It's not magic that takes us to another world - it's storytelling. Val McDermid More Quotes by Val McDermid More Quotes From Val McDermid A society gets the criminals it deserves. Val McDermid criminals deserve That was the trouble with moving houses; no matter how carefully you packed the books, they never ended up on the new shelves in quite the right place. Val McDermid house book moving Not even a hand-stitched suit could hide a body gone ruinously to seed. I was tempted to offer some fashion advice, but I didn't think he'd welcome the news that this year, bellies are being worn inside the trousers. Val McDermid fashion hands thinking He frowned as he struggled to remember. It was like watching an elephant crochet. Val McDermid elephants remember No woman is a heroine to her dentist. Val McDermid dentist heroines Time for the likeliest story since Mary told Joseph it was God’s. Val McDermid mary stories When all else fails, go for the ego. Val McDermid when-all-else-fails ego failing Steve Mosby has become one of a handful of writers who make me excited about crime fiction. Val McDermid excited crime fiction I am the despair of my accountant; I am the plastic bags of receipts. Val McDermid accountant i-am plastic despair The condition of rage is one in which I find myself starting my day - once I see the news headlines. Val McDermid day see myself news 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 holidays bible time school 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 i-am myself think broken 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 books get how changed We weren't dirt poor, but there was no spare money kicking around. While it was very much understood that the way to a better life was through education, books were a luxury we couldn't afford. But when I was six, we actually moved opposite the central library, and that became my home from home. Val McDermid money education home life I've never wanted to live in a ghetto or write in a ghetto. I want to write about a world that reflects the one most people live in. Gay people are just one aspect of that. Val McDermid live gay people world