Three of my boys.

Greg Johnson (center) is one of my writing inspirations. He is the "character behind the character" of Unk Dial in The Wayfaring Stranger. Greg lives at Union Hill, LA (in the Ten Mile area) and is one of the Godliest and wisest friends I have.

Pictured with him at Dry Creek Camp are two members of the Creek Redneck Literary Society, Todd Burnaman (L) and Jake Givens.(R)

Todd and Jake are giving invaluable advice as I work on my next novel, A Good Place To Be. * Todd is the manager at our beloved Dry Creek Camp and Jake serves in many capacities at the Camp. I love these guys as sons and am very proud of them.

* If you would like to look over early chapters of A Good Place, email me at curtiles@aol.com

Eating Vietnamese in Houston. When I was in Houston last week for a writing clinic, I ate dinner with some Florida College- Dry Creek Camp friends.

From left (Vonnie and Peggy Beard, Curt, and John Kilgore.) John has directed Dry Creek Florida College Camp and is a very special friend. Peggy is a camp legend who rules the Piney Wood Lodge each summer during her visit.

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.)