Work
The Strange, True Story of John Williams and Charles Pennock
In the early 1900s it wasn’t unusual for men to suddenly go missing. Among them were two accomplished bird experts whose lives turned out to be surprisingly intertwined. Illustrated by Andrei Cojocaru
A Case for Solomon: Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping that Haunted a Nation
Free Press (Simon & Schuster) ⁃ Buy on Amazon
In 1912, a young boy went missing in a swamp. Eight months later, he was found – but two mothers claimed him. The struggle over his identity altered fates and splintered families, and mystery endured for a century.
The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar
Margaret Dunbar Cutright grew up with the tale of her grandfather’s kidnapping. When she dug deeper, the legend gave way to mystery, generations of festering pain, and a calling to find truth.
Shift
Independent Television Service
A miserably married waitress chats up a charming telemarketer. Their romance brings her to life, but he has a secret.
Other Work
Tal McThenia is the co-author of A Case for Solomon: Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation (with Margaret Dunbar Cutright; Simon & Schuster), an award-winning work of historical nonfiction about a notorious case of kidnapping and contested identity that divided the American South in the early twentieth century. The book was based on The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar, Tal’s one-hour documentary for the public radio series This American Life. Most recently, Tal collaborated with legendary actor Dick Van Dyke to write 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life (Grand Central Publishing) and with acclaimed interior designer Young Huh on her debut book A Mood, A Thought, A Feeling (Rizzoli). He has ghostwritten several other books across multiple genres. His writing has appeared in VanityFair.com, Audubon Magazine, American Express Departures, Bloomberg Businessweek, Popula, and Atlas Obscura, among other venues. His work as a screenwriter includes Shift, a PBS drama; science mysteries for Mosa Mack Science; and the Nick Jr. series Butterbean’s Café. Tal grew up in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He lives in New York City and upstate New York with his boyfriend, the writer Brett Berk. Photo by Stefanie SpinaBiography
Literary Agent: Zoë Pagnamenta, Calligraph Please use this form to send inquiries to Tal. For your privacy, note that the information you enter here is not stored on third-party servers.Contact
