Kate’s 2¢: “The lost boys of Montauk: the true story of the Wind Blown, four men who vanished at sea, and the survivors they left behind” by  

“The lost boys of Montauk: the true story of the Wind Blown, four men who vanished at sea, and the survivors they left behind” by  

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Cynthia Farrell narrated this documentary.

From the WEB:

Amanda M. Fairbanks is a journalist who has worked in the editorial department of The New York Times, as a reporter for HuffPost, and at The East Hampton Star, where she wrote investigative stories, features and profiles. Her writing has also appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The Atlantic and The San Francisco Chronicle. A graduate of Smith College and a former Teach for America corps member, she has two master’s degrees from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and currently lives with her family in Sag Harbor.

Amanda M. Fairbanks is a journalist who has worked in the editorial department of The New York Times, as a reporter for HuffPost, and at The East Hampton Star, where she wrote investigative stories, features and profiles. Her writing has also appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The Atlantic and The San Francisco Chronicle. A graduate of Smith College and a former Teach for America corps member, she has two master’s degrees from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and currently lives with her family in Sag Harbor.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The lost boys of Montauk: the true story of the Wind Blown, four men who vanished at sea, and the survivors they left behind DB120532

Author: Fairbanks, Amanda M.

Reading Time: 9 hours, 59 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Cynthia Farrell

Subject: Adventure

“In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestseller (and Academy-Award nominated film) The Perfect Storm, and with a nod to Steven Gaines’ dishy tell-all, Philistines at the Hedgerow, a riveting account of a fishing boat and its four young crewman lost at sea in 1984 off the coast of Montauk in eastern Long Island — a “fishing town with a drinking problem,” as the locals have it — and the stunning repercussions of that loss for the families and friends of the four missing men and, indeed, the entire storied summer community of the Hamptons”– Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

New York : Simon & Schuster Audio, 2021.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Twilight Falls Shady Hollow(4) by Juneau Black

“Twilight Falls Shady Hollow(4) by Juneau Black

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Cassandra Campbell Narrated this anthromorphized story. Although the authors kept some of the individual creatures features, I didn’t enjoy using animals this way.

From the WEB:

Juneau Black is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses and good murders 

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Twilight Falls DB132776

Series: Shady Hollow

Order in Series: 04

Author: Black, Juneau

Reading Time: 7 hours, 49 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Cassandra Campbell

Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Animals and Wildlife, Cozy Mysteries

“It’s spring in Shady Hollow, and romance is in the air. Even reporter Vera Vixen is caught up in the season as her relationship with new police chief Orville Braun blossoms. But true love is not always smooth sailing, as two of the hollow’s young residents come to find. Jonah Atwater and Stasia von Beaverpelt find themselves battling their families in order to be together. And when Alan’s father, Shelby, goes over the top of Twilight Falls, all signs point to Stasia being the murderer. The evidence against Stasia appears overwhelming, and Orville arrests her. It looks like the case is closed, but Vera isn’t so sure. There are almost too many clues indicating Stasia is the killer, leading her to suspect someone is setting Stasia up. Besides, what about the mysterious ghostly creature skulking around town at night? Maybe he or she was involved? As Vera investigates further, her sleuthing puts her in direct opposition to Orville, and soon she’s stirred up a hornet’s nest of trouble.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

New York : Penguin Random House, 2023.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Aesop’s animals: the science behind the fables” by Jo Wimpenny

“Aesop’s animals: the science behind the fables” by Jo Wimpenny

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Jennifer Dixon did a good job of narrating this interesting, well researched book. I find it amazing that Aesop was so astute in his observations and applied his knowledge to animal behaviors during his time. Only now, the truths of what he wrote, are being proven to be valid.

   It reminds me of all those ‘old wives tales’ that really worked. Now, they’re finding out the why of what works.

From the WEB:

Dr Jo Wimpenny is a writer and former academic researcher with interests in animal behaviour, nature and the human-animal relationship.

I’m a zoologist-turned-author living in Oxford, and I write about animal behaviour, nature and the human-animal relationship.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Aesop’s animals: the science behind the fables DB132642

Author: Wimpenny, Jo

Reading Time: 12 hours, 48 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Jennifer Dixon

Subjects: Folktales, Mythology, Animals and Wildlife

“A critical look at the beloved fables that investigates whether there is any scientific truth to Aesop’s portrayal of his animals. Despite being conceived over two-and-a-half thousand years ago, Aesop’s Fables are still passed from parent to child today, and are embedded in our collective consciousness. The morals still inform our judgments, but have they influenced our views of the animal protagonists as well? And, if so, is there any truth behind the stereotypes? Are crows smart enough to reason? Are pigeons so dumb they cannot tell the difference between painting and reality? Are ants truly capable of looking ahead to the future and planning their actions? In Aesop’s Animals, zoologist Jo Wimpenny turns a critical eye to the fables and ask whether there is any scientific truth to Aesop’s portrayal of his animals. She brings the tales into the twenty-first century, introducing the latest scientific research on some of the most fascinating topics in animal behavior. Each chapter focuses on a different fable and a different topic in ethology, including future planning, tool use, self-recognition, cooperation and deception. At the end of each chapter, the author pulls together the evidence to assess whether Aesop’s portrayal of the animals holds true from a modern, scientific perspective. Through interviews with leading researchers in the behavioral ecology, this book brings these famous tales back to life. People are always fascinated by animal behavior, especially studies that suggest the presence of intelligence and other ‘human-like’ characteristics that reveal how we may share more with these creatures than we ever imagined. Aesop’s Animals builds on this, revealing cutting-edge research findings about animal abilities, as well as enabling the reader to explore and challenge their own preconceived notions about the animal kingdom.” — Publisher’s description. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

London : Tantor Media, Inc, 2022.

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Kate’s 2¢: “The accidental family” by Rowan Coleman

“The accidental family” by Rowan Coleman

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Martha Harmon Pardee put her extraordinary talent for narration to good use in this romance. Her vocal portrayal of the little girls was well done and so realistic.

   Sophie promises: Always. Forever. Whatever. 

From the WEB:

Rowan Coleman is the internationally bestselling and award winning author and screenwriter of sixteen novels including THE MEMORY BOOK, THE SUMMER OF IMPOSSIBLE THINGS and THE GIRL AT THE WINDOW.

A life long Bronte fan, under the Bronte inspired pen name Bella Ellis, Rowan also writes the Bronte Mysteries – a carefully researched series of novels that imagine that before they were were famous the Bronte Sisters were amateur detectives. THE VANISHED BRIDE and THE DIABOLICAL BONES and The RED MONARCH are out now.

   Bella Ellis is a mixed-heritage American-born actress living in London and an ArtsEd MA Acting graduate (2023). Born October 22, 2000. Making Manson (2024)

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The accidental family DB69946

Author: Coleman, Rowan

Reading Time: 11 hours, 39 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Martha Harmon Pardee

Subjects: Family, Romance

Sophie Mills, from The Accidental Mother (RC 66229, BR 17655), leaves London to follow her former wards Izzy and Bella to Cornwall after she falls in love with their father Louis. Complications occur when Louis runs into an old lover and learns that he has a grown son. 2009.

New York : Pocket Books, 2009.

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Kate’s 2¢: “The Accident” by Chris Pavone

“The Accident” by Chris Pavone

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Jim Zeiger, one of my favorite narrators, did an excellent job of relating this fictional, suspense story.

   I like the ending.  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.chrispavone.com

Chris Pavone (born 1968) is an American author. His first novel, The Expats, was a New York Times bestseller.[1] His 2025 novel, The Doorman, was an AP bestseller.[2]

Backgroundedit

Pavone attended Cornell University. Before writing his first novel, Pavone worked at a number of publishing houses as an editor.[3] He lived briefly in Luxembourg with his family.[4][5] He currently lives in New York City with his wife and his two children.[6]

The Expatsedit

The Expats, Pavone’s debut, was a New York Times bestseller.[1][7] It was published in March 2012 by Crown.[8] The Observer described the book as “expertly and intricately plotted, with a story spiralling into disaster and a satisfyingly huge amount of double crossing, [which] certainly doesn’t feel like a first novel”.[5] The Expats won the 2013 Edgar Award for best first novel by an American author.[9][10] It also won the 2013 Anthony Award for best first novel.[11]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The accident: a novel DB78402

Author: Pavone, Chris

Reading Time: 14 hours, 8 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Jim Zeiger

Subject: Suspense Fiction

An anonymous author delivers a manuscript to literary agent Isabel Reed, who stays up all night reading it–and is horrified. Meanwhile, a covert team–including Kate from The Expats (DB 74483)–will do anything to prevent the book’s publication. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2014.

New York : Crown Publishers, c2014.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Acceptable risk” Danger never sleeps(2) by Lynette Eason

“Acceptable risk” Danger never sleeps(2) by Lynette Eason

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Callie Beaulieu did a good job of narrating this story for us.

   Eason crafted suspense throughout the story by a dual time-line, going tom Nam to the present. It is quite upsetting to think your own government is plotting against you.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

lynetteeason.com

Lynette Eason is an author of Christian fiction novels within the inspirational romantic suspense genre; she has won various awards for her writing and been on the ECPA and CBA bestseller lists and published nearly fifty books.[1]

Personal life and educationedit

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, where she became a Christian at age eight through the influence of her parents and the Sunday school teachers at Northgate Baptist Church.[2] An avid reader as a child, she was influenced by many writers including “Alfred Hitchcock, Carolyn Keene, Agatha Christie, Francine Pascal…Steven King and others.”[3] As an adult she enjoyed Christian fiction by “Randilyn Collins, Dee Henderson, Shirlee McCoy, Karen Kingsbury, Robert Liparulo, Terri Blackstock and Deborah Raney”[4]

She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1989 with a B.A. in Finance and Real Estate and then graduated from Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1993 with an M.Ed. in Special Education and Teaching. After graduation she taught school for a period at a school for deaf and blind children, and she is fluent in American Sign Language.[5] In 1996 she married her neighbor, Jack Eason, a Christian consultant and worship leader.[6] Eason and her family were active at New Life Baptist Fellowship Church in Boiling Springs, South Carolina where she served as a Sunday School teacher.[7] Lynette Eason currently resides with her husband in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and they have two adult children, Lauryn and Will.[8][9]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Acceptable risk DB104067

Series: Danger never sleeps; Eason, Lynette Danger never sleeps

Order in Series: 02

Author: Eason, Lynette

Reading Time: 9 hours, 16 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Callie Beaulieu

Subjects: Religious Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense Fiction

Home after being held hostage overseas, journalist Sarah Denning digs for the truth behind her brother’s death with the help of former Army Ranger Gavin Black. As her enemies seek to silence her, Sarah and Gavin race to peel back layers of lies so the truth can be revealed. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.

Old Saybrook, Conn. : Tantor Media, Inc., OverDrive, 2020.

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Kate’s 2¢: “The Accident” by Linwood Barclay

“The Accident” by Linwood Barclay

 NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Peter Berkrot narrate this intriguing tale. The author wielded his craft to create drama and suspense with multiple surprise endings to each dilemma.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

linwoodbarclay.com

Linwood Barclay (born 1955) is an American-born Canadian author, noted as a novelist, humorist, and (former) columnist. His popular detective novels are bestsellers in Canada and internationally, beginning with No Time for Goodbye in 2007.

Biographyedit

Linwood Barclay was born in Darien, Connecticut, son of Muriel and Everett Barclay. His father was a professional illustrator who moved his family to Canada in 1959 where he had accepted a job with William R. Templeton Studios in Toronto. In 1966 the family purchased a vacation campground in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, which they ran for about five years until his father died from lung cancer when Barclay was sixteen.[3]

Barclay recognized his interest in writing detective fiction at an early age, inspired by the works of Ross Macdonald, who had grown up in Kitchener, Ontario.[4] After graduating from high school Barclay studied literature at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, where one of his teachers was the noted novelist Margaret Laurence. While attending university, he began a correspondence with Macdonald that proved inspirational for Barclay. They met once, at which time Macdonald inscribed one of his books to Barclay: “For Linwood, who will, I hope, someday outwrite me”.[4]

After graduation with an English literature degree from Trent, he could not sell any of his novels so he found work on a number of local newspapers beginning with the Peterborough Examiner.[3] He subsequently moved to the Toronto Star in 1981. In 1993, following the death of Gary Lautens, he began to write a thrice-weekly humour column for the paper. He also released podcasts of his articles and published three collections: Mike Harris Made Me Eat My Dog, Father Knows Zilch: A Guide for Dumbfounded Dads, and This House Is Nuts!. Between 2004 and 2007, while still writing his column, he published four mystery/comedies, all featuring a sleuth named Zack Walker who works as a newspaper columnist by day. The books were published in the United Kingdom and were modestly successful.[4]

His break came in 2007 when he published No Time for Goodbye. A runaway bestseller in the UK, it quickly sold a million copies there and elsewhere.[4] He took a one-year sabbatical to promote his novel and he had planned to return to the Star in September 2008. On June 28, 2008, he wrote his last column, announcing his retirement from the newspaper. His 2012 novel Trust Your Eyes was a finalist for the Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read from the UK Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards.[5] At the time of its publication, it was announced that Trust Your Eyes had been optioned by a Hollywood studio. Barclay made the cover of Variety Magazine because of the bidding war it had caused between Universal Studios and Warner Bros.[4][6][3] Eric McCormack had planned a script for a film version of No Time For Goodbye, with himself starring. The project never came to fruition.[7] A French TV adaptation titled That Night, was made in 2023. The series appeared on TF1 Television in France on April 23, 2025.[8][9][10]

Barclay lives in Oakville, Ontario, with his wife of more than three decades, Neetha, with whom he has two children – Spencer and Paige.[3]

From NLS/BARD/LOC”

The accident: a novel DB74117

Author: Barclay, Linwood

Reading Time: 12 hours, 17 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Peter Berkrot

Subject: Suspense Fiction

After his wife Sheila is killed in a drunk-driving accident she caused, struggling contractor Glen Garber is angry and confused–Sheila never drank that much. When the mother of his eight-year-old daughter’s best friend also dies mysteriously, Glen’s suspicions deepen. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2011.

Grand Haven, Mich. : Brilliance Audio, p2011.

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Kate’s 2¢: “The Heights” by Louise Candlish

“The Heights” by Louise Candlish

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Milo Twomey, Louise Candlish, and Genevieve Gaunt narrate this interesting book. The author chose a triple point of view to move the story’s narrative arc. It came to a wonderful, surprise ending.  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.louisecandlish.com

Louise Candlish is a British author. In 2019, her crime novel Our House won the Crime & Thriller Book of the Year award at the British Book Awards.[1] In 2021, the novel was adapted into an ITV drama starring Tuppence Middleton and Martin Compston.[2][3]

In 2024, her book The Only Suspect won the Capital Crime Fingerprint award for thriller of the year.[4]

Early lifeedit

Candlish was born in Hexham, Northumberland,[5] and grew up in Northampton. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English from University College London (UCL) in 1989.[6]

From NLS/BARD/LOC”

The Heights DB114514

Author: Candlish, Louise

Reading Time: 10 hours, 52 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Milo Twomey, Louise Candlish, Genevieve Gaunt

Subjects: Psychological Fiction, Suspense Fiction

“The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among warehouses in London. Its roof terrace is so discreet, you wouldn’t know it existed if you weren’t standing at the window of the flat directly opposite. But you are. And that’s when you see a man up there—a man you’d recognize anywhere. He may be older now, but it’s definitely him. But that can’t be because he’s been dead for over two years. You know this for a fact. Because you’re the one who killed him.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

[New York] : Simon & Schuster Audio, [2022]

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Kate’s 2¢: “Acceptable losses: a novel” by Irwin Shaw

“Acceptable losses: a novel” by Irwin Shaw

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Roy Avers  narrate this story. The author crafted several possible suspects, only to find…well, I won’t be a spoiler. Sufice to say the who ever hired the killer is still unknown.

A few take aways:

–The luck of the draw. Acceptable losses.  A the military so delicately put it.

–Haunted by a feeling that nothing has been concluded.

–A sense that everything that has happened is an overture.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

irwinshaw.org

Irwin Shaw (February 27, 1913 – May 16, 1984) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and short-story author whose written works have sold more than 14 million copies. He is best known for two of his novels: The Young Lions (1948), about the fate of three soldiers during World War II, which was made into a film of the same name starring Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, and Rich Man, Poor Man (1970), about the fate of two brothers and a sister in the post-World War II decades,[1] which in 1976 was made into a popular miniseries starring Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte, and Susan Blakely.

Personal lifeedit

Shaw was born Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff in the South Bronx, New York City, to Jewish immigrants from Nizhyn, Ukraine.[2] His parents were Rose and Will. His younger brother, David Shaw, became a noted Hollywood producer and writer.[3] Shortly after Irwin’s birth, the Shamforoffs moved to Brooklyn. Irwin changed his surname upon entering college. He spent most of his youth in Brooklyn, where he graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934.

He began screenwriting in 1935 at age 21. In 1939 he married actress and producer Marian Edwards, daughter of silent film actor Snitz Edwards.[4] The couple divorced in 1967, remarrying two years before Irwin’s death in 1984.

During World War II, he was approached by William Wyler to join his film unit. Unable to be commissioned as an officer due to his age and 1-A draft status,[5] Shaw decided to enter the Regular Army. Later, the Army, noting his background, reassigned him to the Signal Corps with George Stevens’ film unit.[6] He was one of four writers attached to Stevens’ command, in which he became a warrant officer. After the war, he returned to his career as a writer.

Shaw died in Davos, Switzerland on May 16, 1984, at age 71, after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.[7]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Acceptable losses: a novel DB18821

Author: Shaw, Irwin

Reading Time: 9 hours, 31 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Roy Avers

Subject: Suspense Fiction

Frightening experiences begin for Roger Damon, a literary agent in his middle sixties, when he receives an ominous phone call from a stranger threatening him. Damon then embarks on a retrospective spiritual quest in which memories of past lovers, enemies, and his ex-wife take on the color of hallucination and nightmare. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.

New York : Arbor House, c1982.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Tiny tales: stories of romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness” by Alexander McCall Smith

“Tiny tales: stories of romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness” by Alexander McCall Smith

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   This was one of the seven books NLS sent to me on one cartridge.

   Brian Nishii, Robert Ian Mackenzie, and Jamie Jackson did a good job of narrating short pieces on a variety of topics. Some of them resonated with me, others did not.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

alexandermccallsmith.co.uk

Sir Alexander “Sandy” McCall Smith CBE FRSE FRSL (born 24 August 1948) is a Scottish legal scholar and author of fiction. He was born and brought up in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and was formerly Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. He became an expert on medical law and bioethics and served on related British and international committees. He has since become known as a fiction writer, with sales in English exceeding 40 million by 2010 and translations into 46 languages.[1] He is known as the creator of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.[1][2] The “McCall” derives from his great-great-grandmother Bethea McCall, who married James Smith at Glencairn, Dumfries-shire, in 1833.[3]

Early lifeedit

Rodney Alexander Alasdair McCall Smith was born in 1948 in Bulawayo in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe), to British parents.[4] He was the only son, having three elder sisters.[5] His father worked as a public prosecutor in Bulawayo.[6] McCall Smith was educated at the Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo before moving to Scotland at age 17 to study law at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned his LLB[7] and PhD degrees.[4][8] He soon taught at Queen’s University Belfast, and while teaching there he entered a literary competition: one a children’s book and the other a novel for adults. He won in the children’s category.[6]

McCall Smith’s paternal grandfather, George Marshall McCall Smith, born in Nairn, abandoned his wife and four children in Scotland and ran off with one of his patients to New Zealand in 1914. They settled in Rawene where he became the medical doctor and a community leader.[9][10][11]

… McCall Smith is a prolific author of fiction, with several series to his credit. He writes at a prodigious rate: “Even when travelling, he never loses a day, turning out between 2,000 and 3,000 words [a day] – but more like 5,000 words when at home in Edinburgh. His usual rate is 1,000 words an hour”.[2] He has gained the most fame for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe and set in Gaborone, Botswana. The first novel was published in 1998. By 2009, the series had sold more than 20 million copies in English editions.[2]

According to his publisher in Edinburgh, “He was, until 2005, a professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh, but gave up the position to concentrate on his writing and now writes full time.”[27]

He published 30 books in the 1980s and 1990s before he began the series that has brought him the world’s notice.[1] In 2008 he wrote a serialised online novel Corduroy Mansions, with the audio edition read by Andrew Sachs made available at the same pace as the daily publication. He wrote more than ten chapters ahead of publication, finding the experience of serialised publication to be “a frightening thing to create a novel while his readers watched. ‘I am like a man on a tightrope.'”[2]

In 2009 he donated the short story “Still Life” to Oxfam’s “Ox-Tales” project, comprising four collections of stories written by 38 British authors. McCall Smith’s story was published in the “Air” collection.[28]

In 2020 he published a collection of poetry entitled In a Time of Distance: And Other Poems.[29]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Tiny tales: stories of romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness DB131950

Author: McCall Smith, Alexander

Reading Time: 3 hours, 59 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Brian Nishii, Robert Ian Mackenzie, Jamie Jackson

Subjects: Short Stories, Romance

“It is often said that the best things in life come in small packages; anyone in search of proof need look no further than the stories in this collection: brief, utterly engaging tales that offer lasting surprise and delight. In Tiny Tales, Alexander McCall Smith explores romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness in thirty short stories. Here we meet the first Australian pope, who hopes to finally find some peace and quiet back home in Perth; a psychotherapist turned motorcycle racetrack manager; and an aspiring opera singer who gets her unlikely break onstage. And, of course, we spend time in McCall Smith’s beloved Scotland, where we are introduced to progressive Vikings, a group of housemates with complex romantic entanglements, and a couple of globe-trotting dentists. These tales depict the full scope of human experience and reveal the rich tapestry of life — painted in miniature.” — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Prince Frederick : Recorded Books, Inc., 2021.

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