Our Authors

Cathy Schottenstein is a writer and English teacher originally from Columbus, OH. She received her BA in English from Emory University in 2004 and her MA from New York University in 2006. She is the co-executive producer of the HBO Max untitled Schottenstein project, a scripted limited series currently in development based on Beverley’s War. She has written for Bloomberg Businessweek, and she has worked the writing desk at CNN. A strong and comfortable speaker, she has been quoted in major outlets including NPR, Forbes, Bloomberg News, The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Monthly, Financial Planning, and dozens of podcasts such as Criminal, Friends Talk Money, A Life’s Story, and Psychology of Aging. Beverley’s War is her first book.

Matthew Schrier is from Deer Park, New York, and a graduate of Hofstra University, where he studied film production and English. In 2013, he became the first Westerner to ever escape from Al Qaeda. His story has been covered by 60 Minutes, the New York Times, and CNN, and since his return home, Matthew has devoted himself to working with the US Military, using his experience in Syria to educate American troops about survival after capture by extremists. The Dawn Prayer is his first book.

Mike and Erica Schultz are Ari’s parents. This is their greatest life achievement. They are also the leaders of RAIN Group, a world-leading sales training company with nine offices globally, 60,000 opt-in email subscribers, and over a million unique visitors annually to RAINGroup.com. Mike and the team at RAIN Group have worked with organizations such as Toyota, Monitor-Deloitte, Harvard Business School, Oracle, Fidelity Investments, Ryder, Quintiles, UL, Navigant Consulting, Hitachi, Lee Hecht Harrison, Lowe’s, and hundreds of others to unleash sales performance.

Taylor Scott has a passion for leadership that began at a young age, growing up in Kentucky as a Point Guard on his high school basketball team. He learned the power of influence and persuasion, which all leaders require. Scott has worked for notable brands such as Disney Parks and Resorts, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Wynn Encore Las Vegas, Gaylord Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Disney Vacation Club. He graduated with honors from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, FL, earning a BS in Business Administration. Later in his career, he earned a Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University.

William Sears, MD, survivor of colon cancer and leukemia, has been advising busy parents on how to raise healthier families for over 40 years, and now turns his attention to the specialty of lifestyle medicine. He has served as a voluntary professor at the University of Toronto, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California School of Medicine, and University of California: Irvine. As a father of 8 children, he coached Little League sports for 20 years, and together with his wife Martha has written more than 40 books and countless articles on parenting, nutrition, and healthy aging. He serves as a consultant for TV, magazines, radio and other media, and his website AskDrSears.com is one of the most popular health and parenting sites. Dr. Sears and his contribution to family health were featured on the cover of TIME Magazine in May 2012. He is noted for his science-made-simple-and-fun approach to family health.

Martha Sears, RN, is a breast cancer survivor, mother of their 8 children, and co-healer in this book.

Erin Sears Basile, or “Sears kid number five,” as she will joke about, has experienced first-hand the magical benefits of a happy, healthy household. Growing up in the fun and sometimes crazy Sears home with 7 siblings taught her a lot about the importance of family values, and leading a life of service. With her parents as guides, she has shaped her life around helping others.

She received her B.A in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Vanguard University and then went on to receive her M.A. in Choral Conducting from Azusa Pacific University. She then pursued a teaching career, and has loved sharing the joys of music with her students for the past 13 years.

After a health crisis lead Erin through her own mental and physical transformation, a spark ignited in her to focus her life toward helping others, and she is now honored to guide people through the journey of healthy living. She is certified health coach, yoga teacher, group exercise instructor, and co-founder of the Transform 5 healthy living plan. She is also an advocate and speaker for whole-food nutrition and assists families all over the world in living life to the fullest. Whether it’s through music or health coaching, she has devoted her life to helping others find their joy and thrive, experiencing the best version of themselves.

Brant Secunda is a world-renowned shaman, healer and teacher in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He is the only Westerner to have completed a 12-year apprenticeship with Don José Matsuwa, the revered Huichol Indian shaman. Since 1979, Brant has been the director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies in Santa Cruz, Calif. Brant is a founding member of the American Herbalist Guild and the Peace University of Berlin, with President Jimmy Carter and Bishop Desmond Tutu, and is co-founder of the Humanistic Medicine Conference in Germany. Brant’s work has been documented on television, radio and in articles and books throughout the USA, Europe and Japan. Brant Secunda has medically documented cases of healing cancer, hepatitis, infertility, aneurysms and many others. He has many well-known patients, including movie actor Steven Segal. Members of the international medical, religious and educational communities, including the World Health Organization, have recognized Brant’s commitment—as well as his knowledge—by inviting him to be a featured speaker, workshop leader and participant at numerous conferences worldwide.

Jeanne Segal, PH.D., is a psychologist, sociologist, author, and pioneering mental health innovator. She and her husband of 55 years, Robert Segal, are the founders of Helpguide.org, a nonprofit self-help website that serves more than 70 million visitors annually with encouraging, practical information on mental health, relationship and family issues. She has been helping individuals and families for more than 40 years as an innovator in the fields of emotional intelligence, holistic health, attachment, stress reduction, and relationships. She has written five books, which have been published in 13 languages.