Tony Dunbar is an American novelist, best known for his Tubby Dubonnet series of detective crime fiction novels. His interest in writing began at a young age, and he would often tell people that he would become a professional writer. At the age of 12, he made the declaration that he would be a writer, and by 19, he had published his first novel, "Our Land Too," which drew from his experiences during the civil rights movement in the Mississippi Delta.
Dunbar's love for mystery novels began when he was young, and he would spend his time reading books by American authors such as Mickey Spillane, John D. MacDonald, Tony Hillerman, and Dashiell Hammett, who wrote "The Maltese Falcon." The Nero Wolfe mystery series was also a favorite of his. He credits these authors for inspiring his own writing and shaping his narrative style.
Tony Dunbar has lived in New Orleans for a long time and has been an active attorney in addition to his writing. His legal practice took a hit during Hurricane Katrina, but it also provided him with the opportunity to write "Tubby Meets Katrina," a seventh novel in the Tubby Dubonnet series. The main character in the series is Tubby Dubonnet, a New Orleans attorney who, unlike Dunbar, becomes involved in serious crime and murder cases. Dubonnet is a former jock who is large and enjoys good food, and he is constantly faced with ethical dilemmas.
Dunbar's writing covers a wide range of topics and draws from his diverse experiences. He has written about people's struggles for survival, based on his work as a community organizer in Mississippi and Eastern Kentucky. He has also written about young preachers and divinity students who were active in the Southern labor movement in the 1930s, inspired by his work with the Committee of Southern Churchmen and Amnesty International. Additionally, he has written and edited political commentary. However, Dunbar has said that he has the most fun writing the Tubby Dubonnet mystery novels, stating that he can express everything he has to say about the world through this medium.