I entered the US on a tourist visa and ended up staying longer than I planned because of family issues. I left the country after about 8 months. Now I want to visit the US again for a conference. Will the overstay make it hard for me to get another visa

An overstay can affect future visa applications depending on how long you remained in the United States beyond your authorized stay. If the overstay was less than 180 days after your permitted stay expired, it may not trigger a formal reentry bar, but consular officers can still consider it when deciding whether to issue another visa. When you apply again, you should be prepared to explain what happened and provide evidence that you intend to return home after your visit.