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.
December 3, 2009

>The New Yorker: "The Use of Poetry" by Ian McEwan

>The contributor notes for this issue tell us that McEwan has a new novel, Solar, due out in the spring. And while once again…
December 1, 2009

>Stone Soup Holiday Book Fair

>Come out to Stone Soup Books this Saturday, December 5, from 2 – 5 pm to meet lots of local authors (including me!), buy…
November 30, 2009

>Read Literary Magazines

>That’s good advice for everybody, but it’s especially good advice for writers who want to publish work in those magazines–or anywhere else for that…
November 30, 2009

>The New Yorker: "Midnight in Dostoevsky" by Don DeLillo

>This story is going directly onto my top-ten list for the year. I enjoyed this more than any DeLillo I’ve read, and I’m going…
November 29, 2009

>I’m leaving!

>I mean, I’m going outside on a lovely fall afternoon to rake some leaves. In past years I have let the wind blow the…
November 28, 2009

>"You lie!"

>No, this isn’t about Joe Wilson’s rude outburst during President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress. It’s about one of my many…
November 27, 2009

>Status Update: Work in Progress

>I’ve been working on my novel (all the livelong day . . .) and it’s coming along. I’d say that it’s coming along nicely,…
November 26, 2009

>Giving Thanks

>It’s the day, after all, and here it is: Life is good. I am a very fortunate man. I worked very hard for years…
November 26, 2009

>NYT 100 Notable Books of 2009

>Here’s the list of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of the Year. Surprises? I’m happy to see Brad Leithauser’s new book, The…
November 25, 2009

>Top Books of 2009

>Lots of lists floating around about the best books of the year. I haven’t really focused on them much, but here’s a manageable list…