James Ryan

JAMES RYAN knows what he's talking about – about politics and government, that is, not necessarily insanity.

He's worked on a bevy of political campaigns since age 14. Ryan came to Washington in 1985 to work for a U.S. senator from California, then went on to serve as press secretary for a Texas congressional candidate and subsequently for a congressman from Georgia.

He was a news reporter for a television station in Virginia, then worked in public affairs for two national associations and later a U.S. government agency. He is also active in Northern Virginia politics.

Jim has also been an English teacher in Japan, and, perhaps the most demanding job of all, a night-shift taxi driver in Los Angeles.

Jim is interested in just about everything, a predilection that helped him become a four-time champion on the popular TV quiz show "Jeopardy!”

Ryan holds a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA and an M.A. in Journalism and Public Affairs from The American University in Washington, D.C.

Jim's articles have appeared in The Washington Post (on local history) and BBW magazine (on weight discrimin¬ation). He had his first published story at age 7, and at age 14 a satirical story of his on the gun control issue appeared in a teen magazine. Taking The 25th is his first novel.

The author has long been active in the movement supporting the international language Esperanto and has been President of the Esperanto Society of Washington for several years. Among his other avocations are history, literature, hiking, genealogy, making pilgrimages to historic sites, foreign languages, Beatles lore, and playing electric guitar and bass. Jim's rock bands have played clubs in California, the Washington area and Japan, and made four appearances on national television.

He lives in Chantilly, Virginia.