Critics hailing new novel from Kardos
Michael Kardos
Though it won't be formally released until early February, a critically acclaimed novel by a faculty member of Mississippi State University's English department is available in local book resale outlets.
"Before He Finds Her" by Michael Kardos is scheduled for release Feb. 3 by Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press. Already, early copies are available at Barnes & Noble at MSU and Campus Book Mart at 318 East Lee Blvd. Pre-orders for "Before He Finds Her" are available at www.michaelkardos.com, as well as at all major retail bookstores.
A party to celebrate the novel's unofficial release will be held at Book Mart & Café at 120 East Main St. on Jan. 31 at 3 p.m., while the official book launch, featuring a reading by the associate professor who co-directs the university's creative writing program, will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at MSU in the McCool Hall Rogers Auditorium, Room 100.
The 384-page mystery thriller was praised by Greg Hurwitz, author of "Don't Look Back," as "a novel as human as it is suspenseful," while Jeffery Deaver, who wrote "The Skin Collector," told prospective readers to "read the first page and kiss the next 24 hours goodbye."
Kirkus Reviews recommended "Before He Finds Her" as "an engrossing tale" and "first-class fiction about fear, love and lies," while Booklist called it "a compelling story about sad truths, loss and resilience."
Library Journal named Kardos as a Big Breakout Author for February 2015, and Publishers Weekly acclaimed "Before He Finds Her" as an "outstanding crime thriller."
Such accolades often help expand potential reading audiences, said Kardos, a University of Missouri doctoral graduate. Recently, another of Kardos' works was recognized and received the prestigious Pushcart Prize, which recognizes the best fiction, essays and poetry. Of more than 8,000 nominations for the prestigious honor, Kardos' short story "Animals" was one of only 62 selected.
"It's really great to get all this positive feedback," he said.
Kardos said he writes the kinds of stories he would be interested in reading.
"The books that draw me in tend to make readers a little bit uncomfortable; they realize the world's just a little bit off," he explained. "I'd been thinking about a secular doomsday and a character who's so convinced of something that's just not possible for a long time."
Many of his students realize he's a novelist -- and several have read his books -- but Kardos said he feels that the process of writing popular fiction is important because it enhances his teaching skills at MSU.
"I'm better in the classroom if I write a little bit every day, so I'm reasonably consistent," he said. "When graduate students are starting to send out their own stuff, they'll ask me questions about the process."
For information about MSU's creative writing program, visit the English department's link at www.english.msstate.edu/creativewriting/creativewriting.html.
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Leah Barbour | Public Affairs
