Michael Thal

Michael Thal is an award-winning author whose own life story is as remarkable as the journeys he puts on the page. A former educator who taught elementary and middle school in Southern California for 28 years, Michael's world changed dramatically when a rare virus left him completely deaf at the age of 50. Rather than retreat, he reinvented himself channeling resilience, imagination, and a lifelong love of storytelling into a new career as an author and journalist, with over 80 published articles in leading magazines including Highlights for Children, Writer's Digest, and San Diego Family Magazine.

His six novels span middle grade adventure and young adult science fiction, including The Koolura Series and his critically acclaimed space opera, The Abduction of Joshua Bloom a book born from his deep belief in human unity, peace, and the power of young people to change the world. Michael brings to his writing the same qualities he brought to his classroom: warmth, curiosity, and an unshakeable faith in the next generation.

Michael lives in Los Angeles, California.