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.
September 4, 2010

>The Micro Award – 2011

> It’s time–or, ALMOST time–for The Micro Award. The Micro Award is given for the best flash fiction (under 1000 words) published in the…
September 4, 2010

>Andre Dubus on writing a novel

> Andre Dubus on writing a novel: If there’s anything I have to say to anyone who’s starting a novel, it’s this: Finish it….
September 4, 2010

>Pushcart Prize Rankings — 2011 (coming soon)

>The literary magazine ranking I create each year based on the Pushcart Prizes has become very popular, I’m happy to say. It’s not meant…
September 3, 2010

>The New Yorker: "An Arranged Marriage" by Nell Freudenbeger

> I’ve enjoyed some of Freudenberger’s work in the past, but not this “story,” and I use quotation marks because this is either an…
September 2, 2010

>Virginia Quarterly Review

> Anyone who reads literary blogs like this one has probably heard about the situation at the Virginia Quarterly Review. No need to go…
September 2, 2010

>Judging a Magazine by its Cover

>Maybe because I’ve been thinking about “covers” for Prime Number Magazine, which is an online magazine and so doesn’t really have covers, or maybe…
August 30, 2010

>Cover Art for Prime Number?

>Prime Number Magazine is looking for cover art! It’s pretty simple — the magazine wants representations of the prime numbers corresponding to the issues….
August 30, 2010

>Poetry Publishers Who Accept Electronic Submissions

> I came across this useful site (for poets) when I noticed that Prime Number Magazine had a visitor who arrived from there: Poetry…
August 30, 2010

>The New Yorker: "The Science of Flight" by Yiyun Li

> In the Q&A with Yiyun Li she mentions she’s working on a novel about leave-taking. While she doesn’t say that this story is…
August 29, 2010

>Sunday Miscellany

>Wow. It’s been awfully quiet in here lately. Sorry about that, but I’ve been busier than usual. Here’s what’s been happening. The new semester…