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.
March 25, 2010

>The New Yorker: "I.D." by Joyce Carol Oates

> I’m not a JCO fan, ordinarily, but in my estimation this is the best story of the year so far. Lisette Mulvey is…
March 23, 2010

>The New Yorker: "The Pura Principle" by Junot Diaz

> Yunior, who is still in high school, lives with his older brother Rafa and their mother. But Rafa has leukemia, and has been…
March 23, 2010

>The Secret to Success

> If you’re a book person, you’ve probably heard about a book called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The book,…
March 21, 2010

>Virginia Festival of the Book: Saturday

>Another long day at the Book Festival. This time I did make it for a 10am program: “Book Promotion for the 21st Century” moderated…
March 21, 2010

>Virginia Festival of the Book: Friday

>Friday at the Virginia Festival of the Book was almost as long as Thursday. I didn’t manage to get to a 10am program (I…
March 19, 2010

>Virginia Festival of the Book: Thursday

>Thursday was a very busy day. I started off with a talk at the local Kiwanis Club at 7:00am. That was fun. I’d written…
March 18, 2010

>The New Yorker: "The Knocking" by David Means

> On the plus side, this doesn’t seem to be an excerpt from a novel. On the other hand, it’s not much of a…
March 16, 2010

>Book Tour: Lexington, VA — Books & Co.

> After my appearances at the Virginia Festival of the Book this week, my next reading is a little closer to home. I’ll be…
March 16, 2010

>Virginia Festival of the Book

>The amazing and wonderful Virginia Festival of the Book begins tomorrow in Charlottesville. Last year, I moderated one panel, which made me feel more…