We asked Alexander to tell us about the oddest book signing that he’d attended, and he told us about the time he visited the Wivenhoe Bookshop.

Here Alexander entertained (and was entertained by) 20 ladies who meet to knit and discuss the world. He took tea and scones with them in the garden hut at the back of the Wivenhoe Bookshop, and he talked to them about The Double Comfort Safari Club while they continued with their knitting.

An hour later, they emerged from the hut and went into the bookshop where he discovered the entire village had crammed into the shop, and were blocking the pavement and road outside. He signed books for about forty people and left, very happy.

Here’s a selection of pictures taken on the day:

Click the thumbnails to see a larger picture.

Join or Start the Conversation:

One comment on this article so far:

1. Lindsay says:

   July 7, 2010 at 12:49 pm

   Having just joined my favourite author’s Mailing List, and excitably planning how to get hold of the last few books I haven’t yet read — not available here in deepest darkest “World Cup” raging South Africa, I loved reading about the signing at the Wivenhoe Bookshop where the ladies continued to knit! How wonderfully eccentric ! It was my big chuckle for the day.

Join or Start the Conversation:

Complete the form to add a comment to this article:

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Website

Please Note: All comments will be moderated by a member of Mr McCall Smith's Webteam, which may result in a short delay in your comment appearing on the site.

Mr McCall Smith's Webteam and/or representatives of his publisher, the Little Brown Book Group, also reserve the right to block, remove or delete any comment that, in their opinion:

• Constitutes hate speech against an identifiable group
• Directly and deliberately insults other posters
• Is promotional or commercial in nature (these comments will also be reported as spam)
• Does not make a relevant and / or interesting contribution to the discussion