In A FEW WORDS BEFORE YOU GO, writer Jude Joseph Lovell turns his gaze towards three subjects of great importance in his life: books, music, and family. Collecting published and unpublished essays from the last fifteen years, this volume offers Lovell's unique perspective on artists as diverse as Flannery O'Connor, Philip K. Dick, Ron Hansen, Charles Dickens, Bruce Springsteen, Tori Amos, U2, and numerous others. It also contains heartfelt tributes to the colorful individuals who helped raise him and influence him today. Each essay is informed in some way by the author's Catholic faith, resulting in a cohesive and spirited collection that is Lovell's most personal book to date.