While touring the world designing spaces, Edward Allen became a writer, marketer, party planner, entertaining expert, interior designer, food stylist and lifestyle guru, specializing in home decor, entertaining, people and the relationships between them all. “Bears love a good party and a nice home; I’m here to show them how”.

I have been a hair stylist for more than 20 years, owned my own shop for 8 years, and have been a member of the bear community for 8 years. I learned about caring for facial hair from an instructor named Butch back in Beauty School. He told me if I wanted to learn how to trim and maintain other people’s facial hair I would have to learn to trim and maintain my own. I fine-tuned my craft by working as a stylist on a military base for 3 years. I am here to give you some pointers on how to keep your face fur healthy and full of that “woof” factor!

Darryl W Bullock writes for a number of magazines in the UK on subjects from gay issues as the editor of the gay and lesbian section for a weekly magazine and news story contributor for several LGBT websites to local history, music, news and food. He has also written for several newspapers, including The Bath Chronicle, the Bristol Evening Post and the Western Daily Press, and lives with his partner (and soon to be husband) Niall and their three cats in the South West of England.

My friends call me Billy. I am a 44 year-old male, born and raised in Queens N.Y. and currently residing in Hicksville, Long Island.

Although I am an electrician for Verizon telecommunications by trade, I’ve always been quite handy around the house. No project is too challenging for me! I enjoy fixing old fans, electric motors, appliances, and even cars. I find home improvement and gardening to be very relaxing and rewarding. I make stained glass for a hobby. In fact, a group of four meets at my house on Friday nights to work on different projects.
When not working on home improvement jobs, I enjoy the company of good friends and a nice meal. My friends and neighbors frequently rely on my skills. I hope that you enjoy my column and find it beneficial.

John Edward Campbell is a doctoral candidate at the Annenberg School for Com-munication at the University of Pennsylvania. He studies how people integrate emerging media technologies into their negotiation of everyday life. His book, Getting it On Online: Cyberspace, Gay, Male Sexuality and Embodied Identity is published by Haworth Press.

Chef Mike is a former pastry chef from The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta and also taught at the Art Institute of Atlanta/School of Culinary Arts for five years. He is currently working as a Personal Chef, catering dinner parties and conducting in home cooking classes.

Bill Coda has spent the past 25 years working on Wall Street with a wide variety of international Firms in the Big 5 public accounting, banking, brokerage and securities industries. His interests in writing, finance and the bear lifestyle all converge as the Finance columnist for "A Bear's Life".

Well-known movie critic, Cubby Britches, shares his passion for foreign film and new and up-coming producers. He provides the readers of A Bear’s Life with reviews of new films, dvds and interesting movie genre.

Robert Darden is a southern-born-and-raised Bear of Colour, now living in Seattle with his hubby, Anthony Fox, and their two cats. Robert is also a writer, occasional backup singer, poet (with one published collection {"cursed blessings/blessed curses: poetic tantrums and written thought"} and others in the works), and a former columnist for one of Nashville's LGBTQ newspapers. He's very much outspoken, highly sarcastic, and more than a tad sardonic -- although most of his friends will say he's a teddy bear, they'll attest to the other traits as well...

Frisch a 58 year old Leo living in San Francisco has been drawing cartoons which have published in the community since 1986. Frisch is a cofounder of the "BEAR EXPO", "International Bear Rendezvous and "the Bears of San Francisco". FRISCH Bears and logos have been imprinted on over 25,000 T-Shirts, hats and more in the past 20 years. FRISCH Drawings have raised over $51,000 for charity in the past 20 years. FRISCH is a prostate cancer survivor of 4 years. As for hobbies, loves growing Tropical plants and caring for some beautiful reptiles. www.frischdraws.com

Born in Montreal, columnist Jeffrey Gee writes from the chasers point of view. Jeff enjoys weight lifting, photography, and is an avid blogger.
He is working towards his degree in Computer Engineering in a 5-year degree program at Vermont Technical College. When he is not writing for "A Bear's Life", Jeff enjoys traveling to bear gatherings, which allows him to explore his passion of bears.

Wayne Gillespie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, a Master of Arts in Criminology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology with emphases in Social Psychology and Criminology. He is the author of Prisonization and Life Inside Prison, as well as numerous journal articles, encyclopedia entries, and book chapters. While his previous works examined adaptation to the prison environment, currently, Dr. Gillespie is exploring satisfaction with police among gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults. In the near future, he hopes to expand his research interests to include the social psychology of bears. Dr. Gillespie is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean at a regional university in the southern United States where he regularly teaches courses on sexuality and the law, criminology, and research methodology.

Veterinarian Dr. Kathy Heiber has been practicing for over 25 years. She has an animal hospital in upstate New York, but grew up and was educated in Ohio. Specializing in animals with fur she also treats feathered, scaled and finned creatures as well.

Wayne Hoffman has gone black-water rafting in New Zealand, volcano-climbing in Nicaragua, camel-riding in Jordan, sauna-hopping in Hungary, and bear-hunting almost everywhere. He has covered travel for the Washington Post, Fodor's, and PlanetOut, and authored the book "How to Take a Road Trip." His passport is (happily) full.

Hi, my name is Larry Kellner and I am very pleased to be able to share with you my expertise of classic cars and help you buy new ones. Being an automotive car guy for over thirty years, I hope to share with you what I know to help in your quest for your dream car. If you are gay and into cars, you might think you would find yourself somewhat isolated, but gay car enthusiasts do exist. When I had my last collector car, 1970 Oldsmobile Indy Pace Car convertible, I met many fellow car collectors who were gay, many of them bears! I was shocked to find so many other gay men that had the same passion.

Wayne Koppelman has been a student of astrology and paranormal studies for over 25 years, and is currently runs his own astrological practice in LA. His specialty is in the realm of synastry--the comparison of two natal horoscopes and identifying strengths and weaknesses within.

Ernie Lijoi is a writer/ composer/ lyricist with three CD’s in circulation, a musical, Monsters, that is scheduled to open in Boston later this year, and a book half finished that will hopefully be published next year. Ernie has toured the country doing his acoustic music and his novelty songs have been heard in cabaret rooms and theaters by various singers in countless cities. One of his songs, All I want for Christmas was recorded live for a Christmas CD in Carnegie hall. www.lijoi.com

Anthony Lordi balances life on the sidelines and well as on the field of play, as he is an internationally ranked competitor on the Scottish Highland Games circuit, both in Scotland and North America. "I'm glad to add a competitor's viewpoint to sport, AND at the same time to be someone who enjoys siting on the sofa and working the rewind and slow motion buttons."

Michael Mauro brings over twenty years’ experience to the horticulture industry. His work includes grounds caretaker, gardener’s assistant, heavy equipment operator, and gardener for a private mansion. He also has extensive experience in designing and installing private and public gardens in the NYC area. Michael is currently employed as a curator at a botanic garden in New York City and teaches horticulture classes.

Dr. Larry Mass wrote the first popular press articles about HIV before anyone knew what was happening.

He was one of the founders of GMHC and has been a tireless fighter on the front lines in New York, and in

the area of recovery, ever since. Dr. Mass was the basis for the character Mickey in Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart.”

He has written extensively on HIV and GLBT issues and published several books.

Heath Mckay hails from Boston, MA. He holds an MBA from UMass Lowell and works in marketing. Heath holds the distinction of being the youngest Mr. International Bear, which he won in 2000, and still can't comprehend why that doesn't get him more dates.

Jeffrey Michels as an artist, I explore various means to express my spiritual nature and to enhance the human condition. Traveling diverse paths of creativity cultivates my abilities as mystic, architect and Reiki Master/Teacher while my paintings, writings and healing workshops reap the benefits. To learn more, visit www.lifeenhancingarts.com

From  Soulfuric Trax house stompers like  "SEND ME SOME LOVE"  and  "DEEP IN THE UNDERGROUND" to soulful hip-movers like "I FOUND LOVE"  Mike "Da Mooch" Mucci has been an ever-present fixture in dance music since his introduction to the industry twelve years ago.  Successfully making the transition from DJ to producer / remixer, the Miami-based artist has been behind an assortment of well known monikers spanning several sub-genres within the dance music community.

"I've always loved fun, soulful, catchy house tunes," Mucci explains, "my first love has always been that UK Vocal Garage House sound, but lately, what's really working now for me in the studio, as well as in my dj sets is a harder, darker, more electronic sound.  As I grow as a producer and dj, my sound keeps evolving.

Mucci’s solo appearances and guest slots along with industry piers like Superchumbo, Creamer & K, Trendroid and That Kid Chris have earned him international recognition and the influence to launch his own Frequency parties and Winter Music Conference events at well known clubs like Nocturnal, Amika, Crobar and Twist.

BOOKINGS:  bookings@amplituderecordings.com

WEB:  www.amplituderecordings.com

Rob O'Donnell is a playwright, children's book author and children's rights proponent. As the father of 2 and uncle to 20, Rob has a quirky sense of humor and unique parenting perspective. "Being a dad is tough enough but being a gay dad is a whole other animal. If I can share information while making the reader laugh then I've done my job."

Toni Palancia, often referred to as “Goldilocks” has 18 years experience in the party planning business. “Searching for ways to be original is the driving force behind anything I create”. Toni’s interest in party planning began with the planning of her own wedding. Toni draws inspir-ation from family and friends, and has designed the decor for bear events.

William Schindler has been en-gaged in fitness activities since 1980. These activities include weight training, running, cycling, martial arts and Hatha yoga. He's the founder and spiritual director of Ashram West, a gay spiritual community based on traditional Hindu Tantra.