FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 16, 2010

Advance sales of Smith’s debut novel now available

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Michael F. Smith’s debut novel, “The Hands of Strangers,” is now available for advance purchase from Main Street Rag Publishing.

Early reviews have described “The Hands of Strangers” as chilling, striking and potent and as a page-turner that will make you want to slow down to savor the writing and stay with these characters longer.

In “The Hands of Strangers,” Jon and Estelle walk the picturesque Paris streets, but are living through the cruelest of realties--the disappearance of Jennifer, their 9-year-old daughter. Jennifer is abducted from the Musee D'Orsay during a class field trip, leaving no trace, and Jon and Estelle are left to deal with the literal unknown, trying, and often failing, to stand up to the emotional and psychological challenges of the everyday. Their relationship and faith falls into question as the passing time chips away at the hope of Jennifer's return. The once beautiful city, and its eccentric characters, has become cold and apathetic as each of them drift in different directions, looking for answers in the wrong places.

To order “The Hands of Strangers,” visit www.michaelfsmith.wordpress.com. An advance purchase rate of 50 percent off the cover price is available for online purchases.

Smith is assistant professor of English at Mississippi University for Women.