Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller
Creekbank Family,
My upcoming short story collection is entitled Where I Come From: Field Notes from the Pineywoods.
I’ve listed chapter titles and taglines. I’ll be adding new chapters, so stay tuned.
Most of these chapters have been published on the Creekbank.net/blog.
Take a look.
As always, I welcome your input. questions. and feedback
Curt Iles
Chapter Titles and Taglines
current as of July 22, 2024
| CHAPTER TITLE | TAG LINE |
| INTRODUCTION | “Horses” Introduction to Where I Come From |
| THE SEED TREE | Thoughts on leaving a legacy |
| PATTERANS | Following the trail left by others |
| SIX WORDS TO LIVE BY | The importance of words |
| FRIEND COLLECTING | It is a hobby everyone can learn. |
| BE CURIOUS, AMAZED, AND SHARE | Why I write |
| A BROKEN CUP | Thoughts on depression. |
| THE GRAND OLD LADY | A community treasure burns |
| A TREE FELL ON THE OLD HOUSE | The call I’d always dreaded. |
| BAREFOOTING | A circuit-riding preacher who changed the Pineywoods |
| BEAUTIFUL HANDS | She was a memorable Aunt who charmed everyone who heard her play. |
| THE CARDINAL AND MR. SMITH | Doing what you love |
| COURAGE UNDER FIRE | Some people run from trouble, while others run to it. |
| EARTHSHINE | The wonders of the night sky |
| EIGHTH OF JANUARY | The song behind “The Battle of New Orleans.” |
| ELMER’S HAND | A lesson on generosity |
| EVERYTHING IS A GOOD LESSON | You have no friends. You have no enemies.
You only have teachers. |
| FALLING OUTS | The healing of broken relationships |
| FRIENDS WHO’LL STAND BY YOU | An old friend is the best friend |
| A HERO NAMED HUGH THOMPSON | A big word called Integrity |
| I AM MY BROTHER’S KEEPER | Lessons from an electrical lineman |
| JAY MILLER’S LAST HUNT | Is there such a thing as a “good death?” |
| JOHN WOODEN’S SOCKS | Small, simple things can often be big |
| KINDNESS: MY FRIEND GREG | A friend with a pure heart and a kind soul |
| KNOW THOSE WHO SERVE YOU | The habit of noticing |
| LLOYD’S TEETH | A memorable funeral |
| LOST AT SEA | Ensuring that an M.I.A. is not forgotten |
| LOVE AND DISCIPLINE | The balancing of parenting |
| MEASURE TWICE/CUT ONE | Be careful with your life-tasks |
| MRS. TRELVIS’S PRAYER TREE | A place and time to be alone with God |
| RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PINEYWOODS | Everything rises and falls on relationships. |
| REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM | A talk about status |
| SCREEN DOOR LIVING | The simple things are often the best |
| SHAKE LIKE A MAN | The art of the manly handshake |
| THE CLEARCUT | The pain of losing your father |
| THE DEER HUNTER | The joy of sharing what we love |
| HOBYAHS | The Pineywoods version of goblins |
| THE LONGLEAF | Legacy of the Big Trees |
| THE OLD HOUSE IS ALIVE AGAIN | A dark house is bathed in light. |
| THE PINEYWOODS | The history of a memorable part of Louisiana |
| THE RED CEDARS | Two stately trees representing family |
| THE SAD LIFE OF BENJAMIN BERRY | A classmate goes to the electric chair. |
| THE WINDMILL | The unique relationship between German POWs and Louisiana farmers during World War II |
| UNCLE CLINT | The Lost Boy |
| WHERE EVERYONE IS YOUR UNCLE OR AUNT | The joys of growing up in a small community |
| HAPPY AND SAD | Looking back from the desert |
| A GROUNDED VIEW | Having a balanced view of life and death |
| A LAZY MAN’S LOAD | The Joys of Traveling Light |
| A SOUTHERN NOD | Communication in the Pineywoods |
| CROOKED BAYOU | Falling in love again with the creek of my youth |
| PURPLE MARTINS | The rich relationship between the First Americans and an amazing bird. |
| ALEXANDRIA’S LARGEST BAY GALL | The infamous south traffic circle |
| THE CORNER POST | Standing at a boundary post put down over 100 years ago |
| A DRY CREEK CONSPIRACY | Taking care of a widow-woman |
| BURIED HAMS | Coming out of the Great Depression |
| GROUND TRUTHING | Seeing is truly believing. |
| AN HONEST DAY’S WORK | The habit of doing things right |
| A TRAVELOGUE | A road trip through the Pineywoods |
| CATFISH LIES | The truth, the whole truth, and only the truth |
| BLACKJACKS AND LIZARDS | My great-grandmother’s words still echo in my heart. |
| FINISHING STRONG | LTWBTYFI: “Leave this world better than you found it.” |
| EPILOGUE: WET PAINT | No book is truly ever finished. |
| EPILOGUE: AULD LANG SYNE | Drinking a cup of kindness |
