My brief hiatus: Putting out fires, taking care of business, and grieving.
I'll be away from Give Me Some Light for the next week due to a collision of crises, deadlines, and responsibilities.
Hello, everybody! It’s me, your typically tireless writer… and I’m tired.
I apologize for the long silence — it’s been a few weeks since my last post. And I’m going to need another week before I start catching up here with all of the overdue movie reviews and music notes.
In short, here’s what’s happening:
Today is Tuesday, September 24.
My new book, which I’ve been working on for years, is due to the publisher this week, and I am not ready. I have several chapters out to first readers and editors, and I’m still writing the last three chapters. It’s hard to write well when you’re in a state of panic and emotional exhaustion.
Also, I finished my application for tenure at Seattle Pacific, a project as complicated as writing a book. It took almost all of the writing hours I had in August, severely compromising the book project. But that application file—nearly 450 pages long—is finished and submitted, and now my future at SPU lies in the hands of various committees.
On top of that, the 2024–25 academic year begins next week. I’m teaching two creative writing courses during Autumn Quarter, and I will be back in the classroom on Monday teaching a brand-new class on Creative Nonfiction. I haven’t written the syllabus for it yet. I have so much work to do.
And, on a personal note — as you may know, my family is grieving as my father’s struggle with brain cancer moves into its most difficult phase yet. We are keeping in close touch with my mother, and we are making occasional trips back and forth to Portland to be with them during these painful days. If you are someone who prays, Anne and I ask you to pray that my father Larry remains free of pain, that he is able to find peace in his confusion as speech and memory become clouded, and that my mother will have strength and courage and comfort.
So — for obvious reasons, I am not writing new posts for this site right now. But I will be back in a week or two, once the book is finished and my classes are running properly. I intend to bring a marathon of reviews for recent films, including Strange Darling, Close Your Eyes, and His Three Daughters — two of which I really love. I also hope to say more about new music that is like medicine for my weary mind and heart: albums by T Bone Burnett, Nick Cave, Bonnie Light Horseman, and Laurie Anderson.
Until then… stay in touch! And thanks for keeping me company on this difficult stretch of the journey.
Sending prayers. And all the best with your teaching and book.
So much to handle, Jeffrey. Especially while in stages of grieving. We do pray and we will pray for you and the Overstreet family. 🙏🏼