The Kirkcaldy Book - Community Forums - Domestic bliss - Books, food, wine... and football

Books, food, wine... and football... frm the Fife Free Press

Dining In The Streets Of Raith is a unique fundraiser for Raith Rovers. Allan Crow speaks to Val McDermid on her joint venture with fellow Fifer, Rovers diehard and
award-winning crimewriter, Ian Rankin

LITERARY lunches form part of every author's schedule, but Val McDermid is looking forward to dining out with a difference when she returns home next month.

The Kirkcaldy-born best-selling author is teaming up with Ian Rankin for ''Dining In The Streets Of Raith'' – a unique event in aid of Raith Rovers.

''Books, food, wine and football – four of life's greatest pleasures all rolled up into one evening'' was how she summed up the night which promises to be the single biggest fundraiser for Rovers this year.

Val and Ian will host tables at the meal and then take part in a Q & A session chaired by journalist, and fellow Raith fan, Tom Brown, and the emphasis is very much on fun.

''I didn't want it to be a black tie do where everyone feels they have to be on their best behaviour,'' she said. ''It'll be a relaxed evening where folk can enjoy good food, and we'll chat away with Tom – we're pretty relaxed about taking questions on any subject so we'll see where it goes.

''It's also a chance for folk to maybe get a book signed or just come up for a chat about our work. It's that kind of evening ... !

''We wanted something a wee bit different, so it was excellent to get the menu for the meal from Delia Smith and then work with the college. It's about bringing people together, and Ian and I are both really looking forward to it.

''I've done lots of literary lunches, but never one with a footballing theme, so this is a first!''

There's also a chance for guests to bid to be a named character in the next books from each of the best-selling authors, although that may mean they meet a very gory ending!

''People really enjoy it,'' said Val. ''One woman who won a bid did ask me not to make her a murder victim as she had a superstition about that. I made her the mother of the victim!

''We are very clear that we have the right to do what we want with the character's name – but people really love seeing their name in print. They usually don't mind what we do to them!''

The dinner is the latest way Val has supported the club – earlier this season she sponsored the visitors' stand, now re-named the McDermid Stand.

It not only recognises her position as one of the foremost crime writers in the UK, but also pays tribute to her father, Jim, who was a scout with Raith Rovers who found, among others, the genius that was Jim Baxter.

Football has been a lifelong passion for Val, and she even combined it with crime writing in 'Beneath The Bleeding' which saw terrorists detonate a bomb in a football stadium.

Her last novel, 'A Darker Domain' was also set in Fife, and rekindled the powerful emotions of the miners' strike intertwined with a murder mystery.

''It was great to go back and revisit some of the places of my youth,'' said Val. ''Some parts of the coastline have changed so dramatically. Old buildings have gone, housing has gone up ... it's quite different.''

Val McDermid and Ian Rankin have been inducted into the Crime Writers Association's Hall of Fame.

The Fife duo were honoured at the annual awards which were broadcast on ITV3 this week.