Celebrated author Jess Walter marked three decades of publication Tuesday with the release of his latest novel, So Far Gone, at a sold-out event held at Gonzaga University’s Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center. The book launch, part of the Northwest Passages series, drew a large crowd eager to hear Walter discuss his new work and its timely themes.
In conversation with Spokesman-Review Editor Rob Curley, Walter reflected on how his years as a crime reporter at the newspaper influenced his writing. “My journalist skills will return to me,” Walter said. “I will want to write so badly about what we are living in.”
So Far Gone follows Rhys Kinnick, a former environmental journalist for The Spokesman-Review, who has retreated into years of self-imposed isolation in the wilderness. The character severs ties with his family after a violent confrontation with his conspiracy-theorist son-in-law, discards his phone, and lives disconnected from the outside world — until his grandchildren unexpectedly arrive at his cabin, revealing troubling news about their missing mother and their father’s involvement in a religious cult.
The novel explores the intersections of politics, religion, and extremist beliefs—topics familiar to Walter, who covered the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff, a deadly confrontation between federal agents and an anti-government family in North Idaho. Unlike much of the national media at the time, Walter’s reporting brought sustained attention to the event, which culminated in the tragic deaths of Randy Weaver’s wife and child.
Set against a backdrop reminiscent of the rugged wilderness where Walter grew up, So Far Gone delves into the cultural and political divisions that have intensified in recent years, pushing individuals toward radical isolation and fringe ideologies.
“Given the political and social division we have in the culture right now … I have to remind myself a novel is a terrible way to break news,” Walter told the audience. “I am writing this in ’23 and ’24, and I thought, ‘I don’t think we are done with this era yet.’ ”
The milestone event also featured tributes from notable authors and colleagues. Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr praised Walter’s work, saying, “Your books fill our world with heart.” Actress and writer Julia Sweeney described So Far Gone as “so cathartic in the political place we are at,” while author Timothy Egan called Walter’s characters “humane” and “authentic.” Actor Erik Estrada contributed a video message, recalling Walter’s early career as a reporter.
Despite his reputation as a crime writer, Walter emphasized his focus on ethics rather than morality, cautioning that “One person’s morality is another person’s jail, a lack of freedom.”
This tension is reflected in So Far Gone, where the protagonist’s anger toward the far right mirrors the motivations of his son-in-law, underscoring how political polarization often reflects a shared, if fractured, human experience.
Walter warns against simplistic labels such as “red” or “blue,” noting that such divisions drive people deeper into echo chambers of misinformation. “There’s nothing more people want nowadays than to escape the dread of horrible news,” he said.
Originally conceived as the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, the novel’s release coincides with the early months of Donald Trump’s second presidency—a period marked by heightened political unrest and protests over immigration policies.
“I thought (the plot of the book) would be something we would remember,” Walter reflected. “Not something we would still be living.”
