YOU may well have thought you would not be getting a lesson on how to survive a lightning strike if you went along to Outspoken’s evening with literary royalty, Alexander McCall Smith, earlier this month.
But then you’d be wrong.
The best-selling author, who has penned 60 books and sold more than 50 million copies, was at his story-telling best as guest of Outspoken speaking on subjects as diverse as sailing, Christianity, the alien language of pilots, the fine art of getting even and of course how best to avoid dying by lightning strike.
Speaking in Q&A format with Steven Lang, McCall Smith – affectionately known as Sandy – gave an insight into what inspired him and other writers including an endless fascination with the finer details of life.
“We love that sort of thing. People get tremendously excited about someone using their teacup,” he said.
“When you encounter that you can say to them that, ‘well you need to get out a bit more’, but it’ can mean a lot to people.
“It’s a great area for fiction. Human pettiness is really terrific.”
Asked to elaborate on his book, The Exquisite Art of Getting Even, Sandy said it was always interesting how important revenge was to people. “It’s something that really appeals,” he said.
“When we see someone getting their just desserts, we are very pleased.”
Sandy mixed story-telling, anecdotes and life advice throughout the evening.
Asked about doing away with unlikeable characters he spoke of one who he had struck by lightning and the fascinating research this revealed.
“I can give you one bit of advice: if you are in danger of being struck by lightning, make sure you are entirely damp. You need to be as wet as possible,” he said. “If you’re then struck by lightning the lightning travels on the edge of the skin … and doesn’t damage the internal organs. Not many people know that.
“If you want to be completely safe, and minimise the risk of being damaged by lightning, then shower before you leave the house.”
The author of the beloved No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has just released a collection of short stories, The Private Life of Spies, a part-fiction, part-non-fiction series of tales on espionage exploits.
Outspoken will feature Kim Mahood on April at at the Maleny Community Centre. Tix from $18.
outspokenmaleny.com