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                                                           The Heavenly Choir   Christmas season—The Dry Creek Church choir sings beautifully in a way beyond description. It’s much more than a musical . . . it’s a production . . …

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 today’s serving of Christmas Jelly! Enjoy! Santa Claus is Coming . . . to School   I’ve learned this: life is always better than fiction. You cannot make up a …

A word from Curt Tomorrow,December 1, begins a daily blog of chapters from our short story collection, Christmas Jelly. The foreword below shares how you and your family can use these stories to brighten the Christmas season. Enjoy. DeDe and I and the Creekbank family wish you a Merry and Remarkable Christmas. Curt Order your copy(s) of Christmas Jelly at Amazon or www.creekbank.net …

A word from Curt I’m living in 1881 and 1882 today. I’m right at 92,000 words on As the Crow Flies.  My goal is to have 100,000 words by the week’s end. In the second draft, we’ll begin cutting down on words.  My goal is the book to weigh in at about 75,000 words in its final form. What I’m …

A word from Curt: This is an excerpt from our ebook, Trampled Grass. The read more: “The O Word” from Trampled Grass Today is Grandparent’s Day at Peabody Montessori School in Alexandria. DeDe and I have been invited by Daizy Mae Thomas. She’s our 9th grandchild. Read below and you’ll see why.   The final adoption story is extremely personal. The …

                  Young longleaf seedlings underneath the dead landmark tree   I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. Kilmer said it. It’s hard to be a tree. I’ve always seen God’s fingerprints on trees. The intimate life cycle between the animal world and botanical. Trees take in …

I’m working on As the Crow Flies the follow up historical novel after A Good Place.   Here are two openings I’m tinkering with.  Your honest input is appreciated.  No one writes a book alone.  I need your prayer, suggestions, even criticism.  Everything can be improved.  Opening A: Ft. Worth, Texas Christmas Eve 1955 As the crow flies it was …

  November is National Novel Writing Month. It’s an opportunity to write that novel (or family story) that’s been bubbling inside you for years.   You can keep your project quiet if you wish. I simply encourage you to begin. As they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step … or computer keystroke. The goal …

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 …