“A $1000 Saddle on a $100 Horse” This favorite story was told to me by my friend Diann Cain Norris. Diann’s family has always been active in rodeos. Her parents, “Junior” and Anita Cain made sure their three daughters, Diann, Dena, and DeAnn were busy with horses and basketball. “Junior” Cain said that a neighbor asked him, “Why in the …

Pine Trees and Gravel Roads This story, written in 2023, is from my third book Wind in the Pines.  They’ve clearcut a large swath of pine forest adjacent to the home I grew up in at the dead-end road where my parents live. A Clear Cut is always sad to me.  This one removed the thick strands of pines about …

I’m in the process of uploading all thirteen of my books to my website. The reason I’m doing this is simple: I want folks to enjoy them. You can download a PDF of my fourth Louisiana novel, A Spent Bullet. Download here. Writing, Curt Iles P.S.  You can follow my current novel in progress, Where We All Belong, at www.creekbank.net …

A Remarkable Mentor named Fox Conner. You’ve probably never heard of Major General Fox Conner.  He had an outstanding career spanning the Spanish-American War through the post-World War I years. There are three names marking him as remarkable: Patton, Marshall, and Eisenhower. Fox Conner evidently had the skill of bonding with young officers as a mentor and friend. It started …

A Good Place, Curt Iles’ second novel,  continues to be a favorite of readers worldwide. As a gift, we’d like you to have a complete PDF download. Click this link to download Enjoy Mayo Moore on his journey! Curt Iles P. S.  As a thank you, please share this link with a friend. Our goal is always to spread our …

A to Zed   “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might . . .” –Ecclesiastes 9:10   My friend David and I were walking along the street in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. (Another story in itself). We spotted an African wearing a ZZ Top T-shirt. David, who had spent most of his adult …

PAUL IS DEAD They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town  Acts 14:19-20 *Scroll down to read the story, “Paul is Dead.” I’ve always been bothered by homeless people. My city of Alexandria is crawling with them. They’re seemingly …

Dexter’s Truck, a story I believe you’ll enjoy: As always, feel free to share our stories with new readers Dexter’s Truck I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10 My church has a large parking lot. You’d better notice where you park or you’ll be circling …

Lazarus’ Second Funeral Curt Iles From Christmas Jelly    Creekbank Publishing  copyright 2012    www.creekbank.net I guess I’m the only one who attended both of Boaz Lazurus’ funerals. The second one was yesterday. The first one was thirty-one years ago. Folks around here simply call me “Rabbi.” It’s a name I like. I remember Lazarus’ first funeral well. I was a young …

Resurrection   “In the pines, in the pines,  where the sun never shines.” -Traditional Southern Folk Song A month ago, I walked through my tree farm in Dry Creek.  A hot control fire had recently roared through killing small trees, bushes, and briars. All that was left was a dead barren landscape.   This prescribed burn, set by my brother-in-law …

I Smell a Rat New York City is being overrun by rats.  An estimated 2 million rats live in this city of 8.4 million.  Some researchers claim there are more rats than people in NYC, but that’s probably an exaggeration. Whatever the number, NYC has a rat problem. Mayor Eric Adams has made rat control a priority of his administration. …

  Shawls    I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.                                                                                   Psalm 122:1 I grew up in a cold small country church, and I now attend a cold large church. The Dry Creek Baptist Church of my childhood was a wooden clapboard building with not even a hint of insulation.  The …

  I apologize for the recent problems with our e-mail server. I’d love to hear your comments and input at creekbank.stories@gmail.com   Elmer’s Hand There are some people who make you smile when you think of them. Elmer Conner was one of those people. I can take you to the exact spot where I met him. It’s the near the …

Curt Lies My last name is often misspelled. People want to put another s in it as in Isles. Like the Islands. Sometimes they want to insert a double ss at the end. The worst troublemaker is that a capital I and lowercase l look identical on a laptop.  No one wants to be known as Curt Ills. But I …