He Watched and Took Note

Author Curtis Becker utilizes a collection of poetry and short stories as a vehicle for pondering the truth of social constructs and existence. The world he creates is full of everyday awkwardness, biting satire, and characters who are trying to make sense of their place in it.

About the Author :
Curtis Becker, a distinguished teacher embarking upon his twelfth year in the classroom, has inspired students at the middle school, high school, and college levels. Becker holds professional, highly-qualified credentials in both Kansas and Colorado. When not working with his students, he focuses on his own writing. Most recently, one of Becker's pieces appeared in the anthology, Bards Against Hunger: 5th Anniversary Edition. This book, He Watched and Took Note is his first. Becker is also the owner of Curtis Becker Books and its imprint, Kellogg Press. He offers writing, editing, design, and publishing services. Becker calls the beautiful Black and Gold District in the heart of Emporia, Kansas, home. Here, he participates in and supports the thriving downtown community. Becker was born and raised in Goodland, Kansas, and lived for over a decade in the Yuma, Colorado, area. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from Emporia State University and a master's degree in fiction writing from Southern New Hampshire University. As an undergraduate, Becker helped to create ESU's literary magazine, Flint Hills Review, and served on the editorial board for the inaugural edition.

Review :
"Curtis's sharp wit and even sharper mind are revealed in this collection of observations and ruminations on a Midwestern life in all of its unfoldings, both ordinary and extraordinary. Many know Curtis as "Mr. Becker," a beloved high school teacher. Now they can also know him as a published author, a writer whose words will endure." -Kevin Rabas, Poet Laureate of Kansas, 2017-2019, All That Jazz ***** Curtis Becker's spirited voice unveils life's amusements and bemusements in this fresh collection of prose and poetry. Becker exhibits humorous annoyance at politics when government agents of The American Bureaucratic Committee for Decency, Ethics, and Fairness (the ABCDEF G-Men) come calling. You'd better be prepared. He explores the frustrations of a modern hero, Mark Dent, who scrambles to find a phone booth, so he can change into super garb and save the day, even texting his pal Duce Payne, the Catman, for assistance. Although all of Becker's offerings are thoughtful, not all are amusing. His serious side is compelling as he seeks answers to life's riddles, including the demise of a man unable to cope with warm human expressions in "Smothered by Words," and the struggles of holding onto self-esteem and happiness while maintaining relationships in "It's Time." Curtis Becker's pieces wend and waltz through life in his unique, intriguing style. Dance with each one again and again. -Michael D. Graves, author of To Leave a Shadow and Shadow of Death ***** Curtis Becker's first book, He Watched and Took Note, is a mix of poetry and short fiction. In the stories, his introspective characters explore relationships, loneliness, and their place in the world. Becker often deploys his lighthearted, sideways perspective on life and, in some pieces, humor becomes the story. -Cheryl Unruh, author of Walking on Water, Waiting on the Sky, and Flyover People.