prose publication

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Classical Architecture and Monuments of Washington, D.C.: A History and Guide

Classical design formed our nation’s Capital. The soaring Washington Monument, the noble columns of the Lincoln Memorial, and the spectacular dome of the Capitol Building speak to the Founders’ comprehensive vision of our federal city. Learn about the brilliant L’Enfant and McMillan plans for Washington, DC, and how those designs are reflected in two hundred years of monuments, museums, and representative government. View the statues of our Founding Fathers with the eye of a sculptor-architect and gain insight into the criticism and controversies of Progressive additions to Washington’s monumental buildings.

Occasional Poetry: 

How to Write Poems for Any Occasion

 A Guide to Versification, with Helpful Tips, Advice, Examples 

Learn step-by-step, through numerous examples, the techniques of poetry both classical and contemporary. Author Michael Curtis sympathetically guides the reader into the art and the craft of writing poems for any occasion.   Each of the 22 chapters offers a “how to” of poetry technique, a “show-and-tell” of birthday poems, wedding poems, anniversary poems, et cetera. 

Bunyan's Chores: The Labors of Paul Bunyan

The tall-tale of a big man, plaid, monmouth capped, too big to be tied to  neckties, to stop-and-go signs, to computered cubicles.   Come, join  Bunyan in outdoor chores: lassoing of the moon, straightening the  Crooked River, conquering mosquitoes, grappling with the giant, Russian  sturgeon, and many another mighty, muscly adventure worthy of you and of  our American Hercules.  Read-on with Lit’l Lucette, Johnny Inkslinger,  Hel Helson, Shot Gunderson, Thomas “Little Merry” O’Meara and other  bighearted, Northwoods lumberjacks who join Paul and his faithful pal,  Babe the Blue Ox, as we with big wide strides stroll into better times,  those fortunate days when we were Children-of-the-Book, honest, fair,  and good. 

For Expansive Poetry Online:

"Lyric; Songs"

 Perhaps, we cannot all master the bowing of violin, the plunking of piano, or even the fingering of guitar, each and all, secondary instruments: yet, we each and all can sing, perhaps not as masterful as Pavarotti or Pink, yet we all have composed in our imagination, songs; songs when children, and later, songs to familiar tunes, and sometimes, songs that seem to jump off the tongue when least anticipated. We all are musical by nature, we all have access to that first instrument of music, the  human voice, silent or sounded... 

Essays published monthly at 

The Studio Books

Diverse essays on numerous topics.

 Sama the Prince: A Screen Novella

Sama, “Samalon”, son of Apollon, son of Atalon for whom Atlantis is  named.  Seven hundred years after the volcano that destroyed the kingdom  of Atalon (Atlantis) the island was refounded by Theras, son of  Austesion, descendant of the hero Cadmus; it is from Theras that the  island receives its name, Thera.  Our story occurs before the age of  heroes during the age of demigods, Apollon being the human manifestation  of the divine Apollo.  Archeological evidence suggests trade between  the Doric-Ionian cultures (the Seafarers, as named by the Egyptians) of  the Aegean Sea and the Americas; D.N.A. gives evidence that several  American Indian societies have a Mediterranean ancestry.  It is likely  that the towns of Akrotiri and Knossos share a common culture.  The  jealous eruption of Kaptara scatters the Atlantians and civilizes the  Western world.   Our story tells the history of Prince Samalon and the  remarkable Aiyana, daughter of Kubaba.