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.
November 23, 2007

>VCCA: Thanksgiving

>Okay, now it really is Thanksgiving. Our feast last night was fantastic — turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, all beautifully prepared. The chef…
November 23, 2007

>Size Matters, continued

>Recently, I moaned about a tiny, badly cut-out rejction slip I received. I didn’t mention the name of the magazine, which I happen to…
November 23, 2007

>The New Yorker: "Or Else" by Antonya Nelson

>Antonya Nelson is a terrific story-teller and this piece is, I think, typical of her. In it, David Chalmers is an unsympathetic liar who…
November 21, 2007

>Thanksgiving at VCCA

>I realize that the holiday is actually tomorrow, but our Thanksgiving feast is tonight so that the staff, or most of them anyway, can…
November 21, 2007

>VCCA: Roof

>It’s amazing what that blue sky does for a roofline, ya know? Monday and Tuesday here were pretty similar, although today was warmer. I…
November 19, 2007

>VCCA: Osage Orange

>Sunday here is no different from any other day except that breakfast is served a little later. I got out to my studio around…
November 17, 2007

>Underway at VCCA

>I got settled in here yesterday and am thrilled to be here. My studio is great, my room is fine, the food is better…
November 16, 2007

>Virginia Center for Creative Arts

>I’m off today for an intensive writing period at the VCCA. The forecast calls for intermittent blogging.
November 16, 2007

>Denis Johnson wins National Book Award

>The winners of the National Book Award were announced last night. The winner in fiction was Denis Johnson for Tree of Smoke, about which…
November 15, 2007

>Six Little Things No. 8

>Check out the latest issue of my favorite tiny magazine, Six Little Things.