Curt Iles

I write to have influence and impact through well-told stories of my Louisiana Pineywoods life.

A Quick Word: Final round of voting on ‘Crow’ cover!

Scroll down:  We need your help to publish As the Crow Flies. Scroll down to learn how you can support our Kickstarter campaign that begins Monday.   Are you receiving updates on our books, stories, and free giveaways? If not, subscribe here.  ________________________________________________________ One of the best parts of being part of the Creekbank Tribe is having fun being a …

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Your Chance to Help Select the Cover of As the Crow Flies

From the very start our upcoming novel, As The Crow Flies, has been a team project.  So many of you have given timely information and feedback. Thank you. For context, visit our As the Crow Flies Page to read synopsis, back cover copy, and sample chapters. Today we’re asking you to help select the promo image for our Kickstarter Campaign. …

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Building the Westport Store: We need your help!

Help us “build” the Westport Store Part of the fun of writing (and reading) fiction is creating images and characters in your mind. Our upcoming novel,  As the Crow Flies, is scheduled for release on Labor Day.  I’ve been living in its location for most of the past year. The Westport Store, also known as the Hatch and Moore Store, …

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New Edition of Stories from the Creekbank!

It’s amazing that our first book, Stories from the Creekbank (2000) is still in print and being enjoyed by a new generation of readers. To celebrate this, we’ve released a new edition.  It features a new cover, five new stories, plus the original chapters. You can order your copy of Stories from the Creekbank at: Amazon  Paperback or Kindle   Order …

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“Disregard that first message.” A New Story

The new edition of our first book, Stories from the Creekbank, features five new stories.  This is one of my favorites.   “Curt, disregard that first message.” Any school principal knows that phone calls from about 3:30 PM to suppertime are never good. They are usually from angry parents who have just heard their child’s (one-sided) story of discipline, trouble, …

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The Creek Tribe: Always Grateful

This is the weekly Tribe Creek Storyletter.  It’s just an opportunity to tell you what’s going on in our writing world, and hopefully encourage and inspire you.   I try to live by a series of words.  Right now, gratitude is filling my heart. I am so thankful for the gifts in my life. I’m extremely grateful for my returning …

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Help us spread the word: Book Signing at Jennings this Saturday.

I’ve done book signings for nearly twenty years. I’ve never had a bad one, but have had every size crowd from none (unless you count a stray dog that sniffed at my foot) to dozens standing in line for an autograph. This Saturday, March 25, I’ll be at the Steamer Trunk Vintage Store in downtown Jennings.  Nova and her staff have …

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Nary a Car: In Praise of Pickup Trucks

Nary a Car  . . .   Nary a Car: the parking lot at Roy O. Martin’s Oakdale OSB Mill.   Today, I’m writing about living in the Pickup Truck Culture of western* Louisiana. Where I come from, every man has a truck. I live in town (Alexandria) and may only haul my dog and an occasional rich pine fence post, …

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The Wayfaring Stranger is free today on Kindle

It’s St. Patrick’s Day. The perfect day to read the story of how Joseph Moore left Ireland in 1849 and ended up in the Louisiana Pineywoods.   The Wayfaring Stranger is free today on Kindle! As a way of saying thanks to all of our faithful readers, we’re offering our novel,  The Wayfaring Stranger,  free today on Kindle.   You …

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Growing up in a Small Community: The Rich Life of Eva Cole

Growing up in a Small Community: The Rich Life of Mrs. Eva Cole “Oh, those small communities . . . “ -John Mellencamp   I grew up in Dry Creek, Louisiana. It would be an exaggeration to call it a town. It would be pretentious to call it a village. Reeves is a village. Dry Creek is a community. I like …

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Thoughts on a Big Word

Friday, March 10, 2017 Thoughts on a Big Word It’s a word that keeps popping up in my heart. I hope I never forget the importance of it. It’s integrity. A large part of integrity is being honest.  Telling the truth.  Being a man (or woman) of your word. This Thomas Jefferson quote sums up the slippery slope of lying: …

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Burnt Yet Blessed

Friday was my last burn day on my longleaf pine acreage. Here are images from what looks like a disaster but is essential to the growth of my trees. Scroll down to read the classic story below, “Burned Yet Blessed.” It is such a fitting story of where I presently am in my life.         Click here …

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A Gift to You: 3 Quotes to Brighten Your Weekend

Friday, March 3 We’re keeping it simple at the Creekbank Tribe today. I hope you enjoy the quotes and have a great weekend. Please scroll down to help us select a new cover for Stories from the Creekbank. This year, I’ve fallen deeper in love with the woods. Trees are such a special part of my region of Louisiana.  I …

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