On Being "A Friendly Hermit"

On Being “A Friendly Hermit.” Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen. - John le Carre My writing/speaking nickname is “The Friendly Hermit.” It’s because I wear two hats and live two often separate lives. In my...

Opening Of "A Spent Bullet"

Opening of A Spent Bullet Below is the prologue and two epigraphs from my current novel in progress, A Spent Bullet. I’m about half through (50,000 words) the first draft.   Read over it and give me feedback. I have several questions below the prologue. Thanks, Curt Iles curtiles@aol.com Prologue Folks say the herds of wild horses still running free near Folk Polk are remnants of the...

Two Weddings – One Day

My former student, Kay Campbell Fox, commented on my recent blog about a newlywed couple running through the lobby at the Denver Marriott. It’s a wonderful story. From Kay: Two weddings – one day – Just shy of 21 years – all to the same man. You see, Nick and I were married at 2 pm and 4:30 pm….on the October 1, 1988 with different ministers (two came from the...

The Ripple Effect Continues

The Ripple Effect continues I received three journeyman prayer cards yesterday.   They were from Micah, Erica, and Lydia. I’ve never met Micah, but I love him and am proud of him. His mother, Debbie Walley, was one of my closest friends through the Baptist Student Union at La. College. Micah is going to Kenya as an International Mission Board “journeyman,” a 2-year program for...

Dolly Is The Horse's Name

Dolly is the horse’s name Below is a draft passage from my current work in progress, A Spent Bullet. The scene: a barn in Bundick, La. September 1941. 18 year old Butch struggles with his decision to join the military as war clouds loom. His father, a “Great War veteran” (what WWI was called then) is opposed and attempts to use this “teachable moment” to explain...