author: paramount rising
Alan Semerdjian is a writer, musician, educator, and occasional artist. His first full-length book of poetry, In the Architecture of Bone (GenPop Books 2009), deals with growing up Armenian-American, genocide, and coffee grounds. For more information on his music, visit alansemerdjian.com or alanarts.com.

author: life’s endless interviews
Sam Levine is the managing partner of The Buttonwood Group, LLC, a Wall Street recruiting firm specializing in senior executives. Prior to that, he enjoyed a 14-year career in the investment management industry.

author: around the block: jack’s waterfall
Michael Block is an occupational therapist/psychotherapist who treats special needs children for Eastern Suffolk Boces. Michael believes that both children and true artists engage in the magical act of innocent exploration and that the fruit this bears must be carefully picked and consumed with appreciation.

photog: thrill of the chase
Stephen Lang’s photography isn’t simply a face value representation of what is in front of him. It incorporates his vision, beliefs, respect, humor and spiritual guidelines. It can go from faithfulness and truth to an abstraction of what he sees. A way to connect with what he sees and to help others connect as well. stephenlangphotography.com.

photog: long beach jazz festival
Drew Moss is a freelance journalist, musician, filmmaker and teacher with The Princeton Review. He’s currently teaching film in Hofstra University’s Summer Scholars Academy and directing/producing the documentary Built To Last: The Afterlife of the Grateful Dead. He lives in Long Beach with his wife and children. See his work at drewmoss.com.