Like all of us seasoned citizens, I expect, I’ve had a number of what Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, and others call “false selves.” In high school, I was—and remain so to those classmates 50 years later—Ricky. For reasons I’m too embarrassed to talk about, I was “Froggie” during my two years fighting forest fires in Idaho. For thirty years, I was “Mr. Wile” (aka. “Wiley Coyote”), high school English Teacher. For another fifteen years, I was Rick, the college adjunct and writing tutor. Then I stayed Rick and got an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast Writing Program. I’ve been Honey and You Bastard and I’ve been Dad. These days I’m called Grampa by John, Anastasia, Beatrix and Ada.
Writing as Richard Wile, I’ve published essays in numerous magazines and journals, including Sojourners, the Christian Century, Solstice: A Magazine of Diverse Voices, Under the Sun, and Relief: A Christian Literary Expression. My book reviews have appeared in Fourth Genre and Prairie Schooner. My novel, Requiem in Stones, was published in 2016, and my latest collection of memoirs, The Geriatric Pilgrim: Tales from the Journey in 2022, both by Maine Authors Publishing Cooperative.
In the meantime, I play clawhammer banjo in old-time jam sessions.
The Geriatric Pilgrim: Traveling the Landscape of Faith and Grief 
Got in touch with you a few years ago. Just checking in again on a few names from my earlier high school years. Thanks once more for the two years of English classes. (Have re-read The Black Arrow and Death of a Salesman…can Ivanhoe be far behind?) Am thinking of taking an online creative writing course, just to see if I actually have a decent novel or short story in me. Maybe that’s the direction I should have taken years ago, but life’s worked out pretty well having gone in the direction of social science.
Best wishes once again.
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Thnx for getting back in contact, Jon. I’ve emailed you.
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Regarding your Claude mirror image, I made that image, as I did the mirror. It most certainly is tinted, in fact it’s opaque black and 18” across. The view is of the River Wye from an 18th c viewing station known as The Eagle’s Nest. Just FYI. Cheers Alex McKay
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Thank you for getting in touch with me, Alex. I’ve edited the blog, giving you credit for your work and including your web cite. Love your work!
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Mr. Wile,
Thank you for your support as a teacher. I”m 60 now but about 30 years ago I was enlightened to write poetry – I love Edna St. Vincent Millay. I’ve also been writing and recording (for over 30 years) the musical book “Star Magical”. Your interest in my essay on “King Lear” gave me a lot of confidence.
Would be interested in finding out how I can access my AP English essays – no problem if you don’t have the time.
Best,
Stephanie Demas
207-282-5045
starmagical25@yahoo.com
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Thnx for getting in touch. I’ve just emailed you. Hope it doesn’t disappear into your spam folder. You might check if you don’t get it.
Rick
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