Bio
Devon Raney, renowned adventurer and award-winning memoirist lost 85 percent of his eyesight at the tender age of thirty-three. He is deeply interested in inspiring young adults through his experiences as a blind author, athlete and father. As a gifted storyteller he does this by sharing about a lifetime spent outdoors, humorous stories from a unique childhood and vulnerable moments learning to live with his disability. Devon was born in Goleta, California. He lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington, with his wife Rebecca and daughter Madrona.
When he lost his vision, Devon was in the early days of fatherhood and making legendary strides toward the life he and Rebecca had dreamed up. Currently Devon is developing the Bainbridge Island Youth Endowment in hopes of exploring the state of fundraising in America as part of his next work. His grounded faith is core to his identity and he enjoys every opportunity to partner with faith-based organizations.
For as much as Devon enjoys writing and speaking, he enjoys adventuring just as much. Devon is a World Cup Snowboard Gold Medalist in the Para Division and Silver Medalist in the New York City Triathlon, Para Division. He has cycled from the northern tip of Washington state to the edge of Tijuana towing a trailer and surfboard. Devon has been profiled in The Snowboarders Journal, The Surfers Journal, Surfer Magazine, Outside Magazine, and Forbes Magazine.
Devon navigates the world boldly, living as though there were no limits – in spite of his visual limitations. He continues to be active in pursuing the passions he has known since childhood although it requires a very different approach these days and he often accepts help from a friend. Still Sideways is his memoir; Gold Medal Foreword INDIES Book Award and second book.
What is Still Sideways about? My book is about showing up for it all and recognizing the moments when I am truly living. I don’t want to just get through the hard times or float through the good times; I want to live through them all. More importantly, it’s not all about me, it’s about Rebecca, Madrona and I. In a lot of ways it is just a love story.
If you had to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, dead or alive, who would it be? Steve Prefontaine, because that would be a fast mile and then I could put my own shoes back on.
If you could go anywhere you have never been, where would you go? West Texas. My next adventure is going to be a drive through West Texas with Rebecca in a 1969 black convertible Camaro.
What are you most proud of? My daughter Madrona. She is amazing, and Rebecca and I have been super lucky as parents. I am also proud of my marriage and the years Rebecca and I have spent walking side by side. Professionally, I am proud to have built our first house by hand and to have built the commercial building where we operate our coffee shop. I am also proud of the fact that I generally control my own schedule and I have had more free time for adventure in my life than most anyone I have ever met. I guess that’s something I have wanted my whole life. In many ways I am proud that my dreams have come true even though I have seen some significant hurdles along the way. Athletically speaking, I am proud that I have remained loyal to the passions I found as a kid. Also, it was fun cycling down the West Coast on the backseat of my tandem with surfboards in tow.
Are you a Dog or Cat person? Dog.
Ford or Chevy? Chevy every time.
Summer or Winter? Summer.
Text or Call? Call, always.
Beer or Coffee? Coffee.
Longboards or Shortboards? I am a surfer and I will ride anything so long as I am getting waves and having fun.
Airs or tube rides? I can’t do airs, but I would probably choose tube rides even if I could.
Music? Country.
Republican or Democrat? Simply worried.
What are your current projects? I am working with Rebecca to build our brand and strengthen our business, YES Please! Coffee. I am also working on a collection of funny non-fiction short stories from my life that can be read individually without following a chronological order. The working title is FUNNIER THAN INSTAGRAM. Oh yeah, I am trying to write country lyrics with lots of twang and then find a way to get them in front of Steve Earle so that he can record my songs.