On the Beginning of a Year Being a writer, I always equate the first day of a new year to the blank page in a new journal. As I open the notebook and leaf through its empty pages, the potential for what I will write there is limitless. However, from being a journal keeper for …
Category Archives: Creekbank Blog
A 100 Foot Line
Plowing a ‘100 Foot Line’ There’s a fine stand of young slash pine at Dead Man’s curve on the Longville Gravel Pit Road. I’ve watched with interest the growth of this forest. After the field was earlier ‘clear cut’ for its marketable timber, a hard-working Mexican crew then replanted it in straight rows. By the …
Favorite Quotes of 2008
My favorite quotes of 2008 I collect quotes and these are some of my favorites of the past year. Add yours on the “comments” section of this blog. I’d love to hear from you. Curt We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill Inspiration …
The Wayfaring Stranger Chapter 25
Passage from Chapter 25 of The Wayfaring Stranger by Curt Iles Background: Joe Moore, a teenaged Irish immigrant has been befriended by an old Redbone woman known as Miz Girlie. This scene takes place in the longleaf pines of Louisiana in 1849. Joe slept each night on the porch. Miz Girlie gave him an old …
Medic! A WW2 Story
“Medic” The following is an abridged (shortened) version of Curt Iles’ Christmas short story, “Medic” featured in the new story collection, The Write Before Christmas. A compilation of nineteen stories by fifteen Southern authors (including two by Curt) it is available at http://www.creekbank.net. Copies are $10.00 each plus $5.00 shipping per order. An autographed book …
Wet Paint
Epilogue: Wet Paint This story is the final story from my second book, The Old House. It describes the strange mix of emotions a person feels when they finish a big project—regardless of if it’s a painting, a book, or building a house. I’ve just finished my next novel, A Good Place. Well, if you …
A Good Epitaph to Have: Leroy Columbo
This is a story from my first book, Stories from the Creekbank. It concerns a famous person from Galveston, Texas. The plaque mentioned is at sidewalk level atop the sea wall. As I’ve watched TV reports on the hurricane, I’ve wondered about this plaque. When Galveston rebuilds, I plan to go see it again. A …
A Brighter Day for Louisiana
A Brighter Day for Louisiana I’ve been a “Louisianian” (doesn’t that word roll off your tongue well) for all of my life. In those fifty plus years, I’ve never been prouder to say this is my state than now. (I’ve always been proud, have chosen to live here, raise my family, and cast my lot …
Baptist Message Writers Conference
Curt will be part of the lineup at the upcoming “Get Published” Conference sponsored by The Baptist Message. Click here to learn more. Click on images for a larger view of the Louisiana Baptist Message “Get Published” Conference.
Belum: a Good Word
A New Word to Learn: “Belum” From the book, Hearts across the Water, by Curt Iles In Indonesia there are so many unique and unusual things. Chief among them are the nuances of their language. The following illustration is probably my favorite: When an Indonesian is asked a specific question, they qualify their answer in …
The Evening Holler
The Evening Holler I’m sitting in Crooked Bayou swamp on a cold still October morning. I love this time of year when the weather becomes cool and the sky is usually clear. As daybreak comes, a mile through the woods I hear a neighbor’s roosters crowing and in the opposite direction, I hear my brother-in-law’s …
A Pair for Life
From the book, Stories from the Creekbank by Curt Iles To learn more, visit www.creekbank.net A Pair for Life Clay, Clint, and I crawled over the wet leaves to the bluff bank on the small stream called Dry Creek. We were just west of where the creek runs into Bundick Creek. As we crawled along, …
Louisiana’s “No Man’s Land” Maps
The two maps (above) are in the second edition of The Wayfaring Stranger. The first map is sketched by my special Dry Creek friend, Debra Tyler. I think it is great. The second beautiful map is by my good friend, Peyton Freeman of Wise Publishing in Sulphur. Thanks Deb and Peyton! click on maps to …
The Old House
The Old House in Dry Creek. First constructed by my great great grandparents circa 1892, this family home is my favorite spot in the world, source of many of my stories, and my best writing muse. Below is the opening story from my second book, The Old House. …
