Date Published: 7th September 2017

The following appeared in the UK press today, 7 September 2017. We are pleased to report that Alexander is indeed shipshape—safe and well.

 

Alexander McCall Smith has told how he “narrowly escaped disaster” in a storm while sailing in the Greek islands (Lucinda Cameron writes).

On Twitter and Facebook the writer described how his boat faced being dashed on rocks. He said that it was a very frightening experience and when dawn came he was glad to be alive.

Fans of the author of No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency were quick to express their concern when McCall Smith tweeted: “I’m sailing a boat off Greek islands. Last night a violent storm seized us and we faced being dashed on rocks. We narrowly escaped disaster.” One reader asked whether the account was the start of a new Twitter short story.

However, the 44 Scotland Street writer expanded on the experience. He wrote: “It was very frightening. Then I thought: good material for the next Tobermory book! When dawn came, we were glad to be alive.”

He added: “And now nature is benign once more: Homer’s wine-dark sea, not a cloud in the sky. Jason and the Argonauts sailed near here.”

McCall Smith’s fans urged him to take care, with Sunali tweeting: “Pls leave narrow escapes to the characters of your book and you stay 100 per cent safe.”

Joanna Carrick said: “So glad you did escape . . . I’ve read all your books and I adore you!”

McCall Smith has written several series, including Corduroy Mansions and the Isabel Dalhousie books.

He also writes the School Ship Tobermory children’s series, which follows the exploits of children who go to school on a ship.

A spokeswoman at Polygon, one of McCall Smith’s publishers, said that the author was still on holiday in the Greek islands and was indeed ‘shipshape’.