It's been a tough time for many people, the past few years, and Jim has had plenty of personal tragedy and hardship. It's hard to write at the best of times, and damn near impossible at the worst. That's the curse of the creative arts.
Jim will get back to writing (if he hasn't already) when he's ready, assuming he ever is. It would be very sad for us all if he can't for a long time, worse if he never does. I don't think that's very likely but it's possible. And that's his right too, and there isn't anything we can do about that (or should do).
All we can do really is do as we have ever done i.e. just be the same group of loyal, dogged, weird, needy, well-meaning, over-enthusiastic nerds. I hope Jim knows he's got a lot of people all over the world who care about him, more than just him as an author, and are grateful for all he has done for them and the joy he has brought to them. I know I am.
I don't think I ever expected some guy from Independence, MI MO to make my life a little better with his stories. But he went and did it anyway without being asked, without even knowing that I existed or that he might even do that. I do hope he finds a bit more happiness, if only so that his own life improves. If he gets back to writing his fantastic series, all the better.
