Thomas N. Turner is an assistant professor of education at the University of Tennessee, functioning as program area leader of holistic teaching/learning, which prepares elementary-school, special-education, and reading teachers. Turner has had over 2,000 articles published in professional journals and textbooks and served as editor of the Tennessee Association of Middle School Journals from 1995 to 2002. Turner is also the author of Hillbilly Night Afore Christmas, also published by Pelican.