The Salt Path author Raynor Winn confirms she wrote secret first book

The Salt Path author Raynor Winn confirms she wrote secret first book

This article reveals that Raynor Winn, author of the acclaimed book *The Salt Path*, which details a transformative walking journey and brought her significant recognition as a debut writer, had in fact published an earlier book under a pseudonym.

Key points from the article:

– **Previous Publication:** Raynor Winn wrote and published a book in 2012 under the alias *Izzy Wyn-Thomas*. This book was titled *How Not to Dal Dy Dir*.
– **Publishing Details:** The 2012 book was published by Gangani Publishing, a company owned by Raynor and her husband Moth Winn. The book was sold primarily as part of a prize draw to win their home in north Wales.
– **Claims of Debut:** Despite winning several awards as a debut author for *The Salt Path* (published in 2018), Winn repeatedly claimed that *The Salt Path* was the first book she had ever written.
– **Content and Reception:** The earlier book was a “darkly humorous novel” involving Welsh farmers and other characters, but very few copies were printed, and it is difficult to find.
– **Legal Names and Business:** Gangani Publishing was registered with Companies House in 2012, listing Tim Walker and Sally Walker as company director and shareholder, which are Winn’s and her husband’s legal names.
– **Public and Literary Reception:** Readers like Matt Swarbrick bought the 2012 book seeking relatable stories, though the bookshop in Pwllheli (possibly run by Stephen Lloyd Wright) reportedly refused to stock it.

In summary, while Raynor Winn publicly positioned *The Salt Path* as her first novel, records and legal statements confirm that she authored and published an earlier work under a different name. This revelation came out in a BBC Sounds podcast titled *Secrets of the Salt Path*

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More