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 29, 2013

2013 Reading: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut is something I know I should have read a long time ago. I read some Vonnegut when I was…
January 28, 2013

The New Yorker: “Zusya on the Roof” by Nicole Krauss

February 4, 2013: “Zusya on the Roof” by Nicole Krauss I don’t think there’s any need to wrestle with the meaning of this story—the…
January 27, 2013

Work in Progress: a new novel

As I continue the process of searching for an agent/publisher for my completed novel (a few agents are looking at it currently), I am…
January 23, 2013

2013 Reading: Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt

Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt achieves what it sets out to do, and that’s really all you can ask of a book. It doesn’t…
January 23, 2013

2013 Reading: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Third Edition by Robert Sapolsky. This might seem like an odd choice for me, but it was book club’s selection…
January 23, 2013

Guest Post: Midge Raymond

5 Ways to Write When You’re Not Really Writing By Midge Raymond We are often told that, as writers, we are supposed to sit…
January 22, 2013

Prime Number Magazine Issue 31

The latest issue of Prime Number Magazine just went live! I hope you’ll check out our Issue 31, which features all kinds of good…
January 22, 2013

2013 Reading — the pile grows

I have so many books to read in the next couple of months that I had to make a list. It’s a little like…
January 21, 2013

The New Yorker: “Mayfly” by Kevin Canty

January 28, 2013: “Mayfly” by Kevin Canty The Q&A with Kevin Canty won’t be terribly helpful to access this story, but there it is….
January 20, 2013

2013 Reading: The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich

The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich has changed my  mind about this author. A few years ago, I read another of her novels and found it…