Nina Shengold's first novel Clearcut was selected as one of 2005's Best Books by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, San Francisco Bay Times, Book Marks, and Out.com, and was a finalist for Nerve's Henry Miller Award. She won the ABC Playwright Award for "Homesteaders" and the Writers Guild Award for "Labor of Love," starring Marcia Gay Harden. On the local front, she is artistic director of Andrew Lloyd Webber-phobic theatre company Actors & Writers, and has been Chronogram's books editor since 2004. She lives in Stone Ridge with her daughter Maya and a somewhat golden retriever. Nina's profile of Julia Glass appears on page 60.

DJ Wavy Davy worked his way up the New York City hierarchy carrying records on the subway for his mentor DJ Stan (The Man) Williams, now a leading DJ in Moscow. While employed in the fashion industry (at W magazine and Calvin Klein) DJ WD provided soundtracks for fashion shows and parties. After re-locating to the Hudson Valley, DJ WD worked at WDST and WVKR, and as marketing director at UPAC in Kingston. Father to Luna (who will be four this summer) DJ WD has written for Chronogram since April 2003 and is currently house DJ at Skate Time 209, the roller rink/skateboard park in Accord. Nightlife Highlights appears on page 58.

For Amber S. Clark, photography is a way of life. Amber usually has a camera on her at all times and when she's not working, she's shooting for fun. She splits her time between New York City and the Hudson Valley, drawing inspiration from both worlds. Amber shoots portraits, from corporate headshots to musicians to celebrities to fine art. (Images at www.ambersclark.com). Her fine art images have sold around the world and she was highlighted as an "Emerging Talent" in Picture magazine. Most recently Amber's shot for AIG Insurance, and Seattle Sound magazine. Amber's portrait of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams appears on page 56.

Jonathan King has lived in the Hudson Valley since 1990, when he transferred to SUNY New Paltz as an English major. He has been writing for Chronogram since 1999, serving as music editor and later a features writer. An avid photographer, his writing and photos have also appeared in Upstate House. An outdoor sports enthusiast, he can be found on his mountain bike in the summer, snowboarding in the winter, and is the bowman on the Elan in the Kingston Sailing Club in the spring and fall. Currently employed as an IT administrator at Belleayre Mountain, he also works as a bartender at Mohonk Mountain House and teaches a wine class The 59 Minute Wine Expert to corporate groups. Jonathan's business profile of Adam's Pianos appears on page 39.