Louisiana Stories

She smiled at me, and I was changed.

She smiled at me, and I was changed. Thursday, April 18, 2024    Atrium Oschner’s Hospital  New Orleans, Louisiana   I saw the lady as she passed my table in the busy atrium of Oschner’s Hospital. She was walking briskly, and I immediately saw she had no arms, only nubs that ended past her shoulders. Then I noticed something else. …

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Thoughts the Manly Handshake

Thoughts on a Manly Handshake It’s an art every leader must master. Let’s delve into the cultural significance of the manly handshake, a unique aspect of our Louisiana Pineywoods region. Sometimes it’s called a manshake. A man-shake is firm instead of its opposite number, the dead fish/damp washrag handshake. Men in our area are judged by their handshake. It can …

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An Obituary I’d Love to Have.

An Obituary I’d Love to Have. One of the reasons I still receive a paper copy of The Town Talk is to read the well-written obituaries submitted by families. I was touched by the concluding sentence of the obit. of Judge Frank Alan Little, Jr in Sunday’s April 7, 2024 edition. “He often remarked that his wife, family, and friends …

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Putting my friends, Noah and Maggie, to bed . . . for now

We are putting Where We All Belong for a rest. Sea Change: A NOTE TO MY READING FRIENDS Because of your encouragement and investment, I wanted you to hear this from me: After nearly two years of researching, writing, and editing, I am putting aside my historical fiction novel,  Where We All Belong, for now.  I’ve carefully put Maggie, Noah, Pieter, …

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A Reader Favorite: “The Evening Holler”

The Evening Holler   This is the first story from my first book, Stories from the Creekbank. Over thirty years later, it is still my most requested story. You can hear an audio version of the “The Evening Holler read by the author, at the Creekbank Podcast  as well as Spotify. Our YouTube Channel episode comes straight from my rocking …

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Resolve

    Resolve This week I’m thinking about the word “Resolve “ and its double first cousins, Grit, Determination and Perseverance. “Resolve: to act with determination, boldness, steadfastness, and faith.” Resolve: it’s a good word to have in our toolbox.

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It’s the 8th of January . . . and this is why it’s important.

Fireplace at Old House

Today is January 8, 2024 It’s the 8th of January and not just any ordinary day. Here’s why: “The Eighth of January” is a fast-paced fiddle song dating back to the Nineteenth century. My great-grandmother, Theodosia Iles, was the Beauregard Parish Fair fiddle champion for most of her adult life, and she owned “The 8th of January.”  Years later, one …

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The Red Cedars

The Red Cedars at The Old House January 1, 2024 This red cedar coaster has a remarkable story.  It comes from the limb of one of the majestic cedar trees in the front yard of The Old House. When a pecan tree recently crashed on The Old House roof, the cedar’s limbs limited the damage. The coaster you hold came …

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The Best Trade: A Christmas Tree for a Basket of Jelly  

    The Best Trade: A Christmas Tree for a Basket of Jelly This story from my first book, Stories from the Creekbank, is still a favorite of readers of all ages. I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas to all of my friends. -Curt Christmas jelly is probably my favorite holiday gift. Yearly, I receive this present from a …

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The Key Sentences in ‘Where We All Belong’

    Friends and Readers, We’re putting the final touches on our upcoming novel, Where We All Belong. Don’t give up on us. There are many moving parts in getting a book into your hands. I really believe the final product will be worth the wait. Remember, it takes a village to raise a book and you’re a part of …

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“A Tree Fell on the Old House.”

“The Old House at Night.”  by Bill Iles 1963 “A Tree Fell on the Old House.”   “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”    Proverbs 23:7 I’ve always dreaded it, but knew it’d happen one day.  My sister’s message was short, “A tree fell on the Old House last night during the storm.” Before I tell you …

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A Mentor named Jay Miller

A Mentor named Jay Miller   “I was born in a tiny Southern town. I grew up with my family and friends all around.” Something to Love Jason Isbell   I grew up in a rural community where I was fortunate to have a long line of mentors and role models.  Many of these relationships continued even into my adult …

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The Clearcut

Pine Trees and Gravel Roads This story, written in 2023, is from my third book Wind in the Pines.  They’ve clearcut a large swath of pine forest adjacent to the home I grew up in at the dead-end road where my parents live. A Clear Cut is always sad to me.  This one removed the thick strands of pines about …

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