As a writer I normally carry my laptop (especially when I’m finishing a book like now). I’ve found that I can work in nearly any location.  For some reason, my muse isn’t affected by crowd noise, music, or traffic. One of my best offices is at McDonald’s. I work at three of them in Alexandria. They’re hard to beat.  Senior …

    Chased by the Black Dogs I received a sweet note from a blog friend this week. “Curt, where have you been? I’ve been worried about you?” My answer was simple. “I’ve been chased by the black dogs.” That’s what Churchill, a fellow sufferer, called depression. Folks always describe depression in terms of darkness and dryness of the soul. …

August 7, 2017 Friends, We’ll be resuming blog posts and updating you on our upcoming book, As the Crow Flies, scheduled for September 4. Gratefully, Curt Iles      

I was taught by my sweet Momma to always way thank you. So I want to simply say thank you to all of you who took part in this new method of preparing to publish a book. It has lifted quite a burden off my shoulders to have the capital to produce a book rather than releasing it (in September …

Oh, Book Clubs, where art thou?*    Our Kickstarter Campaign is winding down. (It ends at midnight). I’m surprised several book clubs or church senior adults groups haven’t jumped on our great offer:  You can get 25 autographed copies of ‘As the Crow Flies’ (or the short story collection, ‘Deep Roots’) for $500.  Learn more at http://kck.st/2plqOOY This includes a personal …

Time is ticking on our Kickstarter campaign. If you haven’t backed the project for As the Crow Flies, we’d be so honored if you visit our Kickstarter page.    Thanks to your backing, we’ve exceeded our original goal of $4000. Additional pledges are being used to print large print, Braille edition, and possible audiobook. _______________ View YouTube Video that shares …

Writing a novel: it’s wonderfully frustrating! Writing a 90,000 word novel is a challenge. DeDe says I’m crazy each time I begin a book. She’s probably right. But I’m called to write and at this season of life, I’m called to write novels about Pineywoods Louisiana that tell a good story with memorable characters whom you can root for and …

A word from Curt. Team. Tribe. Unit. They’ve always been some of my favorite words. They signify working together.  The sum being greater than the parts.  A united group coming together to do something the doubters said couldn’t be done. Well, together, we’ve done it! We have exceeded our Kickstarter goal of $4000. Thank you! The current amount will allow us to …

  Seriously, would you buy a used warthog from this sunglassed stranger? Seriously, this is Aaron Watkins’ Facebook page image.  I’m pretty sure the photo was taken at the Paara Ferry Crossing on the Nile River. It’s the only river crossing within Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda. This area falls within the West Nile District of Uganda. Ironically, one of …

  Our campaign ends on Thursday, May 25 at 11:59 pm! Wow! We’ve exceeded our goal to produce both ebook and paperback editions of our upcoming novel, As the Crow Flies. I honestly believe it is going to be our best book to date. This weekend, we have three goals; Achieve 100 backers.  We’re nearly half way there and need …

I could tell you all of the reasons I want our new book, As the Crow Flies, to be in Braille. Instead, I’ll share this story from our time in Chad, Africa:   “Pastor, will you please read Acts 1:8 for us?” The white-haired Mzee picked up his Bible and began thumbing through it. I’d never seen someone read from …

A word from Curt As the Crow Flies is our latest novel, scheduled for release in September.   Friends, First of all, thanks so much for how many of you have chosen to be a backer/partner in the As the Crow Flies Kickstarter campaign. Because of your support, we’ve reached our goal of $4000 in the first two weeks! There …

A word from Curt Respect.  What a fine word. Today is Mother’s Day.  This is my favorite story about a mother’s love. I share it with humility and respect.     This story is from my short story collection, Deep Roots.  A Thirty-Year-Old Picture As the older woman wrote her check, she laid down her billfold. Then I saw the …

Of all the things I learned from three years in Africa,  a lasting lesson was the sacrifice of families who serves overseas. Grandchildren grow up a world apart from their grandparents with only yearly (or less) face-to-face visits. Missionaries worry about their aging parents as the years roll on. Parents in the United States pray, worry, pray, and worry some …