A Boston native, Mike Ryan was stricken at birth with an incurable addiction to the Boston Red Sox. He earned an undergraduate degree in history with minors in secondary education and english from Boston State College (now closed!) and a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Ryan wrote for high school and college student newspapers. He has worked as a teacher, reporter, communications specialist, and freelance writer. His byline has appeared in Atlantic Monthly, Yankee, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, Irish America, and the Boston Irish Reporter.
The idea for his book, Begin With Me, came years ago from sitting in church on a warm day listening to the pastor complain about his workload. Could someone impersonate a priest? His other interests include Boston Irish politician James Michael Curley, coaching baseball, and military history. He lives with his family west of the Hub.