Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon are set to host a special festive edition of their in-conversation event, 'In The Company of Books', as part of Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities on December 5. The event will take place at the Assembly Hall, where the duo will discuss their shared love for literature over mulled wine, while also featuring yet-to-be-revealed special guests. Both women highlight that their friendship is deeply rooted in their mutual passion for reading, which has been a consistent theme in their conversations. McDermid, a celebrated crime writer, has sold over 19 million books worldwide, while Sturgeon, Scotland's former First Minister, has started working on her own memoir. Unique Assembly, the event's producer, promises this gathering will be a highlight of the Christmas calendar, inviting attendees to engage in a festive literary celebration. The event is part of a larger series of activities aimed at enhancing Edinburgh’s reputation as a winter tourism destination.