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.
February 27, 2011

>Virginia Festival of the Book

> It’s less than 3 weeks until the 2011 edition of the Virginia Festival of the Book kicks off. It’s another packed festival. Using…
February 26, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Paranoia" by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh

> First, let me say that my subscription to the print New Yorker has run out. Good riddance. I’ve been pretty good about getting…
February 24, 2011

>Poetry Out Loud

> I had a new experience this week: I was a judge for the regional finals (in Virginia) of Poetry Out Loud, the national…
February 19, 2011

>The New Yorker: "The Other Place" by Mary Gaitskill

> Yikes. Not sure I’ve read Gaitskill before, so I was looking forward to this one. But I think I regret it. Narrator’s son…
February 17, 2011

>AWP 2011 Conference — DC

> I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted! My only excuse is that I was wrapped up with AWP in DC—panels,…
February 8, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Honor" by Tessa Hadley

> The narrator here is Stella, looking back at her childhood living alone with her mother, Edna. We learn from the beginning that Edna…
February 2, 2011

>Prime Decimals 5.2 is Now Live!

> Prime Decimals 5.2 is here! Enjoy work by Malaika King Albrecht, Matthew James Babcock, Nancy Carroll, Davide Hopes, John Berbrich, Tawnysha Greene, John…
February 1, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Axis" by Alice Munro

> Like many Alice Munro stories, this one covers a long period of time—fifty years. Her stories are somewhat unusual that way. The basic…
January 30, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Naima" by Hisham Matar

> This story has the feel of a novel excerpt. Hisham Matar has a new novel coming out in August and I wouldn’t be…
January 30, 2011

>AWP is coming

> I’m not sure I’ve ever gone a whole wee without posting before. I apologize! I’ve been awfully busy this week as I prepare…