Dear Editor:

I am writing to make you aware of the recent publication of my novel, “Small Town News,” which is a fictionalized version of the events of Oct. 31, 2001, in Diamond MO., when the town’s bank was robbed and the school superintendent, MSSC graduate Dr. Greg Smith, disappeared. Dr. Smith’s body was discovered 11 days later, in his car, in a pond just outside of Diamond. “Small Town News” explores how an unsuspecting community can be affected by the sudden onslaught of the media. I am an eighth grade communication arts teacher at South Middle School in Joplin, and was teaching creative writing at Diamond Middle School at the time Dr. Smith disappeared. Prior to entering the teaching field, I was an editor and reporter at various southwest Missouri newspapers for 22 years, including stints as managing editor at The Carthage Press and Lamar Democrat. I am a 1981 Southern graduate. Feel free to check out the book’s website, http://rturner229.tripod.com/smalltownnews . If you are interested in doing a story on the book, I can be reached at this e-mail address or by calling 417-206-0585 (home) or 417-625-5280 (South Middle School). Thank you for your time and consideration.

Randy Turner