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.
June 4, 2012

Books for Soldiers — Press 53

Here’s a great idea. Go to Press 53. Browse through their catalog of books and buy one or two or three. Like my book, for…
June 1, 2012

The New Yorker: “The Republic of Empathy” by Sam Lipsyte

June 4, 2012: “The Republic of Empathy” by Sam Lipsyte Although this is dubbed the science fiction issue, I’ll try to ignore that. Individually…
May 31, 2012

Welcome to the New Perpetual Folly

Welcome to the NEW Perpetual Folly! For years I have been blogging at PerpetualFolly.blogspot.com. You can now find me here at PerpetualFolly.com. Please forgive the…
May 27, 2012

Tips for Writers: "Alright" is not all right.

  I don’t know where “alright” came from, but it’s not standard and should not be used in writing. I see it in submissions…
May 21, 2012

The New Yorker: "Referential" by Lorrie Moore

  May 28, 2012: “Referential” by Lorrie Moore   If it weren’t for the Q&A with Lorrie Moore I would not have known that…
May 15, 2012

Short Story Month: "Cousin Barnaby is Dead" in Joyland

Usually, I’m all over Short Story Month. Not this year, though, and I’m sorry about that. I’ve got a book coming out in the fall and I’m revising another book that will soon be shopped around to publishers (I hope), and I’ve been too busy.
May 14, 2012

The New Yorker: "The Proxy Marriage" by Maile Meloy

May 21, 2012: “The Proxy Marriage” by Maile Meloy I loved this story, except for the beginning and the ending. Regarding the ending, I…
May 11, 2012

New Update for Prime Number

The latest update of Prime Number Magazine has gone live! 19.2 features flash fiction by Brian Conlon, Robert Kaye, and John Duncan Talbird, a short…
May 7, 2012

The New Yorker: "Sweet Dreams" by Peter Stamm

May 14, 2012: “Sweet Dreams” by Peter Stamm It’s a little difficult to discuss this story, which is translated from the German, without revealing…
May 5, 2012

Tips for Writers: Which vs. That

Let’s try to untangle a knot that some writers find themselves in: how to know when to use “which” and when to use “that.”…