Jon Raymond is a novelist, screen writer, and art critic, author of the novels Denial, Freebird, The Half-Life, and Rain Dragon – and one of my favorite short story collections, Livability (which one a Ken Kesey award). Jon wrote the screenplays for Showing Up, Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, Meek's Cutoff, Night Moves, and First Cow, with Kelly Reichardt, who directed the films. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his work on the HBO miniseries, Mildred Pierce, which he co-wrote with director Todd Haynes, and we are here today to talk about his latest novel, God and Sex, which comes out this August.
Over the years, Jon and I have crossed paths in Portland as both writers and parents. I always enjoy our conversations and I’m thrilled to welcome him as a guest to the podcast. We are here today in my living room to talk about the process of writing God and Sex, the deep-rooted questions the novel raises, and how to make a meaningful life amidst the challenges and gifts of being an artist in today’s world.
I’m gonna steer away from spoilers, here, as we talk about this exciting novel which takes place in Ashland, Oregon, amidst personal crises and natural disasters. We follow a cast of three characters, who each have a different relationship to the two themes named in the title: God and Sex, as they endure life changes, betrayals, and tragedy.