Thread 18: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

Hello all. I've simplified the opening post as I don't think we need to keep reposting all the links, timelines and so on at this stage of proceedings.

The Observer's original exposé: The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...
First thread: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet
Links to threads 2-16, the other 20 Observer articles and videos to date, Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement, our timeline and sources can all be accessed in the OP and first few posts of Thread 17: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5403285-thread-17-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse are welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from at least some of the Observer exposé items 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. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea. Please do not engage with drive-by scolders who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. We have done amazingly well together for 17 very interesting, very serious and very silly threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

Now three months in, if these threads could wear slogan t-shirts they would be Mark Twain's often misquoted 'The report of my death was an exaggeration'. Applications in writing from correspondents seeking supply parcels of fudge and cider will be tolerated.

Here we are again
Disappointed as can be
All good pals and jolly good company
Strolling round the path
Happy on a spree
All good pals and jolly good company

Never mind the weather, never mind the rain
Now that we're together, whoops we go again!
Whoops, we go again
La-di-da-di-da, la-di-da-di-dee
All good pals and jolly good company

Keep to the path. No saltiness. May the fudge and cider be with you.

I'm all for fishwives, termagants, viragos (viragoes? sp?) and witches!

(Though it was inspired by a novel on the shelf nearby, Angels and Men by Catherine Fox, in which the theology student protagonist has a sort of imaginary inner fishwife who cracks her knuckles approvingly in her head when she's appropriately rude to awful people.)

What do they want, though?

I would have said that these threads were an ample, open-source resource for anyone interested in following up the story, with lots of good work done on reconstructing timelines and finding RL records, suggesting further areas for exploration etc.

I don't know what they imagine that contacting people individually would add?

I don't know, but feel slightly insulted that they've never bothered me...

I haven't been either. I know several threads ago someone (honestly forget who) was going to contact Our Chloe with something they'd chanced on and thought should be checked out (they quite properly didn't say what it was) but most information is pretty much open for anyone to read I'd have thought.

Unless they are dazzled by the wit and intelligence manifested on these threads and think there could be a rival to 'The Thursday Murder Club' in the offing. 😂

Bags I Kristin Scott Thomas for the film adapation. She looks nothing like me but when has that ever got in the way of a story, eh?!

Ooh oooh, can I have Tilda Swinton play me, please?

Maybe we could get Martin Kemp for Timoth as I can't imagine poor Jason Isaacs wanting to repeat the experience. Or maybe he could be Simon, as they are of course doppelgangers and interchangeable to the good people of SW England.

Dustin Hoffman is a good actor who could play Timmoth very well.

My parody of TSP was going to be Rory Bremner as TimMoth, Jan Ravens as SalRay, David Mitchell - Simon, and Dawn French as every stroppy local.

Someone else on here suggested The Krankies for Dave and Julie - but they are a bit too far north!

This has made me really, really laugh @HatStickBoots !

Jo Lumley for the sneery woman who calls them "tramps" (allegedly)

These suggestions are hilarious and brilliant!

Cillian Murphy as Bill Cole, the well intentioned cider farm owner. I can imagine Tommy Shelby's glittering gaze when he realises Timoth's imminent demise was much exaggerated, ie a complete lie.

I don’t get the impression SalRay and TimMoth need anyone or anything else much (apart from lots of cash, which they now have). They seem to be happily Co-dependent. Also SalRay can’t stand other people.

Interesting to find this - LL and OWH were a two book deal.

https://archive.ph/NpUQZ

So two 2-book deals. How usual or unusual is that?

I think, after everything we have found out about Raynor Winn, we can see how she was 'up for' writing what the agent and publisher prompted was what readers wanted to hear.

I saw a (very bad) panel of Loose Women addressing this controversy. It was, however, revealing to hear Gloria saying how the publisher suggests you may like to make that a bit juicier in your memoir. Colleen said how she couldn't lie, with the suggestions she was given, as she knew she would then be asked about it in subsequent interviews.

We know that SalRay has no such scruples. This is the main reason she has sold millions of books.

Yes, as much as Raynor Winn has deceived through her writing, it is also easy to see how she got swept up by admiration and deals to essentially become a willing puppet. Less an author and more a brand.

TSP was a standalone deal. TWS followed separately after TSP success. Then two book deal with LL and OWH.

Reading about the overseas sales, perhaps Penguin will publish OWH hoping that overseas markets are not getting as much info about the controversies to make it worthwhile.

From the blurb on Amazon about OWH (Raynor reflects on the mountains they've climbed) I wonder whether Three Mountains and a Ceilidh is finally going to see the light of day! Sounds less of a romp and more of a fudge-less trudge, after what is described (in what is a bit of an understatement after everything that has occurred) as a turbulent year. 👣👣👣

It's fair to say that The Salt Path scandal hasn't gone down well in the Netherlands, one of TSP's major overseas markets!

I agree about her becoming a brand. She’s never been an authentic author in the sense that she’s never been driven by the passion to write in itself. It’s always been a calculated means to an end. The quality of her writing (pretty poor) reflects that too.
important to remember though that TSP isn’t about a bit of embellishment or jazzing up suggested by the publisher. Its entire premise is based on lies. I absolutely don’t believe for a moment that PRH knew about SW’s criminal activity.

Completely agree with you @crossedlines and I think it’s important not to forget that. We have been told repeatedly by the author in the written word and spoken in interviews that TSP was a true memoir and gift for a dying husband losing his memory (incidentally, if he really is losing his memory, he’s far easier for her to gaslight. An even more uncomfortable thought but would tie in with a pp’s mention of the dark triad personality type). According to Raynor, this charming little diary was published with little to no editing. I honestly don’t think that Penguin had to ask Sally to write anything a certain way. I believe she knew exactly what formula was working and simply exploited it herself.

I wouldn't want to take anything away from believing she tells massive whoppers in their origin story!

The context in the posts above was about then going on to be awarded a further two-book deal.

In Sally Walker, Penguin and Jennifer Christie had the most able truth contortionist of their wildest dreams. We know, at least, that they were all in on playing with important dates.