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.
July 2, 2009

>Forthcoming Books

>The Millions highlights some highly anticipated books coming out in the second half of this year in Most Anticipated: Rounding Out 2009 — An…
July 2, 2009

>Andrew’s Book Club — July Picks

>Andrew’s Book Club has posted its July choices of short story collections: Misfits and Other Heroes by Suzanne Burns (Dzanc) and Do Not Deny…
July 2, 2009

>100,000

>At some point in the next couple of days, this blog will have its 100,000th hit since . . . a few years ago….
July 1, 2009

>The New Yorker: "Childcare" by Lorrie Moore

>This fiction is almost certainly from Moore’s forthcoming novel, and in my opinion it does not work as a story. There’s a bit of…
July 1, 2009

>New Issue: Hobart July ’09

>The new print Hobart (#10) is on its way, I’m told, and the new online issue is up: Hobart for your reading pleasure.
June 30, 2009

>The New Yorker: "Ziggurat" by Stephan O’Connor

>I’m at a loss to explain this story, although I enjoyed reading it for the suspense. So I welcome (invite!) anyone to offer an…
June 25, 2009

>New Issue: Wag’s Revue

>There’s a new issue of Wag’s Revue just up, hot off the virtual presses. This issue features an interview with T.C. Boyle.
June 25, 2009

>New Issue: Sotto Voce

>There’s a beautiful new issue of Sotto Voce up, and it includes a terrific story by Mary Akers: “Thunderstones.”
June 24, 2009

>The Future of Bookselling

>I’ve been enjoying the series of articles in Poets & Writers in which agents and editors are interviewed. In the current issue (July-August 2009),…
June 24, 2009

>Novella?

>So, what is a novella, anyway? Most often you’ll hear a definition in terms of length–it’s a long short story or a short novel,…