Author: Cliff

I am the author of three novels--THE LAST BIRD OF PARADISE, OLIVER'S TRAVELS, and THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY--and three story collections--IN AN UNCHARTED COUNTRY, HOUSE OF THE ANCIENTS AND OTHER STORIES, and WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW, winner of the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Fiction. I am also the co-founder and former editor of Prime Number Magazine and the editor of the award-winning anthology series EVERYWHERE STORIES: SHORT FICTION FROM A SMALL PLANET.
October 1, 2023

2023 Reading–September

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami is a novel (and finalist for the 2019 National Book Award) about Nora, the daughter of Moroccan immigrants….
September 27, 2023

The Next Book–Part 4: Writing the Novel

[This is Part 4 in a series about my new book. Check out the previous installments here.] Although I struggled for a long time—even…
September 11, 2023

I’ve Got Questions for Ginger Pinholster

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it,…
September 5, 2023

I’ve Got Questions for Curtis Smith

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it,…
September 1, 2023

2023 Reading–August

Artemis by Andy Weir is a sci-fi novel that just didn’t work for me, possibly because the main character is obnoxious and snarky. Jasmine…
August 30, 2023

The Next Book–Part 3: Research

[This is Part 3 of my series on The Next Book. For the first two parts, see Inspiration and Beginning the Novel.] I lived…
August 4, 2023

The Next Book–Part 2: Beginning the Novel

This is a series of blog posts in which I discuss the process of writing my new, scheduled for publication in early 2024. Part…
August 1, 2023

2023 Reading — July

I didn’t get a lot of reading done this month, but I have a good excuse: I was attending a concert almost every night…
July 20, 2023

The Next Book–Part 1: Inspiration

My new novel, The Last Bird of Paradise, which is set mostly in Singapore, is being published in February 2024. In this series, I’ll…
July 17, 2023

I’ve Got Questions for MJ Werthman White

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it,…