Thank you once again Rosy for a considered post. As someone who is an unpublished memoirist I am proud that I have completed my book and I can put my hand on my heart and say everything I have written is true. Although memory and perceptions can vary. I have had people check what I say and corrected errors in memories from childhood. What Sally Walker has done is shaken the trust between writer and reader. If only she had been open about certain aspects.
I am going to start a substack for unpublished memoirists, as an area for support for each other.
You must keep going you are a brilliant writer, unfortunately publishing is a ruthless world. 😘😘
I remember when everyone on Medium was seemingly falling over backwards to praise them and their book. Obviously there was stuff that had to be cut from the final draft...
Yes, something didn’t ring true and I was shocked and disappointed. But it sold 2 million copies…I’m also interested to see how Penguin Random House deals with it all.
Thank you for highlighting this media storm about a memoir with an enormous hole where the truth should go. Besides damaging reader’s confidence that what they are reading is indeed, a true story, there is another cannonball hole that this scandal has caused. And that’s that publishers, never all that keen to take on a memoir in the first place, (who wants to know the story of an unknown, (a NOBODY, as my friend unkindly put it) when it might not pay off financially? How many other memoirists’ chances have been ruined by Raynor Winn’s deception. I’ve written my post on that today. IF ONE MEMOIRIST LIES, DOES THAT MEAN WE ALL DO?
Thanks for this, Rose. I couldn’t agree more. It just highlights how authors are merely money making machines for publishers and, as you say, are unknown authors a good bet or not?
I enjoyed Salt Path… once I got past the intitial whining and depression. So I was pretty peeved when I found out about Sally Walker. There’s a whole readership out there, a sympathetic readership, who don’t like being made fools of.
I always feel sad when writers I have admired show cracks in the lustre.
It’s a little bit like JK Rowling, whom I admired on many levels until she became so vehemently anti-trans etc. She can be as anti- about anything she likes privately but the key is ‘private’, I think. How many LGBTQI folk have adored the world of Harry Potter? And how hurt must they feel now?
I also find celebrity memoirs where they diss others all a bit much. The salacious goss gets folk in but it would be nice if the writers actually had a look at the other side because there’s always 2 sides to every story.
Gosh, maybe there’s another side to Walker’s… will we ever know and would we believe her?
So much available—but, still happy to enjoy your online ramblings…and, yes, shouldn’t publishers shed light on more average, less show stopping life so we can learn a thing or two from each other
Thank you once again Rosy for a considered post. As someone who is an unpublished memoirist I am proud that I have completed my book and I can put my hand on my heart and say everything I have written is true. Although memory and perceptions can vary. I have had people check what I say and corrected errors in memories from childhood. What Sally Walker has done is shaken the trust between writer and reader. If only she had been open about certain aspects.
I am going to start a substack for unpublished memoirists, as an area for support for each other.
You must keep going you are a brilliant writer, unfortunately publishing is a ruthless world. 😘😘
Thank you, Jo. You hit the nail on the head when you said Sally Walker broke the trust between writer and reader.
I think that’s a great idea to start a Substack for unpublished memoirists and I’m sure @Rose would be interested.
Thanks again for your kind words about my writing - it means a lot - and for your continued support. 💕
I remember when everyone on Medium was seemingly falling over backwards to praise them and their book. Obviously there was stuff that had to be cut from the final draft...
Yes, something didn’t ring true and I was shocked and disappointed. But it sold 2 million copies…I’m also interested to see how Penguin Random House deals with it all.
Thank you for highlighting this media storm about a memoir with an enormous hole where the truth should go. Besides damaging reader’s confidence that what they are reading is indeed, a true story, there is another cannonball hole that this scandal has caused. And that’s that publishers, never all that keen to take on a memoir in the first place, (who wants to know the story of an unknown, (a NOBODY, as my friend unkindly put it) when it might not pay off financially? How many other memoirists’ chances have been ruined by Raynor Winn’s deception. I’ve written my post on that today. IF ONE MEMOIRIST LIES, DOES THAT MEAN WE ALL DO?
Thanks for this, Rose. I couldn’t agree more. It just highlights how authors are merely money making machines for publishers and, as you say, are unknown authors a good bet or not?
Truth is everything, isn’t it?
I enjoyed Salt Path… once I got past the intitial whining and depression. So I was pretty peeved when I found out about Sally Walker. There’s a whole readership out there, a sympathetic readership, who don’t like being made fools of.
I always feel sad when writers I have admired show cracks in the lustre.
It’s a little bit like JK Rowling, whom I admired on many levels until she became so vehemently anti-trans etc. She can be as anti- about anything she likes privately but the key is ‘private’, I think. How many LGBTQI folk have adored the world of Harry Potter? And how hurt must they feel now?
I also find celebrity memoirs where they diss others all a bit much. The salacious goss gets folk in but it would be nice if the writers actually had a look at the other side because there’s always 2 sides to every story.
Gosh, maybe there’s another side to Walker’s… will we ever know and would we believe her?
Oh so true, Prue. I wouldn’t believe a word Sally Walker said but I did previously. She has done irreparable damage to her career.
So much available—but, still happy to enjoy your online ramblings…and, yes, shouldn’t publishers shed light on more average, less show stopping life so we can learn a thing or two from each other
Thank you, Ellen. I couldn’t agree more! I’m tired of celebrity authors hogging all the limelight. I appreciate you reading my ramblings!
It sounds like such a roll of bad luck for you Sally with your book. I hope you get published soon.
Thanks, June. It’s been a long, painful process.