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 24, 2012

>The New Yorker: "Someone" by Alice McDermott

> January 30, 2012: “Someone” by Alice McDermott In the Q&A with Alice McDermott, we learn that this “story” is taken from her novel…
January 20, 2012

>Tips for Writers: Invest in Style

> Tips for Writers: Invest in Style And I’m not talking fashion here (although take a look at the article in The Atlantic about…
January 20, 2012

>Year of the Dragon!

> Happy New Year! Actually, the new year begins January 23, but since President Obama has already released his Lunar New Year Message, I…
January 19, 2012

>New Issue of Prime Number Magazine: No. 17

> Issue No. 17 of Prime Number Magazine went live today! (That’s the 7th issue, if anyone’s counting: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13,…
January 18, 2012

>Forthcoming Books: The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

> The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey will be published later this month. Margot is a terrific writer, and I suspect this…
January 17, 2012

>The New Yorker: "Labyrinth" by Roberto Bolaño

> January 23, 2012: “Labyrinth” by Roberto Bolaño The Q&A with Barbara Eppler, Bolaño’s first American Publisher, is interesting, but of no help with…
January 16, 2012

>Guest Editor for Smokelong Quarterly

> Starting today, for one week only, I am the Guest Editor at Smokelong Quarterly, one of the very best magazines around that focuses…
January 16, 2012

The New Yorker: “A Brief Encounter With the Enemy” by Said Sayrafiezadeh

January 16, 2012: “A Brief Encounter with the Enemy” by Said Sayrafiezadeh I found this story depressing as hell. It is apparently part of…
January 14, 2012

>Year of the LitMag: One Story #156

> [Note: this is the 4th installment in my Year of the LitMag series. If you would like to contribute to the series, leave a…
January 13, 2012

>Tips for Writers: Don’t Give Up!

> Last week I wrote that it is important to read—books and literary magazines. We not only learn from reading good work in our…