With her new book, Scottish author Val McDermid wants to “charm you into winter”
On NPR's Book of the Day, Scottish author Val McDermid shares her relationship with winter, from the comforts of a warm hearth with books and whisky to her volunteer work helping the homeless on the Oxford Canal. She reflects on Scottish winter traditions, describing how families gather for Hogmanay celebrations and Burns Suppers, complete with traditional foods and communal performances of songs and poetry.
The conversation explores how winter's unique atmosphere shapes McDermid's approach to writing crime fiction. From her desk overlooking a nature reserve, she describes how the season's darkness transforms ordinary scenes into potential story elements, and explains her deliberate choice to avoid certain common tropes in the genre, including the frequent use of dog walkers discovering bodies in crime narratives.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jan 13, 2026 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
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1-Page Summary
Mcdermid's Personal Perspectives and Experiences With Winter
Val McDermid shares her appreciation for winter's distinctive contrasts, particularly enjoying the transition from the outdoor cold to the warmth of home, where she finds comfort in books, a fireplace, and whisky. She describes how the season's tranquility, with its frost-covered trees and crisp leaves, provides inspiration for her writing process.
However, McDermid also acknowledges winter's darker side. Through her volunteer work with the Cyrenians, serving hot drinks and soup to the homeless from a barge on the Oxford Canal, she's witnessed firsthand how the season intensifies hardships for those without shelter. This disparity between comfort and struggle during winter deeply troubles her.
Cultural and Literary Traditions of Winter in Scotland
McDermid offers insights into Scottish winter traditions, particularly Hogmanay celebrations. She recalls childhood memories of families gathering on New Year's Eve, watching harbor fireworks at midnight, and participating in the tradition of sharing "party pieces" - individual contributions of songs, poems, or stories.
The Burns Supper tradition, she explains, honors Scotland's beloved poet Robert Burns with a feast of traditional dishes including haggis, neeps, and tatties. These gatherings feature speeches and songs celebrating Burns' legacy, with McDermid noting how even unfamiliar Burns songs captivate audiences through their engaging rhythms and passionate performances.
How Winter Can Inspire Crime Fiction Writers
McDermid reveals how winter's atmosphere influences crime fiction writing. From her desk overlooking a nature reserve, she describes how the winter darkness transforms ordinary scenes into potential story elements. She observes mysterious figures walking through the reserve at night, questioning their presence when they're without dogs. With humor, she mentions deliberately avoiding the common crime fiction trope of dog walkers discovering bodies by choosing not to own a dog herself.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- Create a cozy reading nook in your home to enjoy the contrast of winter's chill and indoor warmth. Find a comfortable corner, add a plush chair, soft lighting, and a shelf with your favorite books. Enhance the experience with a portable electric fireplace and a selection of teas or hot chocolate to emulate the warmth of whisky without needing alcohol.
- Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen during the winter months to help those facing hardships. By offering your time to serve food, distribute warm clothing, or simply lend an ear, you contribute to the well-being of individuals who struggle during the colder season, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.
- Host a themed dinner party celebrating a cultural tradition, such as a Burns Supper, with your own twist. Instead of sticking to the traditional menu, encourage guests to bring dishes from their own heritage or favorite winter recipes. Incorporate storytelling or performances into the evening, allowing everyone to share something personal, whether it's a poem, a song, or a short story.
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Mcdermid's Personal Perspectives and Experiences With Winter
Mcdermid Finds Delight In Winter's Cozy, Creative Aspects
Val McDermid shares her love for the sharp contrast that winter brings, between the chill of the outside world and the warm embrace of home.
Mcdermid Enjoys the Contrast Between the Cold Outdoors and the Cozy Indoors, Settling In With a Book, Fire, and Glass of Whisky
McDermid rhapsodizes about the pleasures of returning from the cold to the comforts of indoors—having the chance to huddle up with a good book by the fire, accompanied by a glass of whisky. This particular warmth and comfort is something she finds particularly delightful about the season.
Mcdermid: Winter's Calm Inspires My Next Writing
McDermid finds inspiration in the tranquil setting of her workroom with its views of mature trees. The crispness of winter allows her to observe the delicate, frosty traces of nature, which she compares to an ever-changing roadmap. This scenery, along with the crunch of frost-bitten leaves underfoot, creates a peaceful backdrop that stimulates her creative writing process. During winter, the clarity of the naked branches provides a canvas for her mind to wander and explore new narrative paths.
Mcdermid Acknowledges Winter's Challenges, Particularly for the Homeless
But McDermid is aware of the harsher realities of winter, which bring additional hardships for those without shelter.
Mcdermid Volunteered With a Charity Sheltering the Homeless
Through her work with the Cyrenians, McDermid has directly contributed to the wellbeing of homeless individuals, serving them hot drinks and soup aboard a barge on the Oxfor ...
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Mcdermid's Personal Perspectives and Experiences With Winter
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a personal winter inspiration space by choosing a room with a view of nature and setting it up for quiet reflection or creative work. By mimicking the tranquil setting that stimulates creativity, you can use the winter landscape as a backdrop for brainstorming sessions or journaling. For example, position your desk or favorite chair to face a window with a view of trees or the sky, and keep distractions to a minimum to encourage a flow of ideas.
- Develop a habit of taking mindful walks during winter to observe the details of the season and use them as prompts for creative projects or personal reflection. As you walk, pay attention to the sensory experiences—the sound of frosty leaves underfoot, the patterns of ice on surfaces, and the starkness of bare trees. Later, use these observations as writing prompts, photography subjects, or themes for artwork, allowing the winter environment to directly influence your creative output.
- Engage with local charities to unders ...
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Cultural and Literary Traditions of Winter in Scotland
Val McDermid shares a personal and cultural perspective on the Scottish winter traditions that combine family, literature, and celebration.
Scottish Hogmanay Tradition Described by Mcdermid
Hogmanay: Gatherings, Songs, Stories, and Midnight Fireworks at the Harbor
McDermid recalls Hogmanay as a tender memory from her childhood in the East Nuke of Fife. She describes the tradition where families come together on New Year's Eve to celebrate. At the stroke of midnight, they would go down to the harbor for a dazzling fireworks display, followed by a warm exchange of hugs, kisses, and good wishes for the new year.
Family's Hogmanay: Each Person Contributes a "Party Piece"
These gatherings are not just about being together but also include a tradition where every family member contributes a "party piece." This could be a song, a poem, or a story, allowing each person to add their own touch to the celebration.
Mcdermid on Burns Supper: Honoring Scotland's Poet Robert Burns
Burns Supper: Haggis, Neeps, Tatties, Whisky
McDermid explains that a Burns Supper, held in honor of Scotland's cherished poet Robert Burns, typically starts with cock-a-leekie soup. This is followed by haggis, turnips (neeps), and mashed potatoes (tatties), all served with a delicious whisky gravy.
Burns' Poetry Recitations: "Tam O' Shanter" and More
The Burns Supper is not limited to feasting; it is an evening filled with speeches and songs dedicated to the immortal memory of Robbie Burns. McDermid highlights that these speeches often include reci ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Cultural and Literary Traditions of Winter in Scotland
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a cultural celebration kit by gathering traditional Scottish recipes, song sheets, and poetry excerpts to host your own themed event. This kit could include a recipe card for cock-a-leekie soup, a printout of "Tam o' Shanter," and a playlist of Burns' songs. Use this kit to introduce friends and family to Scottish culture during gatherings, encouraging each person to perform or share something from the kit.
- Start a personal tradition of learning and performing a new piece of cultural art or literature each New Year's Eve. Choose a Scottish song, poem, or story and practice it leading up to the holiday. Perform it for your family or friends as your "party piece," fostering a deeper connection with the tradition of Hogmanay and expanding your cultural repertoire.
- Organize a virtual "Burns Supper" with ...
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How Winter Can Inspire Crime Fiction Writers
Crime fiction writers often draw inspiration from their environments to craft the eerie and suspenseful settings pivotal to their narratives. Winter, with its long nights and stark landscapes, offers a particular kind of muse for storytelling.
Winter Nights Inspire Crime Writers: Mcdermid Suggests
Mcdermid's Suspicion of Shadowy Figures in Winter Nights at the Nature Reserve
Val McDermid, sitting at her desk, finds the view of a nature reserve across the road from her home to be a wellspring of creative stimulation, especially during the winter nights. The absence of lights and the occasional appearance of shadowy figures traversing the otherwise still and cold environment provide fodder for the imagination. She remarks, "Sometimes there are shadowy figures walking through the nature reserve. Sometimes they have dogs and sometimes they don't have dogs. They make me wonder, if you don't have a dog, what are you doing wandering about a cold, lonely nature reserve in the middle of the night?"
Mcdermid Avoids the Classic Trope of Dog Walkers Finding Bodies By Not Owning a Dog
McDermid also touches on a classic trope in detective stories where dog walkers often happen upo ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
How Winter Can Inspire Crime Fiction Writers
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore your neighborhood at different times of day to find unique settings for your stories. By walking the same route at noon, dusk, and after dark, you'll notice different elements that change the atmosphere, such as the way shadows fall or the types of people and activities that occur at various hours. This can help you craft diverse and authentic scenes that reflect the changing moods of your setting.
- Transform your observations into story prompts by asking "what if" questions about mundane occurrences. For instance, if you see someone hurrying down the street on a foggy morning, ask yourself, "What if they're not late for work, but running from something?" This practice can turn everyday sights into the seeds of suspenseful narratives.
- Create a photo journal of your local environment during the winter m ...
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