Creekbank Blog

I’ve been thinking lately about one of my heroes, Jerry Clower.  His stories and sayings are burned into my Southern brain.  He was a great comedian and even better person. A few years ago I visited East Fork Cemetery to pay my respects at Jerry’s grave. I expected to find a large tombstone befitting the famous man who became rich,  …

Red Touch Yellow, Kill a Fellow Monday, June 14 For the fourth time I go back to my seat in the tabernacle.  Four hundred and fifty G.A. girls sit in rapt attention as camp pastor Ronnie LaLande does a monologue on Namaan.  He is resplendent in a robe, turban, and sandals.  Bro. Ronnie has been a G.A. camp fixture for …

How do open doors in our lives connect with God’s will? It does remind me that often pushing on doors is God’s way of revealing His will.  If he closes tight, we move to another door.  If it creaks open, we walk through until the next door. Your thoughts on this.

Our latest novel,  A Spent Bullet, will be released soon from Westbow Press.  As a final tune-up for the novel, we’ll be sharing the book chapter by chapter.  Your kudos and criticisms are welcome. Enjoy! Curt Iles A Spent Bullet A Novel By Curt Iles Part I The Battle for the Bullet “I want the mistakes made down in Louisiana, …

Joseph Moore comes to America. The Wayfaring Stranger (2007) is my first historical novel.  It fictionlizes the journey of my great-great-great grandfather, Joe Moore, an Irish stowaway who came to the Piney Woods of western Louisiana. This passage tells of his ship entering the Mississippi River and America. Enjoy! He wondered if he would ever see or smell the ocean …

“When FDR said,  ‘If a rattlesnake is poised to strike… you don’t wait… you crush its head” I knew we were going to war.”   -Soldier during La. Maneuvers 1941 Pretend you’re a young soldier in 1941. Stuck in Louisiana during weeks of maneuvers in the field.  You’re unsure if war is coming. Or imagine being a teenager during this same …

George Katzman is a lifetime friend of mine who serves in Crestview, Florida.  He’s a native of Florien, Louisiana (home of the Black Cats) He is a fellow Louisiana College alum and also graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  This is an exceptionally wise article. George Katzman stands in front of Florida’s only 24 hour open air used bookstore.  It …

A Touching Story of the Heart I spent most of the day today at Alexandria’s Rapides General Hospital as my lifetime best friend, Joe Aguillard, had bypass surgery. We’re thankful to God for successful quadruple bypass on Joe. Continue in prayer for Joe, Judy, and their girls as he recuperates.  Joe fills an extremely important position as President of our …

I’m serious.  I’d rather write a 94,156 word novel than do the back cover and author copy for the same book. The confines of word count increase the tension of saying a lot in a little space.  There’s the knowledge that what’s on the back cover of a book will determine whether someone buys the book or sits it back …

This is the current back cover copy for A Spent Bullet, due for Summer 2011 release.  I’d appreciate your input.  I need to cut some lines and tighten it. Also, I’m open to ideas on the arrangement of the text. Finally, what parts would you put in bold? Back Cover Copy   It’s late summer 1941 in Louisiana. Over a …

Today’s Proverb: A fool’s mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life.**  Enjoy the story below on the hazards of running your mouth. Click on link below to enjoy the birds singing in Dry Creek, LA at The Old House: Birds at Old House 3 18 2011 **Uncle Quincy’s Goose   “He who guards his …

This photo was taken in May 1922 in Bundick Creek near my hometown of Dry Creek.  This is the true beginning of the recently (1920) organized Dry Creek Baptist Church. My goal is to identify as many folks as possible in this photo.  Your help is needed.

Hurricanes… It may be odd to talk about hurricanes in March, but I couldn’t pass up this video and photos. Click here to see video on Hurricane Ike Live

The World is Everywhere… if we’re looking. I’m sitting in the Albuquerque (thank goodness for spell check) Airport waiting to wing my way back to the Piney Woods. On this trip I’ve met so many nice folks.  In the larger airports of America (Houston, Phoenix, and here) many of the workers and travelers are African.  I’m pretty fair at tagging …