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.
January 11, 2013

2013 Reading: Home by Toni Morrison

Home by Toni Morrison is a real disappointment. I read A Mercy when it came out a couple of years ago and thought it was…
January 10, 2013

2013 Reading: How to Predict the Weather by Aaron Burch

I confess that I picked up Aaron Burch’s How to Predict the Weather out of my to-be-read pile (one of many, in truth) because it was…
January 9, 2013

2013 Reading: Love’s Winning Plays by Inman Majors

Love’s Winning Plays: A Novel by Inman Majors is a quick, fun read. It’s about Graduate Assistant Coach Raymond Love, a Division III quarterback who dreams…
January 8, 2013

2013 Reading: Arcadia by Lauren Groff

Arcadia by Lauren Groff is my first book of 2013. I enjoyed it very much, especially in the second half. The book is narrated by Bit,…
January 7, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Women” by William Trevor

January 14, 2013: “The Women” by William Trevor If you are the one person on the planet who has not read a story or…
January 6, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Lost Order” by Rivka Galchen

January 7, 2013: “The Lost Order” by Rivka Galchen Read the Q&A with Rivka Galchen to understand the “seed” of this story, although that’s…
January 1, 2013

The New Yorker Story of the Year for 2012: “Breatharians” by Callan Wink

The votes are in and it wasn’t even close! The award for The New Yorker Story of the Year for 2012 goes to “Breatharians”…
December 30, 2012

Year of the Small Press?

All you hear about these days, it seems, is “Indie Publishing” (a term which has been co-opted by self-publishers). And there’s a thoughtful article…
December 26, 2012

Do you have a question for the author about WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW?

You’ve seen those “questions for discussion” at the back of some books, right? They may be frequently asked questions from readers or they might…
December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas — Around the World

Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden Arabic: Milad Majid Argentine: Feliz Navidad Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun…