Never Refuse an Invitation

A Night at Culver Stockton College

Last night, I had the pleasure of visiting Culver Stockton College to share a short reading from my mystery novel Blue Garou with a room full of bright, curious creative writing students. They’d read the book in advance—always a humbling honor—and came prepared with thoughtful, incisive questions about the creative process behind it.

We dove into the art of world-building and the alchemy of character development, exploring how a fictional New Orleans detective can carry the weight of real-world history, culture, and emotional truth. It was a conversation that reminded me why I write—not just to tell stories, but to connect across generations and geographies through the shared language of imagination.

Before I left, I passed along a piece of advice I received from Kurt Vonnegut himself at a book fair in 1975: “Never refuse an invitation.” That simple phrase has shaped my life and career in ways I never could have predicted. It’s led me to unexpected stages, unforgettable conversations, and evenings like this one—where the next generation of storytellers reminds me that the mystery is never just on the page.

Here’s to saying yes.

— H. Max Hiller