Alexander McCall Smith has not always been an author. He used to be a teacher. In fact, he used to be a law professor in Scotland. While teaching, Mr. Smith used to write on the side. Once, he entered a writing contest. He won! His winning piece was a story for children. After winning, Mr. Smith began writing four or five stories each year.
Many of Mr. Smith's stories, including Akimbo and the Lions and the rest of the Akimbo series, are set in Africa. This is because he used to live there. He was born in Africa. He went to school in Africa and in Scotland. When he was older, Mr. Smith returned to Africa. He went back to help set up a law school in Botswana.