On Thursday at Dry Creek Camp, Juanita Jordan (Pictured with me) told me about The Wayfaring Stranger: "It's a 'Darling Book' and I loved it!" Her "review" meant as much to me as one from The New York Times! She described her favorite part of the book, "When Joe is in that fight and Amos pulls that big knife, I could just see Joe feeling for that pine knot club with his foot."

Jennings Daily News article

Click on the article to go to a readable font

Kristi Waddle of Merryville is one of my most faithful readers. She visited with me recently at Author's Alley in DeRidder.

What would you say to a former president?

I met former president George H.W. Bush last year at Louisiana College, as a guest of my best friend, Joe Aguillard.

I asked the president about the Houston Astros. I am a faithful fan and many times I see the Bushes sitting behind home plate. Mrs. Bush usually is keeping a scorecard.

His reply was, "Well, it's been kind of a rough year, hasn't it?"

My Mom and Dad's love tree. This beech on Crooked Bayou is one of my favorites. When my parents dated in the early 1950's, Daddy carved their initials on the tree (CI is Clayton Iles and MP is Mary Plott.)

Quotes- I get much inspiration from collected quotes. These are pages from my recent journals.

I hope you enjoy them and they cause you to follow your dreams as they have me.

If you'd like to see the quotes in larger font, click on them.

My mom and dad's tree

This beech tree along Crooked Bayou carries the initials of my dad (CI Clayton Iles) and mom (MP Mary Plott.) They were married in 1953 so that gives you an idea of the tree's age.

I am so thankful of the example set for me by my parents!

Kendal and Brittany

Kendal Campbell (my neice) and my friend, Brittany are going to the Capital One Bowl as cheerleaders.

Here are my smiling grandson, Noah Iles (L) and Jack Iles (R). We are proud of these guys and their parents.

Brady Glaser at LSU

This is a picture from LSU's first day of football practice on Saturday (Aug. 4).

This is my nephew Brady Glaser who is a new LSU Tiger. Brady is working as a punter for the Tigers, but is getting practice time as a wide receiver with the scout team.

We are proud of our man Brady!

To visit the LSU website, go to www.lsusports.net.

This flybag was seen by Curt in Indonesia after the tsunami. It reminds us of our famous Dry Creek Camp flybags.

Terry Iles and his mother, DeDe at Sr. Awards program.

Our two grandson enjoying each other. Noah (left) and Jack Iles.

Our two grandsons

Jack Iles (left) was born on April 7 in Starkville Mississippi to Clint and Amanda Iles.

Noah Iles (above) is now nine months old and lives in Ft. Worth with his parents, Clay and Robin Iles.

We are proud of these two fine boys.

Ireland is a land of rainbows. You see them daily and they are so much more vivid than our American variety. They seem to last longer and actually appear to touch the ground or sea. I can understand how the Irish term "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" originated.

This is Doo Lough valley in County Mayo, Ireland. "Doo Lough" means "dark lake" in Irish. It is a sacred site in Irish History. In March 1849 during the worst of the Potato Famine, over 600 starving peasants began the 12 mile walk through this valley to the nearby town of Delphi, where food supposedly awaited them. Over 400 of them died along the road.

People now come from all over the world each May to walk "The Famine Walk." I walked it by myself on a cold and blustery day during my trip.

These are my favorite pictures from my recent (Feb. 28-March 8) trip to Ireland. I was there to research background information for my novel, The Wayfaring Stranger. You can read a chapter(s) by visiting my blog through www.creekbank.net.

the fjord at Killary Harbor/

County Galway, Town of Leenan, Three red faced Irish children.

Terry, our youngest son is a senior at East Beauregard High. He will be attending Louisiana College in the fall.

This past week DeDe and I enjoyed a visit from our son Clay, his wife Robin, and our seven month old grandson, Noah (pictured)

Noah and his family live in Ft. Worth where Clay is in seminary.

Our middle son Clint and his wife Amanda will have a son, Jack, in April. They live in Starkville, Mississippi where Clint attends Miss. St. and Amanda is a teacher.

Today (Thursday March 15) I was at Dry Creek Camp's Community Catfish Fry. Over 250 were in attendance for food and fellowship. It was my first opportunity to share my newest book, The Mockingbird's Song. Among those who got autographed copies were my special friends Yvonne Mahaffey, Matt Farmer, and Dee Farmer. These neighbors are some of the greatest influences of my life.