I'm the author of "The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing" (Random House/Crossing Press, May 2009). I’ve performed over 40,000 piercings during my career since the 1980s when I began piercing professionally at the first piercing specialty studio in the United States.

I am renowned in my industry as a pioneer for inventing a number of piercing placements and helping to bring the art from the fringes of society toward the mainstream. For over 12 years I owned and operated my own piercing studio in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The business closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I relocated to the Yucatán in Mexico, where I happily continue to reside.

I’m a recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Professional Piercers. I write a monthly column for the body art industry trade publication, Pain Magazine. I guest pierce in fine studios around the US. You can EMAIL me at elayneangel [at] piercingbible [dot] com. Thanks!