Journey to a Dream:  The First Portal, encompasses the love one man has for God, family, country and himself.  It is a story of Loyality, Faith, Hope and Charity.  The novel skillfully blends the values and belief that were born of the pre and post World War II era, the birth of the "Baby Boomers".  The main character receives the gift of knowing the day of his departure from this Earth.  This revelation comes to him as his cashes in all his earned stipends that throughout his life had been deposited in his spiritual bank. Though the final day is many years away, he is compelled to  document the formative years of his life providing evidence of how his life and values were developed.  In this revelation he also learns that the later years of his life will be stolen by Alzheimer's Disease.  Some of his learned experiences as a child and young adult are revived in one celebrated day, his final day.  On this last day, he journeys through some of the joyful moments of his life from which he learned life's lessons.

     In this Journal he documents the fidelity and love he has for his dearest life long companion, his wife, Celia.  He conceals the text which contains specific instruction, that if discovered it must not be read until September 28, 2032, his last day.

     If you are a Baby Boomer or just like a great love story, Journey to a Dream: The First Portal is a must read!

     Stephen J. McKolay was born on December 26, 1950, at St. Johns Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.  He is the third eldest of 15 children.  His elementary education (K through 8th) was through St. Augustine Catholic School, Detroit, Michigan.  He attended High School at John Glenn High, Westland, Michigan. Higher education was received from Henry Ford Community College, Schoolcraft Community College, Wayne County Community College and Eastern Michigan University.

     His work history began in 1967, with his employment by Mr. Mike Ilitich, owner of Little Caesars Pizza.  At that ime the chain consisted of 10 locations.  In1973 he left Little Caesars and began employment with Tandy Corporation, "Radio Shack".  To this day he is still with Radio Shack, 35 plus years.

     In that same year he married Celia Bryan, his wife of 34 years.  They resided in Westland, Michigan, until 1980.  In that year they moved to Traverse City, Michigan where they still reside. Together they have six children.  He and his wife have traveled to many places in the world and throughout the United States, including France, Italy, Switzerland, Hawaii, China and Hong Kong.

     He had always enjoyed writing and began to take a more serious approach while attending Eastern Michigan University where he was encouraged by various instructors.  In the early family years his pursuit of writing was random at best.  With all the varied responsibilities of providing for family and work responsibilities, writing became recreational and only a dream of the future.

     From his memories, he recalls observations and event experiences that he blends into a remarkable story, his first completed book of a continuing trilogy;  Journey to a Dream: The First Portal.