Our Books

Hotel cleaning lady in Entebbe. On my arrival, I was badly jet-lagged. She came to me, “Bwana, your shirt is on backwards.” This is after I changed it correctly. I thanked her   New Life and Death: On the Refugee Camp Rollercoaster   Sometimes I write because I want to. Other times, it’s because I have to.   Today is …

A word from Curt It’s one of my favorite fancy words: juxtaposition. It’s really a simple word with a short definition: It’s “comparing and contrasting two or more items.” In this week’s Creekbank Storyletter, I’d like to share about three juxtaposed places. Africa.  A week from today, my wife DeDe, sister Colleen, team leaders David and Renee Crane, and others …

Today is Journey # 1351 at www.creekbank.net. I thought you’d enjoy the first story I ever blogged on December 1, 2006. The Journey of one thousand miles begins with one single step. -Chinese Proverb   Catfish Lies: Straight from the Delta When is the truth a lie? We talk about “little white lies” and half-truths. Is there such a thing? …

King Mockingbird Each day he sits up there—on the highest limb on the tallest oak in the campgrounds. I call him “King Mockingbird.” The area around the Tabernacle and First Aid building belong to him. He is the biggest and loudest mockingbird around. It is easy to recognize him high up in the oak tree. His beautiful, loud singing soars …

“Son, there are two things you should never sell: a dog or a gun. You’ll regret it later.” -Louisiana Rural Wisdom Life is full of decisions, and each decision you make is a trade-off. You’ll gain some things while losing others. Seldom in life is any decision “a complete win.” To move ahead, you must necessarily leave something behind. The …

A Word from Curt We’re on a journey and our map is: To stay curious. Continue to be amazed at life. Share Remarkable* Stories with our friends and readers.   *A remarkable sound: a dueling duet between a Cardinal and Mockingbird in our backyard. I wonder how we’d react if we’d never heard the songs of these classic Southern songsters? In …

A Word from Curt Last night when the Astros won an improbable 1-0 10 inning victory over the Padres, I wanted to call my Dad and discuss the bizarre ending of the game. But I can’t.  Today, April 8, marks fifteen years since his death. I still miss him. I still think, “I can’t wait to tell that story to …

A word from Curt This afternoon my oldest grandson Noah and I will slip into the edge of Kisatchie National Forest near Woodworth. We won’t have our guns. Turkey season doesn’t open until tomorrow. We’ll be there (rain or not) to look and listen. I’m taking him to the area where I encountered a herd of wild horses last month. …

A word from Curt  My calling: Stay Curious Never Cease to be Amazed. Share Remarkable Stories.   The following story, from our second book, The Old House, always moves me when I read it again. It really happened and I was there to see it.  Read it and help celebrate a birthday. A Remarkable Story: The Corporal and the Colonel …

The best part of writing about Pineywoods Louisiana is how my books open the door for others to tell me their stories. Most of my historical fiction comes from actual stories told by my friends, both old and new. This is especially true with A Spent Bullet, my 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers book. My cousin, Harold Iles, who was a Sugartown …

  I’d like you to have a first listen to what is going to be a special project: the Audible version of our latest novel, As the Crow Flies. Listen to the first 15 minutes of the novel.  I believe you’ll agree that narrator Whitney Ann Jenkins “nails” Missouri Cotton. I’d love your feedback. Have a great day! Curt   …

You can order Deep Roots in various formats including ebook and Amazon. Learn more here.  92 Dry Holes   A Story on Perseverance and Resolve Once my wife, DeDe, and I visited Ft. Worth, Texas where our son Clay and his family lived. One of the places they took us was the Amon Carter Museum of Art. It featured wonderful …

Wow!  I wrote my first book, Stories from the Creekbank, in 2000. Not only is it still in print, but it’s a steady seller. I’m so grateful for friends and readers like you who’ve kept my thirteen books “evergreen.” Evergreen is the book-selling term for a title that continues to sell long after its publication. We’ve been blessed in this. …

Merry Christmas from the Iles Clan. I wish the very best for you and yours during this Christmas season. Living Gratefully, Curt     The Hay’s in the Barn It’s “Christmas Eve-Eve.” Two days until Christmas. It’s close but there’s still time for planning and dreaming. A strong cold front is blowing in as I arrive at Foreman’s Meat Market. …