Craig Holden is a distinguished American novelist, known for his works in the mystery, crime fiction, historical fiction, and thriller genres. He has written six standalone novels, all of which have gained significant popularity. Holden is currently serving as the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at the New Mexico State University Foundation.
In 2015, Holden collaborated with Buddy Ritter on a nonfiction work titled "Mesilla Comes Alive," which explores the history of the town of Mesilla in New Mexico. He published his sixth novel, "Matala," in 2008 with Simon & Schuster. Holden's novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and he has received the Great Lakes Book Award in Fiction. He has also been a featured guest at the Festival International du Roman Noir in Frontignan, France.
Holden received his MFA in Fiction from the University of Montana in 1986 and began his career in literary agencies in New York City. His first novel, "The River Sorrow," was published in 1993 by Delacorte Press and was translated into multiple languages. His third novel, "Four Corners of Night," received the Great Lakes Book Award for fiction in 1999 and became a USA Today bestseller. Other notable works by Holden include "The Last Sanctuary" (Delacorte, 1996), "The Jazz Bird" (Simon & Schuster, 2002), and "The Narcissist’s Daughter" (Simon & Schuster, 2005).
Holden has also had a successful career in academia, teaching at the Universities of Michigan and Toledo, and serving as the visiting writer at New Mexico State University. He currently resides in southern New Mexico with his family, where he continues to write.