The Journey That Changed Me: Roz Watkins

The Journey That Changed Me: Roz Watkins

From trekking in the hills of Kashmir to dodging a rhino in India, author Roz Watkins tells us about the journeys that changed her

Roz Watkins is the author of the critically acclaimed crime series DI Meg Dalton. Her novels, set in the Peak District, are known for their exceptional sense of place. Think atmospheric moors, gnarled forests and spooky local lore. Her protagonist is spirited and sensitive, but what appeals to me most about Roz's work is her willingness to venture into the darker corners of society.

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In Cut to the Bone, Roz examines the practice of factory farming. Its horrors are writ large in the novel, but the moral heart of the story never hinders the action. In fact, the grisly realities only heighten the tension.

We spoke to Roz about her latest book, why animal rights are important to her, how she's dealing with lockdown and the trip she remembers most fondly.

Your thrillers are set in the Peak District. What makes this a compelling setting?

It all started with me walking my dog ​​in the woods of Shining Cliff, a beautiful but spooky ancient woodland, complete with a dilapidated wire shack, an abandoned (and clearly haunted) mansion, and a 2,000-year-old yew tree where a woman used to live with her numerous children (inspiring the nursery rhyme Rock-A-Bye Baby). It felt like a place where your dog might find human remains, and that was the beginning of my first book.

alt=“The 2,000-year-old yew tree that inspired Rock-A-Bye Baby”>David Guyler/CC BY 2.0The 2,000-year-old yew tree that inspired Rock-A-Bye Baby

Derbyshire is full of these places - sheer cliffs, treacherous quarry pools in startling colors, underground caves. And the culture is rich in myths and legends that go along with them. We even have a few evil mermaids, even though we're 70 miles from the sea.

Not only are you an author, you are also a trained animal trainer. How did this come about?

Around 20 years ago I decided to take the step and get my own horse. I was lucky enough to come across a book called Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor, which discussed modern animal training techniques using positive reinforcement. I was unimpressed with dominance-based training and was looking for something more scientific and friendly.

alt=“Roz uses clicker training with horses”>Nick Brundle/ShutterstockRoz uses clicker training with horses

That got me into clicker training and I decided to pursue the official trainer program, which luckily for me included traveling to some beautiful places in California and Washington State. It was a fantastic, eye-opening course and it works on all animals, including humans!

The very first short story I wrote (The Cows) had an animal training theme (and murder, of course), and I managed to incorporate clicker-trained pigs into my latest book, Cut to the Bone. Why be saved by a man when the job can be done by a pig?

Cut to the Bone is a thriller, but it also deals with factory farming. Why?

For as long as I can remember, I have been appalled by factory farming and have been particularly concerned about pigs. Many pigs around the world spend their entire lives in crates where they cannot even turn around. Just think of how much fun a few hours on a Ryanair flight is and imagine that for your entire life.

Although these “sow stalls” are banned in the EU, pigs can still be kept in “farrowing crates” for five weeks after birth. These are again tiny boxes that prevent them from rolling over or even reaching for their young. The mothers usually have no bedding, although they have a strong urge to build a nest for their babies. Their suffering is unimaginable.

Most people simply don't know that this is happening - and in a civilized society it shouldn't be that way!

What is one thing you hope readers take away from Cut to the Bone?

If my book encourages someone to think a little more carefully when buying meat and perhaps switch to organic or free-range pigs, I would be happy.

May we ask: How did you cope with the lockdown?

I realize that I had it very easy compared to many people. We have walks right on our doorstep, through forests and remote valleys, so it wasn't too difficult for me. I have great respect for those who coped with the lockdown in a city apartment.

One downside to living out here is that it's easy to feel disconnected from the publishing world, and I definitely missed book festivals and events this year. But overall I feel very happy. I was very lucky that I was able to continue writing.

alt="The Peak District is full of scenic walks">Helen Hotson/ShutterstockThe Peak District is full of scenic walks

As you might expect from my comments about pigs, I'm frustrated by the lack of conversation about pandemics and animal exploitation. Even though this one appears to be from a wet market, there's a good chance the next one will come from a factory farm, as they are perfect breeding grounds for viruses. And the next pandemic could well have a much higher mortality rate. Is it really worth it for cheap meat? Michael Greger's book How to Survive a Pandemic is interesting (and quite scary!) on this topic.

Let’s delve into the journey that changed you. Which region or journey influenced you the most?

This was probably when I traveled for 14 months in the early 1990s, first with two friends and then, after they went home, with three random men I met in Sydney. (That last part didn't impress my parents.) I started in India and ended in Australia.

We didn't have cell phones and called our parents about every three months, generally getting the message: "All lines to England are busy." Relying on post-deposit mail, we arrived at a new location and hoped that some of our friends and relatives had previously written to the address we had given them in our previous letters. We were out of touch in ways that are almost unthinkable now.

alt="Dal Lake in Kashmir">Tappasan Phurisamrit/ShutterstockDal Lake in Kashmir

We learned to appreciate the simple things in life, especially toilets. An unexpected highlight was when we were delayed on a flight to Kashmir (more on that below) and ended up staying in a hotel with actual hot water (our first in three months). I still appreciate modern plumbing to an unusual degree.

We had a strange and dysfunctional relationship with our Lonely Planet guide. If there were two ways to get up a mountain—one involving a short bus ride and the other involving a 10-mile hike through an unfamiliar forest—our book would always recommend the latter, and we were inclined to follow its advice.

Our trip to Kashmir may also have been ill-advised. We'd been relying on reassurances from a travel agent in Delhi that it was okay to visit, but we didn't see a single other tourist the entire time, and I distinctly remember all the exploded bridges, checkpoints, men with guns and general feeling of not being particularly safe.

alt="Houseboats on Dal Lake in Kashmir">Tappasan Phurisamrit/ShutterstockHouseboats on Dal Lake

We stayed on a houseboat on Dal Lake which was stunning even though it was empty! Our hosts were wonderful, warm people who we got to know very well. They told us that they didn't care who was in charge and that they just wanted peace so that tourism could resume and they could get on with their lives. They took us on long hikes in the hills even though it was Ramadan and they didn't eat or drink anything all day. One evening when we returned to the boat one of the men was so thirsty that he leaned over the side to drink from the lake and fell into the freezing water.

Which trip would you like to repeat?

I would like to return to Nepal, ideally without stomach cramps this time. I remember looking at the mountains there and thinking that it almost wouldn't matter if I died the next day because I had seen something so incredible. Many years later, this image is still seared into my memory.

alt="Roz Watkins in Nepal">Roz WatkinsRoz Watkins pictured in Nepal

Do you still have a dream destination that you haven't seen yet?

I've been chased by a rhino in India (and we followed some dubious advice from locals here - zigzag and climb a tree - hmm), but I've never been on safari anywhere in Africa. I love seeing animals in the wild so this is a dream provided I could do it in a way that benefits the animals and the local community.

Are you a planner or a spectator?

I've done both. In the past, when I had a lot of time, I was happy to be lax about planning, but it has led to some close shaves and incidents of sleeping in less than ideal places (see below). Now I'm more of a flexible planner.

Hotel or hostel (or camping)?

We stayed in some shocking places on our big trip, partly due to our budget of £50 a week included. We accidentally stayed overnight in a brothel in Kuala Lumpur, woke up with a naked man in bed in a hostel in Indonesia, and slept outside without a tent while wild boars marched around our campsite. So now I'm more partial to a nice bed in my own room, even though it doesn't necessarily have to be fancy!

What was your most important travel experience?

I love an unexpected encounter with animals. We took a boat trip to an island off the coast of Malaysia and several monitor lizards about two meters long came out of the forest onto the beach and wanted our sandwiches. Although it was a small moment, it was so surprising and wonderful that I never forgot it.

alt="Orangutans are found in Borneo and Sumatra">Yusnizam Yusof/ShutterstockOrangutans in Sumatra was a top travel experience for Roz

I also really enjoyed going to an orangutan rehabilitation center in Sumatra. I can still imagine an orangutan in the trees using a huge leaf as an umbrella. (Okay, that was two experiences.)

After all, why travel?

I think it's in our genes to be nomads and there is an almost indescribable joy in being in a new place and meeting people who think completely differently. The feeling of awe that arises within me somewhere like the Himalayas is what sustains me through difficult times. It is inevitable that we will have to reduce flying due to climate change, so it is not clear what the future holds, but even if I travel slower and closer to home, I will travel!

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Intelligent, propulsive and incredibly atmospheric, Cut to the Bone is not only a gripping thriller, but a thoughtful portrait of modern society that will make you rethink your worldview. Read the opening scene and follow Roz on Facebook and Twitter.

Lead image: Tappasan Phurisamrit/Shutterstock

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