The Thin Red Ribbon of Hope

                          The Mockingbird’s Song by Curt Iles Chapter Four: The Thin Red Ribbon of Hope pages 8-15 My first thought was, “Hey, who turned out the lights?” Here I was in the woods between the main campgrounds and “The White House.” The White House is our adult center …

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The Wayfaring Stranger: Free Sample Chapter

Each week I will be posting a chapter from my upcoming novel, A Wayfaring Stranger. I’m really excited about this historical story of how two characters, Joseph Moore of Ireland and Eliza Clark of Ten Mile, Louisiana came to meet in the mid-19th century. Feel free to follow along each week as I add a chapter. If you like what …

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At Midnight: The Mockingbird’s Song

Preface: The Mockingbird’s Midnight Song -But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25). It’s the middle of another restless and sleepless night. Being exhausted both physically and mentally, yet unable to get the thing you need most – sleep, is so frustrating. So I finally wearily …

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The Mockingbird’s Song: In Memory of Ricky

Dedication: To Ricky, My Friend for Life Writing a book about the dark times of one’s life is difficult. It is in our human nature to shy away from revealing the depths of our soul, especially when the subject matter is painful. This book of essays concerning my struggle with depression has been hard to write. Rather, let me rephrase …

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The Challenge: Why I Wrote The Mockingbird’s Song

The Challenge… The lady stood over me with her hands strategically placed on her hips as I sat at a table in the camp dining hall with her hands on her hips and a wrinkled scowl on her face. My earlier years from being a high school principal had given me a sixth sense of when a good eating out …

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The Tsunami

From: Hearts across the Water  by Curt Iles   The Tsunami December 26, 2004 It was a typical sunny tropical morning along the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia’s northernmost and third largest island. Being a Muslim nation, the days around Christmas were nothing to be noticed or celebrated, especially here in the Islamic area known as “The Porch of Mecca.” Even …

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Christmas Jelly

Christmas Jelly   This story from my first book, Stories from the Creekbank, is one of the favorites of readers of all ages.   I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas -Curt Of all my Christmas memories and traditions, Christmas jelly is one of my favorites. Each year I receive this special gift from a very special lady in my …

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Catfish Lies: Straight from the Delta

“Catfish Lies” When is the truth a lie? We talk about “little white lies” and half-truths. Is there such a thing? Here is one of my favorite stories. You decide for yourself if the parties involved told the truth or a lie: American catfish farmers of the South are having a hard time economically. As is true in so many …

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The Pine Knot Pile: Earthly Treasures

The Pine Knot Pile: A Lesson on Earthly Treasures All of a sudden, the February wind picked up and turned out of the south. Instantly what had been a small controlled fire in my back field became a raging monster. The flames spread rapidly through the dead knee high grass – as fast I as I could, I ran ahead …

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92 Dry Holes

      92 Dry Holes   A story on perseverance and resolve   Several weeks ago DeDe and I visited Ft. Worth, Texas where our son Clay, his wife Robin, and our grandson Noah live. Among the places they took us was the Amon Carter Museum of Art. It featured wonderful examples of Western Art, especially the sculptures and …

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