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.
October 29, 2009

>The Missing Link Project: Later, at the Bar by Rebecca Barry

>There’s one terrific story in Rebecca Barry’s Later, at the Bar, which is supposed to be a novel in stories, according to the cover….
October 28, 2009

>The Missing Link Project: Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock

>There is a disappointing sameness to the stories in Knockemstiff, Donald Ray Pollock’s collection, which in no way is a novel, although that’s what…
October 27, 2009

>North Carolina Readings

>I’m looking forward to next weekend’s swing through North Carolina for a series of readings with my good friend Mary Akers (Women up on…
October 27, 2009

>The Missing Link Project

>I’ve been thinking a lot lately about linked short story collections (or story cycles, or novels in stories), partly because my recently published book,…
October 26, 2009

>Book Talk with Kevin Wilson

> Book Talk Video – Kevin Wilson from stephen usery on Vimeo.
October 26, 2009

>Artistic Entrepreneurship

>Last week I attended a FREE seminar on Artistic Entrepreneurship sponsored by the Staunton Creative Community Fund and the Staunton Augusta Arts Center. The…
October 24, 2009

>Novel in Progress

>I’m working on a novel. (I know: Who isn’t?) I’ve just published a collection of short stories, my agent is working to sell a…
October 23, 2009

>The New Yorker: "Procedure in Plain Air" by Jonathan Lethem

>Jonathan Lethem’s Chronic City, from which a story was excerpted in The New Yorker earlier this year, was recently released, so presumably the current…
October 22, 2009

>Writers at the Beach

>I’ve just confirmed that I will be a speaker at the Writers at the Beach conference in Rehoboth Beach, March 26-28, 2010. This is…
October 20, 2009

>LitDrift.com

>I’ve just heard about a new blog/zine called LitDrift that looks pretty interesting. I poked around a little and I saw a way to…