Louisiana Stories

    Wow. The Life Long Learning journey is the road I want to be on. I call it LLL. Will you pray that DeDe and I will hunger and thirst for learning more? More about God. More above living life. More about how to serve.       This is part of my current reading list. Soul Keeping.  I’m …

Ignore that fancy word. Juxtapositon. It simply means comparing and contrasting. How is an orange like an apple?  How is it different. It’s a big part of how my mind works as I take three steps daily: Being curious Being Amazed. Being Moved to tell a story.     Many times my stories are about these amazing things and how they …

It’s my mantra: Be curious. Be amazed. Tell about it. I arrive at Freedom Baptist Church early. Walking in the auditorium, I stop at a group of photographs on the back wall. I know what it is: black and white photographs of the men and women from this church who served our country.  Most are WWII faces. Most  Ten Mile …

November is National Novel Writers Month, commonly known as NaNoWriMo. The goal is for folks like you to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. I’m writing a new novel,  As the Crow Flies, and need to add 50,000 words in the coming month. This is an invitation to join together and write. We’ll be sharing ideas and encouragement …

The fun and joy of writing historical fiction is “going back” to a time in the past. With our new draft novel, the year is 1881 on Louisiana’s frontier, commonly called “No Man’s Land.”             It’s important to look at dates, moon phases, weather (when you can find it) and “live in that era.” That’s …

A Word from Curt   Here is the current draft opening line of my current novel, As the Crow Flies:   My name is JANE DOE, and I was born into a family of thieves. It’s how I ended up in the middle of what came to be known as the Westport Fight. This is my story of what happened …

Tough or Hard   In front of me are three objects: a brick, a piece of leather, and a hammer. These make for a wonderful lesson. However, this story is not about the hardness of a brick, toughness of leather, or the pain of the hammer blow. This is a story about somebody. Objects don’t move us—but people do. Watching …

We’re highlighting stories from our short story collection, Deep Roots. Measure Twice, Cut Once   Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you. -Exodus 31:6   I’ve always loved watching an artist at work. To watch a skilled craftsman shape something with their hands—and heart—is a joy. As the above verse …

Holding the Rope       When I ask you to hold the rope for us,  I’m deadly serious. Many of you were faithful to pray for DeDe and I in Africa. We need your prayer just as much back here in America. Thank you in advance for lifting us up. I’ve been thinking of my life statement,  “I want …

East Beauregard High Stadium. “Fields of Faith” last Wednesday Wow.  Privilege It’s become my favorite word. It is a privilege. It’s a way of looking at the opportunities (and challenges) of our lives. It’s a privilege to serve, learn, grow, and be alive. I had one of the greatest honors of my life this week.  Speaking to hundreds of high …

1. Stay Cuious. 2. Be Amazed. 3. Share Stories. That’s basically what I do. It’s who I am. I have a curious soul and a love of stories. It often gets me in trouble but always results in memorable stories.   The story below is one of my favorite funny stories.  Not quite sure of the spiritual message (Maybe: be …

  Let’s have a contest and some fun. I spent yesterday in New Orleans. The rest of Louisiana has a complex love-hate relationship with our most famous city. I’ve written about this in the past. I’m asking readers to fill in the blank with the best word. A Day in New Orleans is better than _____________. You can enter by …

  During this month, we’re sharing stories from our short story collection, Deep Roots. It contains the stories that our readers and listeners have enjoyed over the years. Come join us in a journey to where my roots are. In an area of western Louisiana called the Piney Woods. Enjoy. “The Door” is one of my favorite stories.  It blends …

  Scott Fitzgerald   One song will forever link my mind with the summer of 1999.   The song is the “Charlie Brown theme song.” This is the song Schroeder is always plinking away at on Charlie Brown T.V. specials. Here’s why this song is still playing in my mind.   On the first day of camp when our counselors arrived, …