
Tony L. Turnbow writes both nonfiction and young adult historical fiction. He has just released the third book, E. Z. in the Den of Thieves, in his young adult historical fiction trilogy Fighting Devil's Backbone. The series follows the adventures of an eastern city boy thrown into the mysterious and dangerous world of the historic Natchez Trace—- one of the bloodiest roads in American history. The first book, The Shadow of E. Z.'s Fear, and the second, E. Z. and the Chikasha Warrior, were released in 2021. Mr. Turnbow is currently writing a nonfiction book about the mysterious death of explorer Meriwether Lewis. Turnbow is author of the nonfiction Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson's Life. He has studied the history of the Natchez Trace for more than 35 years. He practices law in Franklin, Tennessee. With a Bachelor of Arts and a concentration in southern U.S. history from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law, he has continued to use his training to explore unpublished primary sources about the Natchez Trace. He authored "The Natchez Trace in the War of 1812" in The Journal of Mississippi History, and he has published articles in the Tennessee Historical Quarterly and the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation journal "We Proceeded On." He also wrote a full-length play "Inquest on the Natchez Trace" about the mysterious death of explorer Meriwether Lewis. Mr. Turnbow represented the Natchez Trace Parkway Association on the Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, and he was the recipient of the Tennessee Society U.S. Daughters of 1812 "Spirit of 1812" award. He has spoken frequently about his research to meetings of DAR, SAR, Colonial Dames, U.S. Daughters of 1812, General Society of 1812, and historical organizations. He enjoys telling the stories of the old Natchez Trace.


