‘The Salt Path’ Fallout: Raynor Winn’s Next Book Delayed as Publisher Supports “Distressed” Author

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Raynor Winn’s upcoming book has been postponed, as her publisher verified, following an inquiry that raised questions about the truthfulness of the incidents depicted in her popular memoir titled “The Salt Path.

Winn’s account of her arduous trek along the English coast with her husband Moth is widely regarded as a towering figure in the non-fiction genre. This poignant and vivid narrative details their impoverished journey across England, following the loss of their home due to a poor financial decision, and highlights their reliance on the generosity of others for survival.

Winn’s story about her tough hike along the English coast with husband Moth is well-known as an important work in non-fiction. It tells the heartbreaking story of their struggles after losing their home due to a bad investment, and shows how they managed by relying on the help of kind strangers.

Following the sale of more than two million copies since its launch in March 2018 and the announcement of a film adaptation starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs earlier this year, The Salt Path has been under scrutiny recently.

An article published by The Observer in the U.K. on Saturday revealed that Winn’s true names are Sally and Tim Walker. The report stated that the repossession of their home was not due to financial difficulties as previously claimed, but rather because Winn allegedly defrauded her previous employer of approximately £64,000 ($87,000). It was also suggested in the investigation that Winn received a loan of £100,000 ($136,000) from a relative to avoid a potential criminal charge.

The Winns stirred readers as well when The Observer stated, following consultations with medical professionals, that Moth’s terminal illness diagnosis was questionable. Raynor Winn had penned down that symptoms of his Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) appeared to have improved due to their trek along the English coast, but experts expressed skepticism about this assertion given that he had lived for 12 years beyond initially showing signs of the disease.

Due to recent speculations about Moth’s health affecting Raynor Winn and her family deeply, Penguin Michael Joseph has prioritized supporting the author. As a result, they have decided, in consultation with the author, to postpone the release of ‘On Winter Hill’, initially scheduled for October. A new publication date will be announced later.

In October, it was planned to release “On Winter Hill,” which is Winn’s fourth book. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Penguin Michael Joseph for additional details.

The novel, “The Salt Path,” is entirely based on a real-life account, as stated by its author. On Wednesday, she published a comprehensive response, addressing each point raised in the original article in great detail.

Within Winn’s reply, there were letters that appeared to verify her spouse was diagnosed with CBD. One of these letters hinted at a possibly uncommon variation of the condition or potentially an even more rare affliction.

On her website, Winn wrote that she had described Moth’s condition in a way that was extremely truthful, making it one of the hardest accusations to bear.”

“Winn stated on her website that describing Moth’s condition with such honesty made the allegations particularly difficult to stomach.

She additionally stated that the account of how the couple allegedly lost their home, as presented in The Observer‘s article, is incorrect. However, the writer acknowledged potential errors she might have committed while working under stressful conditions, stating “For me it was a demanding period.” “It was also a time when errors were being made within the industry.” She wrote, “Any mistakes I made during my tenure in that office, I deeply lament, and I sincerely apologize.

Winn admitted that the police questioned her, but clarified she wasn’t accused of swindling her employee. She explained, “I arrived at a mutual agreement with my boss, Martin Hemmings, as I didn’t have enough proof to substantiate the events in question. Both parties consented to the terms of this settlement willingly.

In a conversation about aliases, she shared that “Winn was my birth surname” and Walker is my taken surname. She opted for the moniker Raynor over her given name Sally Ann, and mentioned casually that Moth is short for Timothy.

So far, THR hasn’t received any replies from Anderson, Isaacs, Penguin Films, or Number 9 Films, the ones responsible for adapting the movie. A representative from BBC Films chose not to discuss the aftermath.

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2025-07-11 16:54