Richard Stuecker

Richard Stuecker is a poet, essayist, and fiction writer. His poetry, creative nonfiction, and book reviews have appeared in Tilde, Main Street Rag, Hippocampus, and the Louisville Courier-Journal, among others. His publications include the poetry collection Ghostlier Demarcations (2023), the essay collection Vibrant Emeritus (2014), and the middle grade novel The North Pole Letters (2024).

Richard Stuecker holds a BA in history and English from Duke University (1970) and an MFA from the Bluegrass Writer's Studio at Eastern Kentucky University.

In addition to his literary accomplishments, he is a founding partner of the Vibrant Emeritus Center, an initiative that develops programs for individuals to navigate the second phase of life with creativity and purpose. Stuecker lives with his wife Barbara in Louisville, Kentucky.

The North Pole Letters is Stuecker's enchanting foray into middle grade fiction. In this heartwarming Christmas story, sisters Naomi and Jude wake up one December morning to an unusual noise in their Victorian home. They discover a mysterious letter from Rylkin, an elf from the North Pole, which catapults them into a magical adventure of wonder and discovery.

As the girls travel to the North Pole, they meet a cast of memorable characters: Billybags, the mischievous trickster; Jons, the brave ranger; Beejee, the enchanting storyteller; Haggars, the ingenious inventor; and Merry Belle, the keeper of North Pole lore. Each character reveals a piece of the North Pole's mystery, drawing the sisters deeper into a fantastical world where the holiday spirit reigns supreme.

Richard Stuecker lives with his wife, Barbara, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Photo credit: asunbear123.wixsite.com