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Michael L Thal
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Michael grew up in the suburbs of New York City on Long Island. He has a twin brother, Elliott, and an older brother, Harry. After graduating from the University of Buffalo he earned his master's degree in education at Washington University, St. Louis. When he moved to Los Angeles, he continued his education and earned another master's degree in Reading.
He became interested in writing during his days in Buffalo writing reports for his history professor, Dr. David Abosch. While working for a private company in L.A. developing educational materials, he wrote a short story. His boss thought it was more of a treatment for a novel. Years later "The Light: An Alien Abduction" was published.
Birth Place: Oceanside, NY USA
Accomplishments: Michael is the author of two novels, "The Legend of Koolura" and "The Light: An Alien Abduction." The former won the Word Weaver's Award for Excellence. He has won the 73rd Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition and the Twelfth Annual Stepping Stone Children's Writer's Competition. He has had over 50 articles published in local and national magazines.
Michael is a certificated reading specialist and teacher in California.
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Books

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| The Legend of Koolura by Michael L Thal The Legend of Koolura is a story of friends, school and how kids feel. Already 'kid-tested', this book is sure to be a hit with the middle school set as they keep turning the pages faster and faster to find out what happens.
The Legend of Koolura is a story of friends, school and how kids feel. Already 'kid-tested', this book is sure to be a hit with the middle school set as they keep turnin...
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Short Stories
 In Search of Memorial Day by Michael L Thal Hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue; school is almost over and summer is about to begin. That’s what Memorial Day is all about. Right? Wrong!...
Gift From the Heart by Michael L Thal Her mom rejects Julia’s Christmas wish list. Instead of receiving gifts this holiday season, Julia must give gifts from the heart. Julia learns that giving is far better than receiving when she target...
Maybe by Michael L Thal David is a thirty something male frustrated with the dating scene. Not only does he have the “normal” problems men and women have with interpersonal relationships, but David has an additional problem...
Birtle the Turtle by Michael L Thal Mickey finds a turtle in the woods. He shares his new pet with his neighbor, excluding his younger brother, El. Only after Mickey loses interest in the reptile, does he realize how valuable a friend h...
The Lip Reader by Michael L Thal "The Lip Reader" won first prize in Writer Digest's 73rd Annual Writing Competition: Inspirational Category....
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Articles
 Book Review: Accidental Encounter by Michael L Thal A Wyoming hiker unwittingly walks through a space warp and unto another world....
Book Review: The Exclusion Zone by Michael L Thal
Malcolm Vershun, a prosperous Antigua businessman, is about to be knighted by the Queen of England. Minutes before her majesty’s arrival, Malcolm is called to his ailing wife’s bedside. Running l...
Happy Seventeenth by Michael L Thal Happy 17th
Jila, my girlfriend, gave me a gift and exclaimed, “Happy 17th!”
I was speechless. It wasn’t my birthday, but I thanked her for the shirt, and asked, “What makes today so...
A Gift From the Heart by Michael L Thal Giving gifts over the holiday season is a wonderful way of showing our sons and daughters how much we care. To truly teach kids about acts of kindness, they need to experience this for themselves. The...
Talmud Celebration Evokes Joy, Tears by Michael L Thal March 1, 2005 Jews at locations throughout the world, hooked-up to the events at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was a celebration marking the completion of the Talmud…one page a day. It...
A Call For World Unification by Michael L Thal Below is an article that was published in "Aim Magazine"(Winter 2002). It provides an alternate solution to war....
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News
 The Man Who Hated Christmas Wins an Award by Michael L Thal "The Man Who Hated Christmas," a short story for the whole family, won second prize in the Steppingstones 2007 Writing Competition....
The Curse of the Brazilian Published by Michael L Thal Oasis Journal 2007 published "The Curse of the Brazilian." It's about dating and the loss and gain of love....
Gift From the Heart Wins Writing Competition by Michael L Thal "A Gift From the Heart" is a story about a young girl learning that giving is better than receiving. Michael Thal's short children's story won First Prize in the Stepping Stones' Twelfth Writing Conte...
OASIS Journal Publishes "The Outing of Senor Pelon" by Michael L Thal I wasn’t prepared for baldness, even though it infected my father and uncles. During my early thirties, lumps of hair filled the bathroom drain as my hairline retreated like vanquished soldiers during...
Birtle the Turtle Wins Honorable Mention by Michael L Thal Birtle the Turtle won Honorable Mention in Friends of the Decatur Public Library Annual Writing Contest, Juvenile Fiction....
Bylines 2006 Writer's Desk Calendar by Michael L Thal Bylines 2006 Writer''s Desk Calendar is not your ordinary daytimer, It is chock full of inspiration, humor and passion. Just the sort of thing aspiring and working writers need to read on a daily basi...
Writer Works 2004 Short Story Contest by Michael L Thal writer works 2004 Short Story Contest gave "Cygnus Loop" Honorable Mention in their recent writers' contest....
First Place Winner by Michael L Thal For his entry, "The Lip Reader," Michael Thal has won first place in the Inspirational category of the Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Competition.
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Divorce Can Work for Kids by Michael L Thal "You Can Soften the Blow of Divorce for Kids" by thinking of the needs of children first. ...
Kids in Motion Published by Michael L Thal Partnership for Learning Publishes "Kids in Motion" on their website...
National Organization on Disability (NOD) Gives a Nod to My Writing by Michael L Thal NOD requests SIGNews to reprint my article on the NOD website....
Mother's Day Winner by Michael L Thal "Angel Without a Halo," a story about my mother, Vivian Thal, won Honorable Mention in a Mother's Day Contest...
Michael Wins Writer's Digest Award by Michael L Thal Michael L. Thal is awarded Honorable Mention for his work by Writer''s Digest....
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Events
 Pictures for Laurie 1/22/2008 Pictures of Michael and Family...
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Links
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| The Readers Retreat
The Reader's Retreat is all about YOU, whether you're a casual reader looking for to fill your day or an avid reader perusing first installments and downloadable E-books. This website offers the original variety of fine reading you crave in a
format that works great on your laptop or desktop.
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The Readers Retreat
Sample chapter of The Light: An Alien Abduction
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Additional information
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| Michael has had articles published in Wonder Years, SIGNews, The Jewish Journal, Smithsonian's Kids' Castle, Writer's Digest, and Highlights for Children.
Michael's newest book, "Between Two Worlds" will be published by Scobre Press in the fall 2007. |
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Contact
Information
4807 Van Noord Ave. #12 Sherman Oaks
CA
91423
United States |
Work phone: 818-788-5798
Fax: 818-788-5798 |
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