M. J. Ryan is a bestselling non-fiction author, coach, speaker, and the former CEO and Editorial Director of Conari Press in Berkeley, California. She is one of the creators of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series and the author of The Happiness Makeover, Attitudes of Gratitude, The Power of Patience, Trusting Yourself, The Giving Heart, and 365 Health and Happiness Boosters, among other titles.
According to her official web, altogether, there are 1.75 million copies of her titles in print.
A regular columnist for The Works magazine, she is a popular speaker on what she is calling the modern virtues: kindness, gratitude, and generosity. Articles on her work have appeared in USA Today, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Yoga Journal, New Age, and McCall's, among many other publications.
M. J. Ryan calls herself Leading Authority on Change and the Power of Positive Emotions. She uses neuroscience, positive psychology, and active learning techniques to help clients and readers reach their goals better.
M. J. Ryan currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter.