David W. Silva, BM, BA, MA, taught on the elementary, high school, and junior college levels for thirty-five years. He worked as a family and marriage counselor for disturbed children and their parents. Along with his work as choir director in the Methodist Church, he also led Yokefellow counseling groups. After retiring, he began doing grief counseling with widowers and gay men in his community. This eventually led to workshops and lectures for gay men and, finally, this book. He currently lives with his partner in Santa Rosa, California.