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.
July 14, 2011

>Day 7 — Jeonju

> The rain finally stopped, although it was overcast. I got up early and walked around the streets of the Hanok Village–hoping I could…
July 13, 2011

>Day 6 — Jeonju

> On Tuesday morning I set off for Jeonju, North Jolla Province, with a guide. I probably didn’t need a guide, but Mr. Hong…
July 11, 2011

>Seoul — Day 5

> It was a great day, even though it’s been raining since early morning. We began with a visit to Korea’s Ministry of Foreign…
July 10, 2011

>Seoul — Day 4

>It’s Sunday, and I’m basically adjusted to the time now. At breakfast this morning, several of us decided we would search for a the…
July 9, 2011

>Seoul — Day 3

> It rained heavily Friday night, but Saturday morning continued to be foggy and almost cool, with more rain threatening. More of our group…
July 8, 2011

>Seoul — Day 2 (continued)

>I reversed the subway trip, except that there were a million middle school kids crowding the ticket dispensers–not enough machines for a crowd like…
July 8, 2011

>Seoul — Day 2

>It was cloudy and very humid all day on Friday, but it didn’t rain. After I did some work in the morning, I walked…
July 8, 2011

>Seoul — Day 1

> Travels yesterday went smoothly. In fact, the flight from Narita to Incheon/Seoul arrived 20 minutes early, alleviating the small anxiety I had about…
July 7, 2011

>Paging . . . your main character

> I’m sitting in the United Airlines Red Carpet Club at Narita International Airport (Tokyo) waiting for my connection to Seoul, where I’ll be…
July 5, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Aphrodisiac" by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

> July 11 & 18, 2011: “Aphrodisiac” by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala This story is okay. Nothing to write home about, so to speak. It…