The Wayfaring Stranger

Where are your sacred spaces?

A Word from Curt I have two questions today: Where do you go for your lonely place? Where are your sacred spaces?     I’ve chosen to make the first question singular: where is your lonely place? In the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel, the writer makes a key statement on the life and ministry of Jesus: 35 And rising very …

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Story #2 April 6 Whippoorwill Day 2011

A note from Uganda:  I’m spending Whippoorwill Day 2015 in Uganda. Lord willing, I’ll be on Crooked Bayou Louisiana for 2016’s Whippoorwill Day. No whippoorwills here but several cousins, including the song of a dusky nightjar each morning and evening. Since today is Whippoorwill Day in Louisiana, I believe you’ll enjoy this story. If you’d enjoy my story,  “Whippoorwill Day” …

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Whippoorwill Day: From The Wayfaring Stranger

Below is Chapter 2 from The Wayfaring Stranger.  It introduces heroine Eliza Clark and shares about her love affair with whip poor wills. The oldtimers of Louisiana’s No Man’s Land had many superstitions and sayings about birds:  whippoorwills, owls, cardinals, wood ducks, and crows.   If you know of any, let me know. Here is the saying that is covered in …

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Joe Moore Camps Out

Joe Moore camps out at a bay gall. The following passage is from The Wayfaring Stranger. The Irishman Joe Moore, is wandering among the piney woods after crossing the Calcasieu River near Hineston, Louisiana. He had now entered the “No Man’s Land” of Louisiana which in 1849 was wild and unsettled. Joe sets up camp in a swampy area by …

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Why I Write

Why I write I write for influence. The written word can travel into places– and hearts– far away from where we are. This is a picture of Josh Miller, a great great great great grandson of Joe and Eliza Moore. Josh is a student at Pitkin Elementary where I visit yearly for their Family Reading Day. Josh is looking over …

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Where is your “Prayer Tree?”

Where is your prayer tree? Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, talked about having a place to get alone with God. In the older Bible versions, He called it a “closet.” The New International Version states it this way: “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” Matthew 6:6 …

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The Wayfaring Stranger Chapter 25

Passage from Chapter 25 of The Wayfaring Stranger by Curt Iles Background: Joe Moore, a teenaged Irish immigrant has been befriended by an old Redbone woman known as Miz Girlie. This scene takes place in the longleaf pines of Louisiana in 1849. Joe slept each night on the porch. Miz Girlie gave him an old quilt and moss-filled mattress to …

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Louisiana’s “No Man’s Land” Maps

The two maps (above) are in the second edition of The Wayfaring Stranger. The first map is sketched by my special Dry Creek friend, Debra Tyler. I think it is great. The second beautiful map is by my good friend, Peyton Freeman of Wise Publishing in Sulphur. Thanks Deb and Peyton! click on maps to see a larger view. The …

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The Wayfaring Stranger: A Pine Knot Club

(Left) Ron Yule at Dry Creek Camp Curt with Juanita Jordan During my Saturday book signing at Author’s Alley in DeRidder (1-3 PM) I will be joined by “fiddler extraordinaire” Ron Yule (Pictured above. He’ll be signing copies of his fiddle book.) At 2 PM I’m going to read from my chapter on the Ten Mile House Dance and Ron …

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The Wayfaring Stranger Chapter 1

The Wayfaring Stranger Chapter 1 I am a poor wayfaring stranger, Traveling through this world of woe. There is no sickness, toil, or danger In that world to which I go. “The Wayfaring Stranger” Traditional Ballad I knew my life would finally end this way. That was the burning thought in Joseph Moore’s mind as he lay hidden behind the …

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The Wayfaring Stranger Sample Chapters

The Wayfaring Stranger: Louisiana Journey Curt Iles The following post contains the introduction and first two chapters of my upcoming novel. If you enjoy these, additional chapters are being posted weekly at http://awayfaringstranger.blogspot.com . Curt Iles P.S. This is a draft. This means it is still in revision. It also means that your input and ideas are welcome and needed! …

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The Wayfaring Stranger: Free Sample Chapter

Each week I will be posting a chapter from my upcoming novel, A Wayfaring Stranger. I’m really excited about this historical story of how two characters, Joseph Moore of Ireland and Eliza Clark of Ten Mile, Louisiana came to meet in the mid-19th century. Feel free to follow along each week as I add a chapter. If you like what …

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