David Ritz, called the "first call celebrity collaborator" by the New York Times, recently wrote Willie Nelson's bestselling It's A Long Story. He has collaborated on memoirs with, among others, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and B. B. King. His books include Scott Stapp's Sinner's Creed; Nik Wallenda's Balance: A Story of Faith, Family, and Life on the Line; and Messengers: Portraits of African American Ministers, Evangelists, Gospel Singers, and Other Messengers of the Word. He lives in Los Angeles, California.