Authors

   Richard Abanes is an artist of many talents who first received attention as a performer in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls and various touring companies of A Chorus Line. He also starred in the film Rappin' (1985) and the PBS series We the People, hosted by Bill Moyers (1987). Richard eventually moved into journalism, writing for numerous magazines and penning twenty books on world religions, cults, extremists movements, and pop culture, including his award-winning American Militias: Rebellion, Racism, and Religion (1996). He has lectured on religion at the Skeptic Society, Mensa, Biola University, Veritas Seminary, and Oxford University. Richard has just finished a new novel, The Art of Life and is now writing his first musical, Life Happens. His forthcoming book on spirituality and healthcare will be published in 2027.

   Nettie Capasso is an occupational therapy supervisor at Rusk Rehabilitation, NYU Langone Health, where she has served for 26 years. She has co-authored articles for several publications including the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, and the textbook Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction. Her first co-authored book, The Functional Upper Extremity Levels (FUEL), was published in 2026. Nettie holds a doctorate (Shenandoah University) and master's degree (New York University) in occupational therapy, as well as a bachelor’s degree (Hunter College) in nutrition. She is currently an occupational therapy Ph.D. student (Nova Southeastern University). Before her academic journey, Nettie danced with Kansas City Ballet, after training at the School of American Ballet. Her forthcoming book on spirituality and healthcare will be published in 2027.

Kelsey Mathias, OTR/L, PRPC, is an occupational therapist and nationally recognized leader in maternal and pelvic health. She specializes in perinatal care, intimacy, and relationship well-being, bridging clinical science with real-life application for individuals, couples, and families. Kelsey is a co-creator and advisor of multiple national continuing education programs for pelvic health professionals and has contributed to large-scale clinical education initiatives across health care systems. She is also co-founder of Connected Intimacy, a platform dedicated to reframing conversations around intimacy with the goal of helping Christian couples have shame-free sex in mind, body, and soul. Her book, Reframing Intimacy: A Faith-Filled Guide to Sex, Desire, and Connection, will be released April 2026.  

Larry Mathias is a pastor, community leader, and communicator with over a decade of experience in high-impact pastoral ministry. He specializes in organizational health, spiritual formation, and leadership development, and has served on leadership teams in churches of varying sizes to help individuals and families navigate faith, identity, and growth. With a background in digital design and multimedia storytelling, Larry bridges ancient truths with modern culture. He lives in Colorado Springs, where he continues to advocate for transparent, mission-driven communication that builds healthy, resilient communities. Larry is also co-founder of Connected Intimacy, a platform dedicated to reframing conversations around intimacy with the goal of helping Christian couples have shame-free sex in mind, body, and soul. His book, Reframing Intimacy: A Faith-Filled Guide to Sex, Desire, and Connection, will be released April 2026. 

  Shelley Mulligan, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of New Hampshire. She has extensive experience in all areas of pediatric occupational therapy practice, specializing in sensory processing and integration disorders, ASD, and ADHD. Dr. Mulligan’s areas of professional interest, research, and teaching include evaluation and measurement, evaluating children’s sensory and motor function, and evaluating occupational performance. She is co-author of the Sensory Processing 3 Dimensions Assessment, and author of the 3rd edition of Occupational Therapy Evaluation for Children. Her work has appeared in occupational therapy, developmental psychology, and medical journals and books. Her assessment, the Children’s Occupational Performance Questionnaire (COP–Q), will be published spring 2026.