GRAVETTE — The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last Thursday introduced a new section, “Our Town,” for its Northwest Arkansas readers. The staff chose the perfect person to feature in that inaugural edition: Radine Trees Nehring.

Nehring, author of a series of captivating “to die for” mystery novels, was introduced to the thousands of readers in that premier edition.

Radine and John Nehring, who lived in Tulsa, fell in love with northwest Arkansas while on a camping trip to the area. They moved here permanently in 1988 and make their home southeast of Gravette surrounded by the hills, the trees, the wildlife and all the other natural amenities that so often are taken for granted.

It was love for this area and their experiences during those first years in the Ozarks that grew Radine’s first book. Not a novel, it was an autobiographical journal. “Dear Earth: A Love Letter from Spring Hollow” was so well received it later was published internationally. It also earned the author the Arkansas Governor’s Award for its positive portrayal of the state.

Nehring changed direction. To fiction. Her first mystery, “A Valley to Die For,”involved the novel’s heroine, Carrie McCrite, pitted against a proposed stone quarry. Although fiction, it contained such elements of realism that its location was masked in secrecy with a fictitious name.

It was then the author chose other well-known points and places of interest as settings for the six wellwritten mystery novels which have followed.

Their action centers on places such as the Buffalo River, the Hot Springs National Park, a ride to Van Buren on the Arkansas & Missouri train, the Ozark Folk Center and a thriller involving the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs.

Nehring’s latest, just-released, mystery, “A Fair to Die For,” has for its setting the historic War Eagle Mill, the nearby Hobbs State Park and the War Eagle Craft Fair, familiar to all area residents.

No doubt fans of her novels will look forward to reading how Nehring weaves the story of heroine McCrite as she pits wits against a criminal mind.

John and Radine Nehring have been “fixtures and boosters” of Gravette and the region since making their home here. They have been involved in many local and church activities. Her writing skill and his photography talent have featured manyplaces and events in numerous publications.

Radine has won numerous awards, including Arkansas Book of the Year, best mystery novel from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, several prominent writing awards and the aforementioned Arkansas Governor’s Award. She was inducted into the Arkansas Writer’s Hall of Fame in 2011.

Quoting Joe David Rice, tourism director for the Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism, in the feature article written by Bettin Lehovec, “She portrays Arkansas in a very positive light ... She’s done well for us.”

And of her latest mystery about War Eagle, the fair and Hobbs Park, Nehring is quoted as saying, “I’m glad I could bring in three goodies from our area. Why not? I’m accomplishing something for the state, I think. It all just works together.” She really is an unofficial ambassador for Arkansas.

According to the feature story, Radine will be holding book signings at several area locations: Sept. 29 from 10 to 3 at the War Eagle Mill, Oct. 7 from 1 to 4 at Hobbs State Park Fall Festival, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Rogers Public Library and from 10 to 3 Oct. 18-21 at the War Eagle Craft Fair.

News, Pages 5 on 09/19/2012