used a careful eye for cultural and historical detail”  and he brought all that to the TV Series.  (Quotes from: New York Times.)

Although it will be difficult to find someone who can ‘read’ the characters and the location so well, I’m hoping one is found, soon.