I think that crime is a good vehicle for looking at society in general because the nature of the crime novel means that you draw on a wide group of social possibilities. Val McDermid crimedrawgeneral Change image and share on social
One of the reasons we all still read Jane Austen is because her books are about universal things which still matter today - love, money, family. They haven't gone out of fashion, so it's not throwing the baby out with the bathwater to rework her in a contemporary style. Val McDermid austenbabybathwater share on social
Walking by water frees your creativity. I don't know how it works - there's something about it that's liberating. Val McDermid creativityfreeliberate Change image and share on social
I spent a lot of time at my grandparents in the school holidays, and the only books in the house were a copy of the Bible and Agatha Christie's 'Murder at the Vicarage.' I developed a taste for murder mysteries and then later discovered libraries, second-hand bookshops, and jumble sales. Val McDermid agathabiblebook share on social
On one hand, you've got 'decent' men, and on the other you've got neanderthal misogynist bawbags - and the middle ground is what's disappearing. Val McDermid bawbagsdecentdisappear Change image and share on social
I won't be attempting to write Jane Austen-style prose - that would be suicidal. But I will attempt to bring the highest level of my own prose, and to make it sparkle. Val McDermid attemptaustenbring Change image and share on social
I have a vernacular house on the seaside in Northumberland and an Edwardian semi in south Manchester. They're both exactly as big as they need to be. I can't be doing with an ostentatious, big house - you can only be in one room at a time. Val McDermid bigedwardianhouse share on social
It was a bit unimaginable when I began that I'd ever get to 25 books. But it was also unimaginable how much crime-writing would have changed. Val McDermid beginbitebook Change image and share on social
I don't think of myself as Scottish or lesbian when I sit down and write. I am glad I have broken out of that limited audience. Val McDermid audiencebreakglad Change image and share on social