James Alexander Thom (born May 28, 1933) is an American author; he is best known for his works of historical fiction. Born in Gosport, Indiana to Julia and Jay Thom, two medical doctors, he graduated from the Journalism School at Butler University in 1961 and served in the United States Marine Corps in the Korean conflict. He was the business editor of the Indianapolis Star, the senior editor of the Saturday Evening Post, and on the journalism faculty at Indiana University (1977-1980).