India, Feb. 6 -- Alexander McCall Smith (75), the bestselling Scottish author, was at Sri Lanka's iconic Galle Literary Festival, which concluded recently. He gives us a peek into how he crafts diverse characters, the universal appeal of gentle humour, the significance of the place in storytelling, and the synergy between places, people, and the creative process. Edited excerpts:

In Conversation with Alexander McCall Smith on Literary Travels

T+L India: You have been immensely prolific, with over 100 books across genres to your name. How do you ensure the quality and distinctiveness of each work?

Alexander McCall Smith: I enjoy writing different series. Currently, I am running about six series of books, with different characters. The c...