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.
April 11, 2009

>The New Yorker: "The Color of Shadows" by Colm Toibin

>This is a sneaky little story. Not much is happening, although there are some questions in the back of the reader’s mind, like—where’s the…
April 11, 2009

>Retreat!

>Very interesting article in the NYT about book advances: About that Book Advance, which says, among lots of other things: The numbers can sound…
April 11, 2009

>Tacky?

>Or maybe that’s too nice a word? In the past, I’ve heard criticism of anthology editors who include their own work in the books…
April 9, 2009

>Best Face Forward: Building a Website

>I recently participated in a seminar on book marketing. It was useful, in large part because it put together in an organized fashion bits…
April 9, 2009

>Recent Acquisitions: Secret Son by Laila Lalami

>Between writing, teaching, gardening and other stuff, I’m not getting as much reading done just now. But new books keep coming out and they’re…
April 7, 2009

>HTML Giant Secret Bunny?

>I went out to lunch today–needed to tap into some wireless for downloading purposes–and while I was in town I stopped into my favorite…
April 6, 2009

>ASC Auction

>Bid on swashbuckling lessons! A stage debut! Scansion lessons from Dr. Ralph himself! And other stuff, with the proceeds benefiting the American Shakespeare Center….
April 6, 2009

>Short Praise

>A.O. Scott’s piece in Saturday’s New York Times (In Praise of the American Short Story) makes some very good points. A young writer who…
April 6, 2009

>Musical Interlude

>I visited the Blackfriars Playhouse tonight, but not for Shakespeare. Well, it was, in a way, since part of the proceeds of the concert…
April 5, 2009

>Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson

>I’ve mentioned this book by Kevin Wilson a couple of times before, and no doubt will again when I actually hold the thing in…