Maggie Estep has worked as a horse groom, a go-go dancer, a dishwasher, a nurse's aide, and a box factory worker. She has published five books, Diary of an Emotional Idiot (1997), Soft Maniacs (1999), Love Dance of the Mechanical Animals (2003), Hex (2003, a New York Times notable book), and Gargantuan (2004). She has recorded two spoken word CD's, No More Mr. Nice Girl (1994) and Love is a Dog from Hell (1997), and has performed on The Charlie Rose Show, MTV, PBS, and HBO's Def Poetry Jam. Her writing has appeared in The Village Voice, New York Press, Harpers Bazaar, Spin, Black Book, Nerve.com and Time Out N.Y., as well as in dozens of anthologies including Brooklyn Noir, The Dictionary of Failed Relationships, The Best American Erotica 2002 and 2004. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Jason Starr is the author of six crime novels which are published in nine languages. He received the Barry Award for his novel Tough Luck and the Anthony Award for Twisted City. He has two novels due in 2006: Lights Out (St. Martin's Press) and Bust (Hard Case Crime) co-written with Ken Bruen. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Starr now lives in Manhattan.