Christmas

Dec. 6 : Another Serving of Christmas Jelly

My short story collection, Christmas Jelly, was written in 32 chapters.  This allows you (the reader) to enjoy one chapter per day beginning December 1 and ending on January 1. Here’s today’s serving of Christmas Jelly! Enjoy!  The following fictional short story comes from a story told to me by the Miller and Lindsey families of Dry Creek, Louisiana. Enjoy! First Christmas …

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Two More Spoonfuls of Christmas Jelly: Dec 3 and 4

My short story collection, Christmas Jelly, was written in 32 chapters.  This allows you (the reader) to enjoy one chapter per day beginning on December 1 and ending on January 1. Here’s your fourth helping of Christmas Jelly. Enjoy! December 3 Chapter 4 Stolen Christmas Trees     “I know I tagged a tree in this area.” My neighbor Mitzi Foreman walks through …

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Two Spoonfuls of Christmas Jelly

  From now until New Year’s Day,  we’ll be featuring stories from our short story collection, Christmas Jelly.   My prayer is that you and your family will enjoy a wonderful Christmas, and you’ll feel the personal presence of Jesus, the King of all Kings. This blog post contains two stories,  “Christmas Jelly”  (Dec. 1) and “My Grandpas’ Boots” (Dec. …

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Dec.28 Bah Humbug Week: Day 3 “The 100 Foot Line”

December 28 The 100-Foot Line     There’s a fine stand of young slash pine at Dead Man’s curve on the Longville Road. I’ve watched the growth of this forest since it was clear cut, then replanted in straight rows. The following year, the pines began to poke their heads above the grass. They’ve emerged above the surrounding bushes and …

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The Best Present Ever

Upcoming book appearances Sat. Dec. 9 Grant Christmas Tree Farm Friday, Dec. 15 2-5 pm Thrifty Way-DeRidder Saturday, Dec. 16  8-noon  Nichol’s DeQuincy   Learn more about Christmas Jelly and our other twelve books at www.creekbank.net The Best Present I Ever Received Chapter 7 from Christmas Jelly by Curt Iles   It seemed to be a sorry excuse of a …

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Ways You Can Order ‘As the Crow Flies’

Don’t miss Curt on these book events:  Grant Christmas Tree Farm this Saturday (December 2) as well as next Saturday, December 9.  We’ll also make our final Christmas book signings on Saturday, December 26 at Nichol’s in DeQuincy and Thrifty Way-DeRidder. _______________________ A word from Curt My theme for December continues with a Thanksgiving motif:  Living Gratefully. I want my …

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Bah Humbug Week Begins: 26th of December

  I love Christmas.  I really do. I’d glad it occurs yearly. And glad it only occurs yearly. I call the week after Christmas,  Dec. 26-Jan.1, “Bah Humbug Week.” It’s a week to recover.  It’s a week to reflect.  I use this week to look back over the past year with gratitude and as a springboard to think about and …

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December 24: Christmas Eve

  An Easy Mark   “I’m a thousand miles from anywhere, waiting for a train.” -Jimmy Rodgers “Waiting for a Train”   Calling someone an “easy mark” is normally not a compliment. We use it in the context of taking advantage of someone and associate it with weakness. I have a story that explains the term’s origin. I’ll let you—the …

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A New Short Story: Our Christmas Gift to You.

Merry Christmas to you and your kin from all of us at the Creekbank. This new short story, “Midnight Chicken”, is our gift to you. May its theme of It is more blessed to give than to receive resonate and bless your Christmas. Curt and DeDe Iles Midnight Chicken   Dec. 23, 1943 Bundick, Louisiana   Elizabeth Miller awoke to …

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Christmas: A Gift from the hands and heart

A Gift from DQ   Christmas is a time for gifts and there are all types of gifts. The best gifts come from hands, hearts and are created from love and skill. As Christmas 2011 approaches, I’m obsessed with a gift I saw last week.  I call it a gift from DQ. DQ. I’m not referring to Dairy Queen. I’m …

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Chapter 6: First Christmas in Dry Creek

First Christmas in Dry Creek J.J. Miller had set up camp where he had a good view of the surrounding area. There were no signs of any settlers in the last mile he’d come, and he had scouted down to the nearby creek and seen no recent signs of human habitation. It was December 24, 1853 and he didn’t expect …

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Christmas Jelly makes great stocking stuffers!

  It’s Christmas and time for a full helping of Christmas Jelly, our popular holiday short story collection. From now until Christmas, you can order copies for $10.00 each. In addition, we’re giving additional discounts for bulk stocking stuffers. (5 copies for $40 and 10 copies for $80). Shipping is $5.00 per order.  We’re making it super easy to order …

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My Grandpas’ Boots: Upcoming Children’s Picture Book

A word from Curt           This story is taken from a chapter in As the Crow Flies and adapted for an illustrated children’s book.   Curt Iles/MY GRANDPAS’ BOOTS Copyright 2017 by Creekbank Stories and Curt Iles                                                           1 My name is Abe, and this is the story of my scuffed boots.  This pair of boots are …

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