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.
January 20, 2009

>Praise Song for the Day

>The Inaugural Poem: Praise Song for the Day, by Elizabeth Alexander: Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each…
January 20, 2009

>Happy ObamaDay!

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January 19, 2009

>Word Power

>I like this article in the New York Times: From Books, New President Found Voice. Can we at least hope that this lesson will…
January 19, 2009

>"Valuable Artifacts"

>It’s an odd way of finding out about something, but then Facebook is a very odd place. I noticed the link to this short…
January 19, 2009

>The New Yorker: "Soldier’s Joy" by Antonya Nelson

>It’s pure coincidence, but I also read today a John Cheever story to which this Nelson piece bears a resemblance. Drinking, adultery, lots of…
January 18, 2009

>The Resurrection of StoryQuarterly

>I have several copies of StoryQuarterly on my shelves. It was an annual publication run by M.M.M. Hayes and it was a great credit,…
January 17, 2009

>American Shakespeare Center: The Revenger’s Tragedy

>If you like mayhem, The Revenger’s Tragedy is the play for you. I was not familiar with it, but that’s one of the great…
January 16, 2009

>New Issue: failbetter.com

>Check out the Winter issue of failbetter.com, which includes an interview with the wonderful Elizabeth Strout.
January 15, 2009

>Dudes Don’t Read?

>Very interesting article in The Huffington Post: Dudes Don’t Read: The Book Biz’s Self-fulfilling Prophecy. Absolutely. I think men will read if you give…
January 15, 2009

>Shakespeare is Everywhere

>If you live in this area, you aren’t going to be able to turn around without bumping into some Shakespeare this weekend, all brought…