Helen Schucman and William Thetford were professors of Medical Psychology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, USA.  They definitely weren't spiritual.  Their interaction was often rocky and highly-strained.  Their history makes it seem unlikely they would cooperate fully on anything.  Yet, perception is temporal and can be misleading.  The will finds a way. 

The people involved were initially highly-focused on professional acceptance and social position.  You might say they were focused on the materialistic side of the modern world.  That is, until a series of highly-symbolic dreams in the form of strange images caused them to rethink their priorities.  Helen was somehow introduced to a Voice that gave her rapid, inner dictation of a nature that made her feel rather uncomfortable.  Nonetheless, she agreed to complete the project.  She worked with Bill to transcribe a book that enables readers to find an inner teacher.

The book is called, A Course in Miracles.  It took about seven years for these collaborators to compile and transcribe.  Their project became a shared focus of devotion and includes three books; a 669-pg Text, a 488-page Workbook for Students and a 92-page Manual for Teachers.  The completion came according to the progression of Helen's unusual dreams.  The pace was also affected by the pair relationship evolving during what they describe as their special assignment.  

The book deals with universal spiritual concepts.  It proposes a truly collaborative venture between a reader and the inner self.   The transformed authors don't mention themselves on the cover since "the Course can and does stand on its own."