New Canaan Library welcomes author Robert Mc Williams on Thursday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room. Mc Williams will speak about his recently published book, The Kiss of Sweet Scottish Rain, which extols the beauty, culture and history of Scotland, as discovered by him on a cross-country journey. Please register to attend, online at newcanaanlibrary.org.

From Cape Wrath in the lonely northwest to a muddy estuary overlooking England, The Kiss of Sweet Scottish Rain takes the reader on a walk across Scotland. For Rob McWilliams–Scots-born but exiled since childhood–the walk is an obstinate ambition, and the start of a new direction in life. McWilliams crosses wild and beautiful landscapes, meets an ever-changing cast of companions, and visits communities of all sizes, from remote hamlets to the bustling, edgy city of Glasgow. Around every corner, he explores Scotland’s turbulent history and unique cultural and natural heritage, from the Gaelic language, to the fearsome Highland midge.

Robert McWilliams was born in Glasgow, Scotland, graduated from Wadham College, Oxford, with a BA in Modern History; he worked as a tour guide and English teacher in France and Spain, before joining Reuters news agency in London. Rob spent 16 years at Reuters as a business manager in Hong Kong, Japan, the US, Venezuela and Brazil. Tired of corporate life, Rob quit his job to fulfill a stubborn ambition to walk the length of Scotland. He has contributed the “Taking a Hike” column to local newspapers for six years. Rob has also written for A.T. Journeys, the official magazine of the Appalachian Trail, and Ctvisit.com. The Kiss of Sweet Scottish Rain is his first book. He does consulting work on information privacy, and volunteers with the Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Trail and other outdoor causes.