Those who know me say I am a study in contrasts. I was a rebellious student who dropped out of high school and left home for a period during turbulent teen years. I returned, thanks to parent/teacher tough love, and later benefited from academic and physical discipline imposed (and internalized) during Russian Language Training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, West Point Preparatory School at Ft. Belvoir, VA, and three years of Cold War service in Army Intelligence. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University (to the astonishment of my high school teachers!), wrote award-winning books that made and topped bestseller lists (including titles for children and adults — https://johngile.us/books-etc/), and have authored features published by periodicals throughout the United States and Canada
I love writing and helping others discover the joy of writing while strengthening their writing skills (https://johngile.us/the-best) at programs in 39 states, Europe, and New Zealand for more than 500,000, including student reading and writing programs, teacher in-service programs, and communication workshops for business and community organization leaders. Between programs I have been a guest for literacy and other communication skill discussions on numerous radio and television talk shows across the country, have spoken at education conferences, including keynote presentations and workshops at state conferences and at the World Congress of the International Reading Association in New Zealand.
In my fledgling years, I founded and directed an advertising/public relations agency in Rockford, IL, while creating and producing the cartoon “Blockheads & Co.” for the Register and Tribune Syndicate and writing a humor column, “Gile Without Guile,” which was syndicated nationally by NC News Service. Earlier I was a reporter covering the courts and government for the 85,000 circulation daily newspaper in Rockford, IL, served as Managing Editor of a Northern Illinois weekly, and founded another 13,000 circulation weekly now known as the Rock River Times. My wife Renie and I are the parents of two sons and four daughters and have been promoted to grandparents. Renie has her own decorating and accessories business interests, including creating art for clients — https://johngile.us/renie-gile-portfolio-2 — and providing website design for me and other clients.
