Date Published: 10th October 2025
Don’t miss Bookshop Day 2025, on 11 October
Alexander is a keen supporter of physical bookshops and enjoys events in or with booksellers wherever he travels. This can be anywhere in the UK from the Scottish islands in the north to the far south west of the country, in the USA, in Australia – anywhere and everywhere. Last week he did a sell-out event at the wonderful Daunt Books in Marylebone High Street in London – meeting booksellers, readers, friends old and new. We have been doing an annual event at Daunt since the first book in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency was published. It was delightful to return with the 26th volume, In the Time of Five Pumpkins along with Bertie’s Theory of Ice Cream in the Scotland Street series and a new stand alone novel, The Private Side of Friendship.
Bookshops and booksellers cast a light on imagination and story and knowledge. They guide readers – young and not so young! – to discover new favourites and rediscover long lost friends. They not only grace our high streets with their presence but support book festivals of all shapes and sizes, schools and local communities.
Saturday 11 October is Bookshop Day 2025. Take the time to go into your local bookshop, cherish the knowledge and good cheer of your booksellers and treat your bookshelf to a new friend.
‘IN THE TIME OF FIVE PUMPKINS is steeped in a profound and informed optimism about the basic goodness of so-called average people…. Botswana could have no better informal ‘ambassador’ than Alexander McCall Smith.’ – Bookreporter
Working with Booksellers across the country from Hay festival to Exeter, to Bath, to London, to Edinburgh and right up to Braemar.
