There is still a funny notion that women should not write violent fiction. Val McDermid fictionfunnynotion Change image and share on social
I think Jane Austen builds suspense well in a couple of places, but she squanders it, and she gets to the endgame too quickly. So I will be working on those things. Val McDermid austenbuildcouple 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
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
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
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
The condition of rage is one in which I find myself starting my day - once I see the news headlines. Val McDermid conditiondayfind Change image and share on social
Sometimes fear is used as a way to control. Val McDermid controlfear Change image and share on social
Growing up in Fife, you were aware that there were these creatures called lesbians, but it was in the realms of complete freakishness. And I didn't feel like a freak. Val McDermid awarecallcomplete Change image and 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
