ABOUT MICHAEL

Michael Castleman writes both journalism and fiction. His journalism focuses on health, mainstream medicine, alternative therapies, and sexuality. He also writes mystery novels set in San Francisco.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL WRITING

Since the early 1970s, Michael Castleman has been a prolific medical journalist. Library Journal calls him “one of the nation’s leading health writers.”

In 1972, Castleman graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan, with dream of becoming a novelist. To earn a living, he took an administrative job in a community clinic and began writing health articles for the local alternative weekly, the Ann Arbor Sun. He has been writing about health ever since. He earned an M.A. in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism (1979).

Castleman has written more than 1,200 magazine and Web articles, and is the author of 11 consumer health books with a combined total of more than 2.25 million copies in print. His book include:

• The New Healing Herbs: The Classic Guide to Nature's Medicines. Rodale, 2001. Revised, updated, expanded edition of the million-seller, The Healing Herbs, originally published in 1991 (below).

• Blended Medicine: Combining the Best of Mainstream and Alternative Therapies for Optimal Health and Wellness. Rodale Press, 2000. Main selection, Prevention Book Club. Alternate selection, Book of the Month Club. Selected as a “Best Consumer Health Book of 2000” by Library Journal, which called it “a standout that fills a real need.”

• There's Still a Person In There: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Treating, and Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease. Putnam, 2000. Foreign edition in Chinese.

• Nature’s Cures: 33 Natural Therapies to Improve Your Health and Well-Being. Rodale Press, 1996. Main selection, Prevention Book Club. Alternate selection, Book of the Month Club. Selected as a "Best Health Book of the Year, 1996" by Library Journal. Foreign edition in Spanish.

• Before You Call The Doctor: Safe, Effective, Self-Care for More Than 300 Common Medical Problems. Coauthors Anne Simons, M.D., and Bobbie Hasselbring. Ballantine Books, 1992. Main selection, Prevention Book Club. Alternate selection, Better Homes and Gardens Book Club.

• The Healing Herbs: The Complete Guide to Nature’s Medicines. Rodale Press, 1991. Main Selection, Prevention Book Club. Alternate selection, Book of the Month Club. Foreign editions in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Finnish.

• An Aspirin A Day: What You Can Do To Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke, and Cancer. Hyperion Books, 1993. German edition.

• Cold Cures: The Complete Guide to Prevention and Treatment of the Common Cold and Flu. Ballantine Books, 1987.

• The Medical Self-Care Book of Women’s Health. Coauthor with Sadja Greenwood, M.D. and Bobbie Hasselbring. Doubleday, 1987.

• Crime Free: The Community Crime Prevention Handbook. Simon and Schuster, 1984.

Castleman has contributed health articles to many magazines: Reader’s Digest, Prevention, AARP Magazine, Family Circle, Redbook, Self, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Ladies’ Home Journal, Health, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Journal, Psychology Today, Playboy, Utne Reader, Sierra, Parenting, Child, Natural Health, Mother Jones, Yoga Journal, Herb Quarterly, and Herbs For Health, among others.

His newspaper articles have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, and San Jose Mercury-News, among others.

On the Internet, Castleman’s health articles appear on many sites, including: Salon.com, SeniorNet.com, and TBD.com.

To promote his health and medical writing, he has appeared on hundreds of television and radio programs, including: “Today,” and “Good Morning America.”

Castleman’s journalism awards include:

• A National Magazine Award nomination for “The Real Truth About Breast Cancer,“ in San Francisco Focus. The judges said the article provided “a wealth of fresh, important, useful information.”

• The American Medical Writers Association Rose Kushner Prize, for a five-article special section in Family Circle on breast cancer.

• A “Maggie,” from the Western Publications Association for “Toxic Breasts” in Mother Jones, an investigation of the theory that DDT, PCBs, and other pollutants contribute to risk of breast cancer.

• A California Hospital Association Achievement Award for “The New Medicine Man” in San Francisco Focus, a profile of Michael Lerner, Ph.D., founder of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas.

• A Meritorious Achievement Award. Best Freelance Writer. From Media Alliance, the San Francisco-based media advocacy organization.

SEXUALITY

Castleman never intended to become a “sex expert.” In 1973, he was writing health articles for an alternative weekly. The editor asked for a Valentine’s Day story, “How to Make Love.” Castleman refused. He was 23. What did he know?

But the editor knew his girlfriend, now wife, Anne, and appealed to her. Anne insisted that he write the article. He read Masters and Johnson’s books, became fascinated, and wrote the story. He’s been writing about sex ever since.

Castleman has written two sexuality guides for heterosexual men and couples: Sexual Solutions (1980, 1989) and Great Sex (2004).

His sexuality writing has appeared in many magazines: Reader's Digest, Family Circle, Redbook, Self, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, Men’s Health, Men's Fitness, Men's Journal, Psychology Today, Natural Health, and Salon.com.

For five years (1991-1995), Castleman answered the sex questions submitted to the Playboy Advisor. He has answered sex questions for many Web sites, among them: WebMD and Xandria.com. Altogether, he has answered more than 10,000 sex questions.

MYSTERY NOVELS

Castleman has been playing with fiction since the 1970s. His novels include The Lost Gold of San Francisco (21st Century, 2003), Death Caps (Last Gasp, 2007), and A Killing in Real Estate (Last Gasp, forthcoming 2008).

PERSONAL

Castleman lives in San Francisco with his wife, a family physician. They have two children. He enjoys music (rock, jazz, blues), yoga, skiing, and playing pool.