“I believe in the power of the written word. My vision is to develop my own voice and to help others to find and develop theirs”     www.savingerasmus.com             Steven Cleaver started writing when he was a child. Poems, stories and songs were many of his creations that hopefully will be found one day and worth millions. He always felt a call to write but wasn’t certain it was practical. For many years, he managed a non-profit that provided education programs for over 7,000 children a year.  This job provided one way to help disadvantaged and disenfranchised.  He wrote now and then –for the college newspaper, edited a state environmental magazine-but never wrote from his soul. His writing took a back seat.   Still his writing call could not be ignored. Steven decided to go to the Earlham School of Religion, a seminary where his emphasis was Writing. It was here that he started writing his book, Saving Erasmus. He developed his own poetry class and submitted a poem that won 2nd prize in the Grand Prize category in Indiana State Poetry Contest. One of his poems was selected as a Poem of the Day on the Artists Against War website. He created coffeehouses at his college so that other students could have the opportunity to perform.   Steven’s book, Saving Erasmus, was published by Paraclete Press in April 2007. The book was named an Original Voice by Borders Books and Steven was named as an Up and Coming Christian author by Aspiring Retailer. Publishers Weekly named Steven in an article about “Sparkling Debuts.”   While his  novel has been categorized as Christian Fiction, Cleaver does  not  let his writings become confined to category and believes that  the divine speaks in many voices and in many  different languages of religions and faith.   Steven continues to write. He is working on a book called The Gaps Between the Platforms, which is about the ghosts of unresolved lives that a man encounters as he works at a residence for senior citizens.  He is also working on several short stories and a play about men who have been sexually abused. He continues to write poetry.   Cleaver is available to do  workshops on such topics as  Spiritual Humor,  Spirit Writing and the Asana of Writing (a yoga and writing class). He loves to be asked to speak-especially if the engagement is in the New York area.    

Borders Books Original Voice 2007
Library Journal Best Christian Fiction of 2007
Publishers Weekly Best Christian Fiction of 2007
Indiana Poets Society 2nd Place Grand Prize Category