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.
November 27, 2012

The New Yorker: “Literally” by Antonya Nelson

December 3, 2012: “Literally” by Antonya Nelson The Q&A with Antonya Nelson doesn’t provide much insight into this week’s story, although it does help…
November 26, 2012

The New Yorker: “Bull” by Mo Yan

November 26, 2012: “Bull” by Mo Yan This piece is an excerpt from the translation of Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan’s forthcoming novel, Pow….
November 21, 2012

The New Yorker: “Demeter” by Maile Meloy

November 19, 2012: “Demeter” by Maile Meloy Demeter is recently divorced from Hank, sharing custody of their daughter Perry (real name Elizabeth, but so…
November 21, 2012

Blogging hiatus and VCCA residency

I am in the middle of a brief residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and so I’ve not been blogging regularly….
November 15, 2012

National Book Award Winners Announced

The winners of the National Book Award were announced last night: In fiction, Louise Erdrich won for The Round House. David Ferry won in…
November 12, 2012

The New Yorker: “Member/Guest” by David Gilbert

November 12, 2012: “Member/Guest” by David Gilbert The author has a novel coming out later this year so I was convinced that this story…
October 31, 2012

2013 Pushcart Prize Literary Magazine Rankings: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Literary Magazine Rankings In case you missed it, I have recently completed the popular Pushcart Prize Literary Magazine Rankings for 2013. I have put…
October 27, 2012

2013 Pushcart Prize Ranking of Literary Magazines — Poetry

I’m pleased to present the 2013 Pushcart Prize Rankings for Poetry. There hasn’t been much change at the top of the rankings this year….
October 26, 2012

2013 Pushcart Prize Ranking of Literary Magazines — Nonfiction

Today we offer the Pushcart Prize Literary Magazine Ranking for Nonfiction. For an explanation of the methodology and to see to the ranking for…
October 25, 2012

2013 Pushcart Prize Ranking of Literary Magazines — Fiction

UPDATE: See the 2014 Rankings here. It is time once again to present the annual Perpetual Folly Pushcart Prize Rankings for Literary Magazines. I’ll…