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.
June 17, 2024

I’ve Got Questions for Ahuva Batya Scharff

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it,…
June 11, 2024

Reviews, Interviews, and Appearances

Reviews  The Last Bird of Paradise has been out for a couple of months now and I’ve been pleased with the reaction, although I’m…
June 4, 2024

What’s the Deal with Audiobooks?

Do you listen to audiobooks? I have friends who listen to books while doing various activities—cooking, housework, exercise. For several years, I’ve been listening…
June 3, 2024

Appearances/Events

After the initial flurry of events to promote my new novel, The Last Bird of Paradise, I’ve begun scheduling appearances for the rest of…
June 1, 2024

2024 Reading–May

The Times: How the Newspaper of Record Survived Scandal, Scorn, and the Transformation of Journalism by Adam Nagourney was my book club’s selection for…
May 13, 2024

I’ve Got Questions for Sean Murphy

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it,…
May 3, 2024

THE LAST BIRD OF PARADISE wins Maxy Award

I was very pleased to learn yesterday that my most recent novel, The Last Bird of Paradise, has won an award for Literary Fiction,…
April 30, 2024

2024 Reading–April

Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy was my April book club selection. I found it fascinating. From the…
April 24, 2024

The Small Screen x 3

Imagine The Last Bird of Paradise as a movie. That’s not what I was thinking as I wrote it, but in the two months…
April 22, 2024

So Many Questions!

Since the release of The Last Bird of Paradise in February, I’ve participated in several literary events, including my book launch party at Ox-Eye…