Char James-Tanny

On June 9, 2025, her birthday, Char James-Tanny passed away. She was an early XML Press author (Learning Author-it) and contributor to The Language of Technical Communication, The Language of Content Strategy, and The Language of Learning.

Char was well-known among tech comm specialists for her broad expertise across the full spectrum of technical communication, content strategy, accessibility, teaching, and more. She was also known for her generosity, wit, and common sense.

Char took a chance on XML Press when she brought her book Learning Author-it to us when we had fewer than five titles in print. I will always be grateful to her not only for taking a chance on us, but for being one of those rare authors who delivered her book on time and ready for production (and I mean print-ready; it was indexed (thanks Sue Heim), edited (thanks Rhonda Bracey), and formatted for print by Char).

On a personal note, like Char, I am a kidney transplant recipient. I received my kidney in late 2019, just before COVID. Char was always available to talk about her experience and answer my many questions. I just looked back in my email and found a whole string of messages answering my questions and telling me what to expect all along the way. That was in addition to our phone calls. She made a daunting experience much more manageable and less scary.

Thanks, Char, I know that I and everyone who ever knew you will miss you.