OUR AUTHORS
OUR AUTHORS:
R.J. Halbert is the husband and wife team behind THE GOODPASTURE CHRONICLES, a supernatural trilogy about breaking generational curses to forge new bonds of hope.
Jason Halbert, an Emmy and Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter has reached millions of listeners worldwide through multiple #1 and Platinum albums. He has spent his 20+ year career as Music Director and Producer for Kelly Clarkson, has created several works in film and television, and works with numerous recording artists. He also loves bee-keeping, Sci-Fi, and is quite a storyteller.
Rhonda Halbert, after homeschooling their two children on a tour bus, has spent the past 10 years as a successful music and television manager, working closely with labels, networks, and producers. She is a published photographer, music supervisor, passionate cook, garden enthusiast, and spiritual practitioner.
Together, Jason and Rhonda have woven their 30+ years of life together into a riveting story, based somewhat on truth and experience, and brimming with imagination.
Dr. Lee Long, LPC-S, is a the author of WAIT, Where Am I in This? which will release on May 6, 2026. Lee has more than three decades of experience, with a diverse background across juvenile detention centers, psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient care.
Currently he is the CEO of RestorationCEC, a multi-site outpatient practice in North Texas. Dr. Long integrates evidence-based methods to assist those battling depression, addiction, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns, such as Cognitive Behavioral Analysis Systems of Psychotherapy (CBASP) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
His academic pursuits led him to a doctorate in Counseling, focusing on Traumatology, preparing him to address the complexities of mental health with individuals and groups alike. Dr. Long is a certified CBASP Supervisor and Trainer. He has worked alongside the founder of CBASP, Dr. James P. McCullough, Jr. in beginning the dismantling of the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy. Their
work is published in the Journal of Cognitive Therapy and Research. As a seasoned therapist and scholar, Dr. Long is committed to ongoing learning, patient care, and mentoring the next generation in effective mental health practices.
As CEO of Restoration Counseling, he is known for blending clinical excellence with warmth, humor, and deeply relational care.
Stage Wives is a Nashville-based support community for women whose husbands or significant others work in the touring industry—including musicians, artists, sound engineers, lighting techs, stage managers, road managers, and crew members of all kinds. If your partner tours, Stage Wives exists for you.
Stage Wives was founded by Rachel Smith and Rhyan Shirley, two women who know firsthand the unique challenges and emotional demands of life on the road. In addition to leading this community, they are also authors who have created children’s books as a resource to help families navigate connection, absence, and reconnection within the touring lifestyle.
Rachel Smith has spent over ten years as a tour wife. She is a pyrography (wood-burning) artist and the owner of Cinder Bella Studios and Raye Ann Pyrography. Her husband has toured full-time since they were married, and together they are raising their young daughter.
Rhyan Shirley is a full-time songwriter and recording artist. In addition to writing full-time and leading Stage Wives, she is a single mom to her young son. Rhyan was a stage wife for ten years, during which her former husband toured an average of 300 days a year. Through her personal journey, she has developed a deep passion for strengthening families and helping marriages not only survive, but thrive, within the demands of touring life.
Together, Raye and Rhy are committed to empowering women to step out of isolation and into confidence, wholeness, and emotional health. Their heart behind Stage Wives is to support the mental and emotional well-being of women at home while also strengthening marriages—ensuring that touring husbands feel supported, loved, and at peace knowing their families are cared for.
At its core, Stage Wives—along with their podcast Offstage and On Duty, their children’s books, and the other resources they provide—is built on the belief that prioritizing women’s mental health is essential to creating healthy stage families.