Ready to move out This summer DeDe, Terry, and I took part in a youth camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This area of majestic mountains, covered with vast stands of tall Ponderosa Pines, is one of my favorite places in America. To get to camp, we wove deeper and deeper into the Hills following a long snaking …

Info on my new book… The Mockingbird’s Song The wheels are turning for the release of my fifth book, The Mockingbird’s Song. Tentative release is scheduled for November 2006. This new book by Curt Iles from Creekbank Stories will be printed by Wise Printing of Sulphur, LA. To learn more about this book and my other works, visit www.creekbank.net This …

Two friends: Sept. 11, 2001 “I am staying with my friend…” Of all of the soul-touching stories from September 11, 2001, I believe the story of two friends named Abe and Ed is the best. It is gleaned from the excellent book, 102 Minutes, by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn (Times Books copyright 2005) When the first plane crashed into …

The Battle of the Dragon and the Yellow Jacket Thursday, September 7, 2006 Today is a special day of remembrance. It’s been four years since my friend Ricky Gallien died. His family and thousands of friends still miss him… and always will. On this day, I want to relate one of the finest and funniest stories he ever told: It …

Le petit baton rouge* By Curt Iles Creekbank Stories copyright 2006 Of all of the memorable places to visit in my home state of Louisiana, Avery Island is one of my favorites. Situated on the coastal marsh below Lafayette, “The Island” is an elevated area that rises above the surrounding flat marsh. It is not really an island but is …