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 21, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Leaving Maverly" by Alice Munro

> November 28, 2011: “Leaving Maverly” by Alice Munro Maybe I’m just not in the mood for a Munro story, but this one leaves…
November 19, 2011

>Book Review: Dispatches from the Peninsula by Chris Tharp

> Dispatches From the Peninsula: Six Years In South Korea  Chris Tharp Signal 8 Press, 2011 I arrived in Seoul, South Korea, in early…
November 18, 2011

>Book Review: Dakota, or What’s a Heaven For, by Brenda Marshall

> Dakota, or What’s a Heaven For Brenda K. Marshall North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 2010 What to make of an old-fashioned telling…
November 18, 2011

>Tips for Writers: The Cover Letter

> Some writers confuse cover letters with query letters. Indeed, there may be some overlap between the two, and their purposes are similar, but…
November 17, 2011

>Grace Paley: Collected Shorts (the film)

> Here’s a link to the trailer for a film: Grace Paley: Collected Shorts. Can’t wait to see it.
November 17, 2011

>National Book Awards 2011 (LIVEBLOG)

> Jesmyn Ward wins the National Book Award for Fiction. I’ve heard such great things about Salvage the Bones. National Book Awards 2011 (LIVEBLOG):…
November 15, 2011

>The New Yorker: "The Climber Room" by Sam Lipsyte

> November 21, 2011: “The Climber Room” by Sam Lipsyte This is the third Lipsyte story in The New Yorker in the last 13…
November 11, 2011

>Tips for Writers: Write What You DON’T Know (about what you know)

> An oft-repeated rule for writers is “write what you know.” Most of us accept this on faith because it seems to make sense….
November 10, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Miracle Polish" by Steven Millhauser

> November 14, 2011: “Miracle Polish” by Steven Millhauser The good news is that this week’s story is available for free online. And it’s…
October 18, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Sun City" by Caitlin Horrocks

> October 24, 2011: “Sun City” by Caitlin Horrocks I think I liked this story more after I read the brief Q&A with Caitlin…