Pan Macmillan bags memoir from veteran Lewis on walking UK coastline

Pan Macmillan has bagged Finding Hildasay, a memoir from veteran Chris Lewis which reflects on his time spent walking the United Kingdom coastline. 

Publishing director Sara Cywinski acquired world all language rights directly from the author. Lydia Ramah, Pan non-fiction editor, will edit the book. The book will be published on February 2023. 

The synopsis reads: "In August 2017, suffering with severe depression, Chris Lewis made an impulsive decision to set himself a challenge – walk the entire coastline of the UK. He gave himself a few days to rustle up a tent and walking boots, then left for good with just a tenner in his pocket and two days’ worth of food."

"Five years later, he has navigated the west coast, Northern Ireland, the hard-rock cliffs of Scotland, the perimeters of the Scottish Islands – where he spent three months on the uninhabited island Hildasay with no fresh water or food – and the marshes of the East Coast.  During this time, Chris has learnt to live off the land, but he has also been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who have provided shelter, warm clothing and food for him to keep going. And, in the process, he has raised over a quarter of a million pounds for the charity SSAFA, which had been instrumental in helping him a few years beforehand.

"But what he really hadn’t bargained on was the passengers set to join him: Jet, a beautiful dog he adopted on the west coast of Scotland, who hasn’t left his side since, and the love of his life Kate, who he met by a pure twist of fate and who has just welcomed their baby Magnus into the world. The family of four are set to finish the final leg of their coastal journey together."  

"To leave behind life as you know it with only £10 to your name and to set yourself a challenge like this takes guts," said Cywinski. "But to be open to life-changing events, discovering who you are and the real meaning of happiness is extraordinary. Chris is extraordinary. But there is also so much ordinary in there too. I think everyone will be able to relate to Chris’ journey, and I’m thrilled Pan Macmillan has the chance to work with him on his first book."

Lewis added: ‘‘Writing this book has been an adventure in itself. For the first time in my life, to be able to look back, reflect and tell my story has helped me to understand and learn so much about myself. Finding true happiness was not just about the walk and the adventure; there was so much I needed to learn that would involve going deeper into my mind. Writing this book has finally put a lid on the box to my unsettled past and helped me to accept, learn from and forgive myself for any mistakes that I may have made. I now feel like I can move forward with the rest of my life and I’m excited for the future. It has been a sheer pleasure and pure joy to finally put my story out to the world."