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 21, 2007

>Because We Are Here, by Chuck Wachtel

> This is an engaging collection of stories and novellas by the talented Chuck Wachtel. What makes it engaging is that it’s different. The…
January 20, 2007

>The New Yorker: "Bravado" by William Trevor

>This story, set in contemporary Dublin, is told by an omniscient narrator who eventually settles into the voice of Aisling, a young convent school…
January 20, 2007

>The New Yorker: "Bear Meat" by Primo Levi

>The first story of the year begins with a distant omniscient narrator describing the hard, challenging life of the mountaineer and then enters the…
January 19, 2007

>What 19th Century Horror Character are you?

> You scored as The Headless Horseman. You are the Galloping Hessian from Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, surrounded by secrecy and…
January 19, 2007

>Gnooks!

>For a bit of fun–as if my attention weren’t already diverted–and to get reading recommendations, check out Gnooks. Thanks to Avital for the link.
January 19, 2007

>"When Alone" by Katrina Denza

>Be sure to check out this wonderful flash fiction, When Alone, by Katrina Denza at Elimae.
January 19, 2007

>LitMag Wave: Hudson Review

>Some time ago, I picked up a copy of the Hudson Review (Vol. LVIII Number 4, Winter 2006)—very possibly this was one of the…
January 18, 2007

>Damned if I Do, by Percival Everett

>As noted in an earlier post (“Reading on the Road”), I really enjoyed Percival Everett’s Damned if I Do, a story collection published in…
January 17, 2007

>MFA Program Rankings

>For what it’s worth, Seth Abramson has a detailed discussion of Creative Writing MFA Program Rankings. There are no low-residency programs in the rankings,…
January 16, 2007

>Rain Taxi Auction

>Rain Taxi is holding its annual auction to raise money for its operations. As always, they have some great items donated by wonderful authors….