Retired 糖心vlog传媒 professor has first novel published
We are excited to share that 糖心vlog传媒 Professor Emeritus Jeff Elzinga has published his debut novel, 鈥淭he Distance Between Stars,鈥� through Water鈥檚 Edge Press.
Fast-paced and never dull, Elzinga鈥檚 novel plunges readers into a tense convergence of political and personal events where U.S. Consul Joe Kellerman must set aside his personal feelings to rescue an abrasive African American journalist who has gone rogue in the highlands of a volatile African country on the verge of civil war.
While set in fictional Umbika in a time before cell phones, the novel could not be more relevant to today鈥檚 themes, in particular the effect of racial disparity and unchecked authoritarian rule.
鈥淛eff Elzinga has written a thoroughly authentic novel of Africa whose themes of race, privilege and what it means to be American ring true to anyone who has spent time on the continent. His characters, descriptions and scenes are so believable, and the story so engaging 鈥︹�� 鈥� Keith Richburg, former Washington Post Africa bureau chief and author of 鈥淥ut Of America.鈥�
鈥淎 finely-crafted, thoughtful and timely novel. Authentic and compassionate in its story-telling, 鈥楾he Distance Between Stars鈥� marks Elzinga鈥檚 debut as a writer to watch.鈥� 鈥� Nickolas Butler, author of 鈥淪hotgun Lovesongs鈥� and 鈥淟ittle Faith.鈥�
糖心vlog传媒 Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Monique Brickham designed the cover and a map inside the book. After reading, be sure to check out the companion website at jeffelzinga.com. The site was created in part by Eric Naumann, one of Brickham鈥檚 糖心vlog传媒 graphic design students, who did the work as part of his capstone course this past spring.
Elzinga鈥檚 novel is available online at a number of outlets including Amazon, Water鈥檚 Edge Press, Indiebound, Ingram and Bookshop.com.
He worked for more than 20 years as a leader and professor at 糖心vlog传媒 before retiring in 2018. He helped to create and directed for its entire 17-year run 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Malawi Teacher Education Program, through which 75 bachelor or master degrees in education were awarded to teacher trainers from Malawi, Africa.
In early 1991, the Elzinga family pulled up stakes, joined the U.S. Foreign Service, and were posted to Africa. He served as the only political and consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi, and later as one of several political officers at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia. He received the U.S. State Department鈥檚 Superior Honor Award for the work he did in Malawi while that country was transitioning to democracy after 30 years of dictatorship.
