THE CHER SHOW - The fabulous, heartbreaking and inspirational life story of a pop icon - Review by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong

 THE CHER SHOW - The fabulous, heartbreaking and inspirational life story of a pop icon

 
Review by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
 
The TONY AWARD winning musical THE CHER SHOW is the fabulous, heartbreaking and inspirational life story of a pop icon. Discover how young, shy Cherilyn Sarkisian transforms from a pop singer to fashion influencer to television star to OSCAR,  EMMY and GRAMMY winner to the entertainment icon we know today.
 
THE CHER SHOW is filled with more than thirty hit songs representing six decades of stardom. Did you know that Cher sang backup vocals on hits like the Ronettes' BE MY BABY and the Righteous Brothers' YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELING? 
 
The show features three Chers - each one portraying her in various life stages. The three interact with each other, offer each other advice, argue with each other and even sing together at various points. 
 
Even though the show is a lot of fun because of the familiar music and perfectly timed Cher humor, there are some deeper revelations here too. After earning tens of millions of dollars, Cher realizes that husband Sonny owns 95% of their partnership, their lawyer owns the other 5% and the only thing she owns is a car. Then there is the time Lucille Ball advises Cher to dump Sonny and take control of her career. 
 
THE CHER SHOW won Tony Awards for Lead Actress in a Musical and for Costume Design for a Musical. Bob Mackie's costumes are over-the-top fabulous and perfect for an over-the-top icon like Cher. Mackie's character sings, dances and comments hilariously in THE CHER SHOW with fabulous gay flair.
 
A few of the music highlights include:
* If I Could Turn Back Time
* Half-Breed
* I Got You Babe
* Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
* Believe
* Song for the Lonely
* Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
* Dark Lady
* I Found Someone
* Believe
* Strong Enough
 
THE CHER SHOW is onstage at the Maxwell C King Center in Melbourne, Florida tonight - https://www.kingcenter.com/
 
Visit THE CHER SHOW tour website for upcoming performances -
https://thechershowbroadway.com/#home

Delray Beach Open Is a Tennis Lover’s Dream Come True by Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong

Delray Beach Open Is a Tennis Lover’s Dream Come True

There is only one place in the U.S.A. where tennis fans can catch a glimpse of some of the biggest young guns of today and some of the most successful pros of yesterday. The Delray Beach Open in sunny Delray Beach, Fla. offers the amazing combination of an ATP World Tour event and an ATP Champion’s event in an action-filled 10 day span. This is truly a tennis lover’s dream come true.

The ATP World Tour event features some of the best, young, up and coming players competing today as well as some of the most succesful players in both singles and doubles.

This isn’t the same game you may remember from years gone by. Pro tennis today is all about power and those who can control it. It is not unusual to see these young players crushing serves at over 140 mph.

American John Isner and Croatian Ivo Karlovic have recorded serves at over 150 mph.

Australian Sam Groth has set the world record with a serve tracked on radar at an astonishing 163 mph!

A tennis court is only 78 feet long. Imagine a ball rocketing toward you at 150 or 160 mph.

What is equally astonishing is that there are talented players today that have the hand-eye coordination to hit these balls back.

The list of past contenders reads like a who’s who of tennis Grand Slam champions: Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro,  Lleyton Hewitt and the Bryan Brothers who are entered again this year.

Mike and Bob Bryan are American twin brothers who have been called the most successful men’s doubles team in tennis history.They have won 100 titles together including 16 Grand Slam titles The brothers have finished world No. 1 a record 10 times and are the first doubles team in history to hold all four majors and the Olympic gold medal.

The ATP Champions Tour event is not just a hit and giggle event. These guys are competitive. To even qualify to take the court, they have to be  either a World No. 1, a Grand Slam singles finalist, or a singles player in a victorious Davis Cup team. They may not hit the ball as hard as the young guys anymore but they make up for it with guile, spin, and entertainment. Don’t be surprised if you see Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic climb into the stands to take a selfie with a pretty lady.

Even though the Delray Beach tennis center can facilitate 6000 spectators, the fans are spread out over five courts and another couple of practice courts. It never feels crowded and you always have a good seat.

One of the biggest assets of the Delray Beach Open is the intimacy of the venue. You may find yourself within 10 feet of those balls speeding by at over 100 mph.

The Delray Beach Open by The Venetian® Las Vegas is televised nationally on the Tennis Channel and internationally in over 125 countries. More than 50,000 spectators attend the tournament each year.

The Delray Beach Open by The Venetian® Las Vegas is being held February 13 – 22, 2015.

For more information, visit http://www.yellowtennisball.com 

Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright Sunny Harbor Publishing. PO Box 560318 Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321044607552. Email: SunnyHarborPuboishing@yahoo.com. This article appeared in lgbtSr.org magazine.

Arlo Guthrie – Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour by Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong

Arlo Guthrie – Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour

By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Sunny Harbor Publishing

When we told people we were invited to the opening concert of the Arlo Guthrie Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour, we received an interesting variety of responses.

There was, “Who is Arlo Guthrie?”

And, “Didn’t he have a song in the 1960’s or something?”

And, “Arlo Guthrie! I love his music.”

But our favorite was, “Oh my God! I had such a crush on him when I was a teenager!”

For those who may not know or who may have forgotten Arlo Guthrie is – possibly because of certain substances you may or may not have sampled in the 1960’s at Woodstock or elsewhere – Guthrie is a 1960’s singer/songwriter and the son of folk music legend Woody Guthrie.

Arlo Guthrie had a hit record with his smooth rendition of “City of New Orleans” but his iconic musical masterpiece is the 18 minute long “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.”

“Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” is a fabulously funny, true life experience that all started when Guthrie went to a restaurant owned by his friend Alice for Thanksgiving and offered to take out the trash.

One absurd thing happened after another and soon Guthrie was in handcuffs, then in jail, then watching the police take hundreds of photos of the trash, then in front of a blind judge who couldn’t see the photographic evidence and finally in front of a Vietnam Draft Board where he was banned from fighting in Vietnam because of his trash arrest record.

The 18 minute song is a study in the absurdities of life and Guthrie is a master at milking every delicious moment. You just can’t help but laugh throughout.

The Arlo Guthrie Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour launched in Daytona Beach, FL and will continue through 40 cities.

We were there on opening night in Daytona Beach at the Peabody Theater with hundreds of eager fans. Gray-haired Guthrie sauntered onstage and segued effortlessly from song to story to joke and back to song again time after time. Fans laughed, clapped and sang along. The concert even ended with a singalong.

Guthrie’s stories of his appearance at the legendary Woodstock concert had some audience members laughing so hard they were in tears.

We asked Guthrie how he felt about being so obviously adored by his fans.

In classic laid-back yet introspective Guthrie style, Arlo said, “I didn’t think the show was as good as I had planned it to be but it was the first in a long tour so we’re still working out the bugs. It’ll get much better in a week or so. Never-the-less, we had a pretty good time even with all the goofs and lighting problems. It was great to see and hear so many people having a good time, not only remembering, but looking forward to the challenges of social change and the basic evolution of civilization.”

The comment about social change and other similar comments throughout his career are why some critics have labeled Guthrie a radical and an anti-war protestor. They are wrong. Guthrie is not anti-war or anti-conservative. He is famously and intellectually “anti-stupidity” in whatever its form.

At one point in the concert, he even said, “I am not anti-war. I’m just anti-stupid.”

Five decades removed his idyllic teen years, Guthrie is still the idealist.

“If the world was meant to be wonderful for everyone, it would have been so by now. It’s time to realize that the world was made for the imperfections in everyone. That’s why snowflakes are all different and why beauty looks different everywhere you go. I believe we are made and divinely inspired to love one another. Love doesn’t need laws, or a college degree, or some fame and fortune. It only needs to be valued in ourselves and in others. That’s what the world was made for as far as I’m concerned,” Guthrie said.

We asked Guthrie what he thought about the ongoing battle for LGBT equality.

“For me as for many others, equality means being treated as if you are normal – like everyone else. That’s as true for LGBT folks as others for whom real equality has been elusive. It requires us to not only take into account that everyone has equal rights, but also special insights and valuable contributions that can only be made when we acknowledge the uniqueness of others whatever their personal stories may be,” Guthrie told us.

If you’d like to enjoy this socially conscious, witty, talented musician for yourself, you can catch the Arlo Guthrie: Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour at one of the following venues (See all locations and dates HERE).

Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2014 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com. This article published in lgbtSr.org

Why Do We Celebrate Mothers Day anyway? by Steven Skelley

Why do we celebrate Mothers Day anyway? 
by Steven Skelley

I am one of those people who wonders why we humans do the things we do. Every time I hear a phrase like “Don’t let the cat out of the bag,” or “It’s raining cats and dogs,” I wonder why we say something so crazy. 

I often wonder about why we celebrate certain holidays or why we have the traditions we do within those holidays too. One year, I was hired to create and perform a musical Christmas program. I put my inquisitive nature to work and researched the stories behind all our favorite Christmas songs: who wrote them, when, where, and why. The songs took on much deeper meanings once we all knew the stories behind the songs. 

(photo: Sherill May McWilliams Skelley)

I was recently hired to offer a lecture on Mothers Day Sunday. I had written a song titled Thank You God For Making Moms and I had co-authored a book titled Every Day Is Mothers Day. I could easily talk about both of those but I wanted to go deeper. So, I decided to also share the history, the “why” of Mothers Day. Maybe if we know a little more about how Mothers Day came to be, it will touch our hearts in a new or deeper way. 

This is what I learned… 

In 1819 in New York City, Julia Ward (Cutler) Howe was born. As she grew up, she grew to hate war and the devastation it caused to humanity. Her hatred for slavery was as strong as her hatred for war. 

She married Dr. Samuel Howe and the two of them founded the Perkins Institute for the Blind. 

Julia was a radically outspoken woman for her time. She was also a songwriter. Her most famous composition is The Battle Hymn of the Republic. 

After the success of her song The Battle Hymn of the Republic in 1861, Julia used her influence to issue her Mothers Day Proclamation against war in which she asked that women everywhere rise up and accept their responsibility to positively affect their society. Again, this was radical thinking in a time when women were not even allowed to vote. 

It is thought that Julia’s Mothers Day Proclamation greatly influenced another radical-thinking woman named Anna Jarvis and therefore laid the groundwork for what we call Mothers Day today. 

Ann Jarvis was born in West Virginia in 1864. She claimed to have been greatly influenced by her own mother and by the teachings of Julia Ward Howe. 

Anna’s mother had bore 11 children but had watched 7 of them die. She then turned her grief into the catalyst to do many charitable works. Anna’s mother died in 1905, sparking something within Anna. 

In 1907, Anna had a plan. She held a memorial to her mother and embarked upon a campaign to set aside a specific day each year for families to remember the mothers who had influenced them. Anna’s desire was for a personal, family celebration. 

Anna promoted her idea by sending out over 10,000 letters to newspapers, church leaders, businessmen, and politicians until in 1910 the governor of Virginia made Mothers Day a state holiday and in 1917 President Wilson made it a national holiday. 

Anna was adamant that her idea was for a special personal family day where children honored their own mother so she requested that the apostrophe in Mother’s Day be placed between the r and the s to remind us that this is a personal family celebration. 

Soon, though, the holiday became very commercialized. The apostrophe was moved from between the r and the s and placed after the s making it Mothers’ Day (a day to honor mothers in general). 

Anna came to hate the very holiday she had worked so hard to create. She hated how it had been corrupted by commercialism. It was no longer the personal reflective day she had envisioned. 

Anna Marie Jarvis spent the rest of her life and her entire family inheritance fighting against the holiday she had worked so hard to create. She was actually arrested for disturbing the peace as she protested what her holiday had become. How sad. 

Even though Mothers Day did not turn out the way Jarvis had planned, it still had a positive effect on many including a prominent American spiritual leader named Myrtle Fillmore. 

Myrtle is considered one of the founders of Modern Thought teaching which leads us to think that we ourselves control the circumstances of our lives for good or bad. Her teaching affected thousands in the 19th century, the 20th century and today. She was called the “mother” of Modern Thought. 

Every Mothers Day, Myrtle would go sit silently beside the hundreds of letters sent to her from people all across the country. She would thoughtfully consider her role as a spiritual “mother” to these hearts she had touched in some way as she read each and every letter from them and then she would close her eyes and “radiate” positivity back to those who had wrote to her but also to the mothers who may have been forgotten by their own children. 

I hope this glimpse into the “why” of Mothers Day gives you a little deeper understanding of the holiday and of the people who gave so much of their lives to bring it to us. 

As for me, I was born in Canton, Ohio in 1963 to Sherill May McWilliams Skelley. She taught me the amazing value of hugs and smiles and laughter. Mom’s mom, Virginia Margaret Wheatley McWilliams was her best friend as well as instigator and partner in their many silly and fun adventures. They modeled for me how great family can be. 

I hope my daughter Steffany and I carry on their legacy of love, friendship and shared adventure. 

by Steven Skelley 
www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org 

Steven Skelley is a published coauthor of Every Day Is Mothers Day, several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, recording artist, travel writer, news writer, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.

Every Day Is Mothers Day

Every Day Is Mothers Day is 100+ pages of thoughts, stories and photographs that celebrate the special relationship between moms and their children. Each book includes a special music CD of the touching single Thank You God For Making Moms. This is the perfect gift for any mother or child of any age.Author / Photographers Thomas Routzong & Steven Skelley asked readers to share their favorite family photos and then added thought-provoking or humorous captions to help us remember and celebrate that amazing mother-child connection.

With a music CD single of Steven Skelley's song Thank You God For Making Moms included, Every Day Is Mothers Day is the perfect gift book for any mother or child of any age.

Thomas Routzong
I was born in Cocoa, Florida in 1941 to Ethel Sue Duke Routzong. I was named after our family doctor, Dr. Thomas Kenaston, grew up in rural Cocoa on 30 acres in a farm atmosphere, and I can still almost taste the homemade butter and biscuits my mother made. My grandmother, Bess Cole Duke (Mama Duke) was like a second mother to me. I can still picture her standing there saying, "Anything worth doing is worth doing well."

Steven Skelley
I was born in Canton, Ohio in 1963 to Sherill May McWilliams Skelley. She taught me the amazing value of hugs and smiles and laughter. Mom’s mom, Virginia Margaret Wheatley McWilliams was her best friend as well as instigator & partner in their many silly and fun adventures. They modeled for me how great family can be. I hope my daughter and I carry on their legacy of love, friendship and shared adventure.

Click the video below to hear Steven's song Thank You God For Making Moms and see excerpts from the book Every Day Is Mothers Day.

Click here to watch youtube video of Thank You God For Making Moms

Click here to purchase Every Day Is Mothers Day

Every Day Is Mothers Day book and CD + FREE SHIPPING!

Price $ 12.00 Thank You God For Making Moms is available as an MP3 download for only 99 cents at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevenskelley ______ ______ Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.

Positive Reflections: Inspiring Thoughts & Photographs From Around The World is a 128 page gift book with a special twist that is meant to encourage a positive outlook that will help you live life to it’s fullest. Encourage someone who is facing a life challenge or just inspire someone to enjoy all that life has to offer.Whether you want to encourage someone who is facing a life challenge or just inspire someone to enjoy all life has to offer, Positive Reflections: Inspiring Thoughts & Photographs From Around The World is the PERFECT GIFT BOOK!

Co-authors Thomas Routzong and Steven Skelley have faced life's challenges and have survived to encourage others to enjoy the journey of life!

Positive Reflections: Inspiring Thoughts & Photographs From Around The World features beautiful photos from around the world taken by Steven and Thomas along with insightful tourist descriptions by Thomas. Each photo is paired with a thought-provoking quote from a famous historical figure and an inspiring, encouraging motivational confession from Steven that you can use to positively focus your day.

Author / photographer Thomas Routzong was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 and given less than a 40% chance of survival. His wife lost her battle with cancer soon after. Thomas survived and vowed not to waste even a minute of the rest his life. After serving his community for 30 years as an educator, he began traveling the world and photographing its beauty.

Author / photographer Steven Skelley has been a columnist for nine newspapers and a news service. His mother and both sisters all passed away in their forties. At age 43, Steven battled his own life-threatening illness but survived with a desire to encourage others though his writing, photography and music.

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People love to look at beautiful photos like these whether in a gallery like ours or in a book like this. These photos just draw you in and the quotes really make you think - a great way to forget your stress and relax." Heidi Thamert / Downtown Gallery of Titusville..


"As a cancer survivor, I truly believe in living every day to the fullest and doing the things that make us happy. This book helps remind me to do that." Catherine Schweinsberg / Brevard County Library Services Director

"Beautiful! Not everyone is able to travel around the world but, with this book, you can imagine yourself there and start your day with a positive mindset." Nancy Robinson / Talk Of The Town Travel Agency

"Thomas and Steven lift your spirits and inspire you to enjoy the beauty of the world in this delightful travel-free tour of the world." Dr. Randy D. Moody / Presbyterian Church

"Positive Reflections is like the bestseller THE SECRET but with pictures! You can get a new view of the world and a new view on life." Rev. Beth Head / Unity Church of Melbourne

"In the business world APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY is all about seeing things in a new way, overcoming the limits we impose on ourselves and living up to our potential. Positive Reflections is a valuable tool for today's successful business person." Douglas Brown / Co-author The Black Book Of Outsourcing / Brown Wilson Group

"Robin has received Positive Reflections'and they have truly lifted her spirits. She wants you to know that you are in her thoughts and prayers." Ayana Smith - personal assistant of Robin Roberts / Good Morning America.

"Thanks for the two books! They are great!" U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.

"Hey all.... I have this book & love it!!! The photos bring great relaxation to my my hectic life!!! A must have for everyone!!!!!" Mary Ann Barnes Dunne

"I gave several as gifts, when friends seemed to be in need of inspiration. I think they make great gifts." Kathryn Bird

(Click here to purchase Positive Reflections: Inspiring Thoughts & Photographs From Around The World) for just $15 (free shipping)

Click here to purchase Positive Reflections: Inspiring Thoughts & Photographs From Around The World from AMAZON.com

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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.

the best of HOMETOWN HEROES florida

the best of HOMETOWN HEROES florida is ten chapters of heartwarming & inspiring stories about people of all ages and backgrounds who are changing their communities, their state, and their world through their unique personalities and their desire to help others"WOW! became our keyword for this book. After we interviewed each of these extraordinary people, we would get in the car, look at each other and just say WOW!" Thomas Routzong & Steven Skelley

"The authors tell remarkable stories." Gary Roen / Midwest Book Review

THE HOMETOWN HEROES

Patrick D Smith - An Author Remembered
Patrick D Smith has been called Florida ’s greatest author. He has been nominated for multiple Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. People have asked that his books be read to them on their death bed. He once spent several years masquerading as a migrant worker in order to learn how they are often abused and mistreated. His fictional novels set in Florida’s history are world famous.

Ed Schick - The Hamlet Quoting, Motorcycle Riding Hope For The Hopeless – Ed Shick was raised in a broken home. He often found himself homeless and sleeping on the beach for weeks at a time. He tested as mentally challenged. Ed found he wasn’t mentally challenged. He earned a college degree and went on to open shelters to house and educate the homeless and hopeless.

Hazel Haley - From Too Ugly To Live To A Beautiful Soul
Hazel Haley thought she was born too ugly to live. She eventually found her place in the world as a high school teacher. She was so loved by her school and students that they wouldn’t let her retire….until she reached age 90! Hazel is a firecracker who has been sought out by Oprah and the Tonight Show.

Rafael Ortega - A Law Officer Condemned To Die, Reborn To Serve – Bronx born Rafael Ortega served the Pompano Beach area as a deputy for over 20 years until he contracted hepatitis A, B & C while arresting a criminal. With just days to live, Rafael promised God that he would serve the Latino community with what was left of his life. Rafael miraculously lived and the police officer became a peace offerer.

Dolly Hand - Home Is Where Your Heart Is – Dolly Hand is a wealthy socialite who should fit in perfectly with her Palm Beach friends. Instead, she uses her finances and influence to help the poorest of the poor as she chooses to live among them in one of the most disadvantaged cities in the state.

Kathy Catino - From Broken and Beaten To A Shining Beacon
Kathy Catino married the wrong man. She was beaten, isolated, and locked in a closet for days. She escaped. Kathy turned her nightmare into an opportunity to help other battered women and children. She opened and operated nationally acclaimed shelters in St Pete and Naples and is credited with saving the lives of tens of thousands of women and children.

Dr. Russell Barber - Teacher Of Tolerance
Barbara Walters. Tom Brokaw, The Dahli Lama. Billy Graham. Barry Manilow. Mother Teresa. These are the people who Russell Barber calls friends. Russell is a 3-time Emmy award winning journalist and college professor who has dedicated his life to creating dialogue between people of faith….all faiths.

Choctawhatchee High School - Coming Together To Change The Future
The word " Choctawhatchee " means "to come together." 2nd grade teacher Jenifer Bafundo and high school teacher Linda Evanchyk came together with an idea to change the lives of thousands of students. They paired successful high schoolers with disadvantaged second graders as pen pals and mentors. The interaction between children who would otherwise never have met has changed the lives of every

Zion D'jatar & Dr. Erroll Findlater - Breaking The Cycle Of Generational Poverty
Zion D’Jatar is a former high school principal named for the African word for lion. Dr. Errol Findlater is a successful surgeon. They have both chosen to move their families to a community where the majority of residents live in poverty. They have teamed up to teach kids to succeed in school and in life.

Jack Nelson - Access To Success
World Record Swimmer and Gold Medal Winning Olympic Coach. These are just two of Jack Nelson’s many amazing accomplishments. Jack’s mother only reached the third grade. His father reached the fourth grade. Jack was considered too short and stocky to be a swimmer by many of his competitors. They even made fun of him....until he blew them out of the water and set world records. Jack has taught thousands of children to swim and thousands more about drowning prevention while teaching them all that no goal is unreachable and that character is as important as winning.

Click here to purchase the best of HOMETOWN HEROES florida for just $10

Click here to purchase the Kindle version of the best of HOMETOWN HEROES florida


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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.

Book Review - Positive Reflections

this is from the ST CLOUD IN THE NEWS website

POSITIVE REFLECTIONS:

INSPIRING THOUGHTS & PHOTOGRAPHS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

By Thomas Routzong & Steven Skelley

Sunny Harbor Publishing

P O Box 560318

Rockledge, Florida 32956-0318

http://www.sunnyharborpublishig.org/

ISBN 978-0-9799658-0-7

$15.00 with FREE shipping!

This is a perfect gift for any occasion. The authors have taken photos from around the world and combined sayings by famous people with statements by the authors and descriptions of the places of the photos. The book shows many of the positive things we have in this world.


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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.