Keep on Paddling   Our canoe drifted into the swift cold waters of the White River. All of a sudden we’d left the calm waters of the narrow Buffalo River and now were paddling furiously upstream in a raging, much wider river. Frank Bogard and I were at the end of a three-day August river float on Arkansas’s beautiful Buffalo …

L.L.L.* My goal is to get a tattoo that says “Life Long Learner.” I want it inked on my heart and brain.  My goal is to learn until the day I die. I’m learning that the best way to learn is by reading.  Here are books I’ve recently read or am presently feasting on: Inbound Marketing    Strategies on using the …

Bells, Whistles, Horns, and Tears … Remembering August 14, 1945 Today is Charlie Willoughy’s 87th birthday.  He’s a tough ex-marine with a tender heart. He’s working this week at Dry Creek  Camp beside other volunteers from Louisiana Campers on Missions.  After singing happy birthday to him this morning, Charlie was asked to give the breakfast blessing.   He began, “Lord, I …

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”  -Henry Van Dyke “TRIPLE E”:   The reason I blog. I take my blogging, facebook posts, and tweets very seriously.  They are as vital a part …

“The Creek” Writers Retreat March 1-2-3, 2012 Dry Creek Baptist Camp Dry Creek, Louisiana Come apart to the piney woods for an event especially designed for inspirational writers with a Christian worldview who wish to impact their world. “Telling Your Story” “The shortest distance between the truth and a human heart is a story.” -Anthony DeMello Program Diann Mills Christy …

After the Conference Ends: “What to do when the circus leaves town.” “Turn out the lights, the party’s over. They say all things must come to an end.” -Willie Nelson I’ve read many excellent articles about preparing for, and attending, writing conferences. However, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one on what to do after the conference. What a writer …

A Spent Bullet is the ninth (9) book from Louisiana author Curt Iles.  This historical novel is set in western Louisiana during the 1941 Army Maneuvers. This page is the central information point for contacts and links about A Spent Bullet.

A Spent Bullet: Louisiana 1941 Merryville, LA Bruce Bennett grew up in the Merryville Junction Community . He remembers the soldiers camped all around their home.   They gave away lots of food and items. He and his brothers were walking along one day when a M-1 rifle fell off a passing truck.  They grabbed it and were hoofing it home …

Meeting in St. Louis This week I’m writing from the Am. Christian Fiction Writers Conference in St. Louis. The Elephant Test Right outside my St. Louis hotel window is the Mississippi River.  Just north of the Gateway Arch is the Eads Bridge. When it was built in the late 19th Century, it was longest arch bridge in the world and …

Curt’s Current  Author Sheet   Links: Facebook Facebook Twitter Linked In

Printed below are chapters 1 and 2 of our novel,  A Spent Bullet. You can learn more at http://www.creekbank.net. Also, keep in touch through Facebook  (friend page Curt Iles and fan page Creekbank Stories and Curt Iles) as well as Twitter.                   Part I The Battle for the Bullet “I want the …

As the Crow Flies Chapter One Copyright 2011 Curt Iles and Creekbank Stories My name is Nancy Cotten, and I was born into a family of thieves.  That explains why Daddy kept looking over his shoulder when our horse-drawn wagon reached the ferry at Hineston. “We’ll be safe across the Calcasieu River,” He said, nodding at the towering trees. “They …

Water Running I lean on my congas during Sunday morning choir practice. Behind me I hear a sound sweeter than the music Water is running. The baptistry is filling. Someone—actually three “someones”—are being baptized today. Three young people who’ve made a decision. A decision to follow Jesus and show it publicly. My guitar partner, Vance Gill, whispers,  “Baptizing today.” And …