Thread 8: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

Well, this has turned out to be slightly longer than the dozen or so replies I expected when I started the first thread!

The Observer The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

2nd Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-whats-in-the-book-and-what-the-observer-has-found

3rd Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-the-truth-behind-the-blockbuster-book-video

4th Observer
‘I felt I was being gaslit’ – the landlord who helped Ray...

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Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement Raynor Winn

New posters welcome. It would be helpful to read at least the four Observer items above before posting.

To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Please do not engage with possible visitors who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail.

We have done amazingly well together - in the main that is, not mentioning any names but you know who you are! - for seven threads so far. I can't be on the threads as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion ticking along in a healthy and civil fashion is very welcome.

No saltiness. Keep to the path. Thank you.

I don't know. The books are making enough money that Penguin might just keep schtum and take the blame by association.
Or that last novel might be pulled altogether. I suspect that there's going to be a significant delay before publication anyway. But I doubt Penguin would fire such a moneyspinner just for being blamed for RayMoth deciding that she 'couldn't tell the whole truth as Penguin wouldn't allow it.'

I'm not in the publishing sector but if I was in Penguin's shoes, besides waiting to see what new revelations emerge in the coming weeks, I'd be considering the considerable sunk marketing costs that have led to RW becoming a money spinner and the RW global brand which will probably sell future books whatever their intrinsic literary merit vs the damage to Penguin's integrity/brand by being seen to support somebody who has allegedly embezzled £64k, deliberately distorted the chronology and severity of a severe life limiting neurological condition and engaged in a web of deceit and left a trail of destruction behind her - if the Observer allegations prove watertight.

That was a long sentence!

If any of the books still sell, they'll sell them. I expect book 4 will publish regardless of all the controversy. Even if we never hear from RW again. They've had all the publicity they need now, and I reckon enough people will still want to read it, people like Humankindness, is my thinking anyway.

@AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta JI also says ‘I’ve played some pretty awful people’ but they are beacons of goodness in comparison. I think Moth is very rehearsed in script, not necessarily an uncommon thing to do re: a piece to camera. If he’s really that unusually, charismatic & lovable it might explain if not excuse Ray’s behaviour. Moth’s backstory is unusually grey (?)

@Catwith69lives Her reading material is interesting, Newby’s book, an escaping prisoner on the run, a lovestruck one. Parallels?

Ray is well read in forgotten gem genres etc perhaps & a living example of how being widely read means you evolve into a decent writer.

I would be interested in reading Ray’s earlier Izzy Wyn book…

I think a lot may hang on whether any totally new revelations come out.

I think if things stay as they are and the observer story tomorrow just adds colour to the picture then Penguin and the WalkerWinns may ride out the storm and continue albeit in a much more low key way. I don't like it, but it does seem a bizarre number of people find the theft vaguely forgivable (perhaps because she paid it back) and have been sufficiently bamboozled by the doctors letters. But if I think there are new revelations (eg a further theft or similar) then Penguin really will have to give up on their walking cure gravy train

I’d be amazed if Book 4 sells, though folk can be weird. A lot of people jumped on the bandwagon (and I freely admit I did) and read TSP because of the triumph over adversity and because it was supposedly truthful. I thought it was pretty badly written and didn’t bother with 2 or 3.

Hopefully There may be more to come from Penguin about the level of deception and how they intend to proceed.

Totally agree 🫠 she comes across almost anxious? Only relaxes when referring to the book she’s been reading.

I only read the first book as I was suspicious about so much of the content, I also thought she’d deliberately written it as if he actually dies at the end. Reading on here about later books, apart from the student loan morality question, why was he still driving then with memory problems and driving the wrong way for an hour? Doubt they informed the insurance company/DVLA of his health condition. Totally reckless and selfish.

I think we ALL want to read the Izzy Wyn book. PRH could be in talks right now to publish it 😂

Think it will all keep going given the staggering number of 5 star reviews on Amazon which shows that most people swallowed it whole and will continue to do so.

That begs a couple of questions: 1) Moth only features peripherally in 'On Winter Hill'. Is this repositioning of the narrative as 'CBD light' and heavier on SW's commentary on pressing social,political and ecological issues of the day part of a subtle reinvention of SW sans RW?. 2) Having walked the SWCP, Cape Wrath Trail, WHW, PW, ODP and C2C, is RW in danger of running out of UK LDPs? What next for travelogue#5 - if there is one?

Maybe she's been under duress ever since the embezzlement?.. (joke)

Maybe something like... 'mistakes were made in publishing' with no further elaboration.

Then followed by several paragraphs written in a highly melodramatic style about:

'being mortally wounded after being washed over by a tsunami of allegations questioning my veracity and leaving Moth & I clinging to the flotsam of what was left of our lives... and wishing that these hateful people would go take a hike'.

I can't remember whether anyone has previously posted the Salt Path episode of 'When it Hits the Fan', the PR management programme with David Yelland and Simon Lewis, so here's the link again. Their take on it was that PRH would probably escape censure and that any backlash would be on SW/TW:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002fj9b

I do agree though that this is dependent on what The Obs print tomorrow. I think it does need to be more 'new' information because otherwise they run the risk of looking vindictive by revisiting the stuff they've printed already.

’Izzy Wyn’s’ book got me thinking about Caroline Calloway. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/13/caroline-calloway-interview-cambridge-scammer/

Who reneged on a ££ memoir type book deal & self published. Turns out her close friend was her ghost writer & she scammed her way into Cambridge University.

@DisappointedReader I'm feeling a bit left out. What can I be special correspondent for?

What are my areas of expertise? I want to help, just tell me how.

Yes, true. I was just struck by the absolute certainty in the statement, really, rather than just saying "It seems too far-fetched to me". Made me wonder.

The premise for the book looks pretty bleak - walk (most of) the C2C path in the middle of winter because it had always been a dream of SW and TW's before his health suddenly deteriorates

Rather than wild camping SW stays in BnBs. Sounds like a bog standard hiking trip with a fair amount of rumination thrown in on 'the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' and pressing issues of the day. Call me a cynic, but I suspect the RW brand will shift a fair few copies irrespective of the book's lliterary merit. As the book may never be published, at this stage it is pure conjecture.

I suspect a lot of people felt there were some things that didn’t quite add up. When I read it and chatted to friends about it, we all felt the part about how they were screwed over by a friend and lost their house sounded odd. But I think most of us concluded that this was a bad business decision - putting money into a business that failed and being embarrassed about it. Absolutely not stealing money from her employer. That would never have crossed my mind.

there’s a massive gulf between losing money and a house through poor business acumen and being a thief.

I think it'll have to be new - the investigations editor on the Observer news room podcast said when the story was initially being looked into, they weren't bothered about slight inconsistencies or exaggerations, just big things that undermined the claim of "this is a true story". If I were to guess, I think they might drop something more substantial on Moth's illness. What that might be I have no idea. Chloe H was apparently looking for people to contact her about walking the SWCP (though whether it was her is not certain)....she could be looking into the plausibility of walking the SWCP even with mild CBS. Though not sure if that would add anything robust. Alternatively, her original source might now be willing to speak up?

A bit of an off top but a few threads ago someone has suggested good scam/ fundraisers documentaries.
So far I’ve watched the Apple Cider Vinegar - story about a girl who allegedly had a cancer and published an app & a cook book (published by Penguin) 🤯
Surprise surprise “A spokesperson for the publisher told the Daily Mail that no proof of her illnesses was sought prior to publishing. “We did not feel this was necessary as The Whole Pantry is a collection of food recipes, which Penguin has published in good faith,” she said.”
Then I’ve watched “Scamanda” same story, woman allegedly had cancer and raised hundreds of thousands of $$$ from supporters to fund her lavish lifestyle.
This is when I learned about Munchausen Syndrome.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/munchausen-syndrome/overview/

I’m not suggesting this has anything to do with SW and TW but found it interesting.

Didn’t Penguin pull the cook book though?

Lots of areas still uncovered. Wild pooing, longterm effects of a noodle and fudge diet, cider-making?

Yes the recipe book and the app were both pulled, eventually.

On the nutritional aspect of the walk, how many calories did they average a day?