She has already sold over 10 million books worldwide but Val McDermid has revealed that her sponsorship of Raith has opened up a whole new chapter for her in China.
The acclaimed crime writer is a lifelong Rovers fan and has a stand at Stark’s Park named after her.
The author’s website address, valmcdermid.com also adorns the stand and features on the front of the team’s home strip which she sponsors.
Surprisingly, that has led to heightened interest in her books in China with Scottish football shown on TV there.
Val, who also sits on the club’s board, said: “The sponsorship worked well for me last season. We got a lot of publicity for it in the first instance because I don’t think a writer had ever sponsored a football team before.
“We were on BBC Breakfast, we were in lots of print and we actually had the New York Times on the phone. It was funny because they clearly don’t really understand fitba in America.
“The reporter said to me, ‘So, if another club came along with a better deal, would you take it?’. I was like, ‘No!’. They didn’t understand it’s a tribal thing.
“But where I’m convinced it’s had the greatest impact is in China because the highlights have been shown on Chinese TV. I’m sure all these Chinese folk are going, ‘What is this valmcdermid.com?’ and checking it out on the Internet.
“I’m published in Chinese by the Elegant People’s Publishing Company which simply demonstrates they’ve never seen a photo of me! I couldn’t quantify the sponsorship in book sales but everything that puts you in front of people has an impact.
“You come across Raith fans in all sorts of strange places. I encountered one in a restaurant in Barbados who came up to me and we started chatting.
“The other thing I have really noticed on a personal level is a lot more men come up to me in the streets than they used to. It used to be women readers but now it’s guys saying, ‘I don’t support your club, but I think what you’re doing is great and I’ve started reading your books’.”
Val admitted the presence of Rangers and Hibs once again in the Championship next season will be of benefit to Raith in terms of increased revenue.
And she also joked that she will be “forensically examining” the opposition before each game she watches.
She said: “It is definitely helpful to have the bigger clubs in the division because you get more media coverage.
“I think we will get the benefit of Rangers and Hibs in the league because they bring a tremendous support which is handy for our coffers but also for our players to come up against top-class opposition.
“I will be forensically examining our opposition before every game and adding my tuppenceworth in the boardroom. Nothing will escape my eagle eye!”
Val revealed that she was involved in the appointment of new Rovers manager Ray McKinnon and she is already impressed with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game.
She added: “I’m very excited by Ray. He’s really positive and he’s got all these ideas of bringing youth players through.
“Attitude is the one thing you can’t instil. You can help someone get the right players they want and help with training and facilities but you’ve had it if the attitude isn’t there.
“Everything I’ve seen about him has impressed me and I’m looking forward to an exciting season with some really good new signings to add to the core of the team.
“We were all involved in the final stages of appointing the manager and I was very impressed with him at the interview. He talked very well and with great enthusiasm and clearly knew his stuff.
“It’s good to be part of the direction of the club but I have to say I don’t love board meetings. I’m self employed and I haven’t had a job for nearly 30 years. I’m not used to sitting in a room having to be polite and not always saying exactly what I’m thinking.
“I don’t have the time or expertise to be chairwoman I’m happy to leave that to other people and support and snipe from the sidelines.”