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.
December 25, 2006

>I’m Dreaming of a Wet Christmas

>Merry Christmas to you, if that’s what you celebrate. I don’t, particularly, so I’m working this morning, listening to the sleet/rain bounce off the…
December 24, 2006

>Community of Artists

>Unquestionably, the wonderful thing about an artists’ community such as VCCA is the dedicated space and time or work—no meals to prepare, no dogs…
December 23, 2006

>VCCA Days 8 and 9

>Thursday at VCCA just got weirder and weirder. I worked reasonably well in the morning–since I had done what I set out to do…
December 21, 2006

>Six Little Things

>Issue #5 of Six Little Things, including my flash fiction, “The Learnéd Lama” is now live. The theme is “Tiny, Tiny Objects.” Please check…
December 21, 2006

>VCCA Day 7

>Not much to report. I worked reasonably well on one of the last stories in the collection, “The Kingdom of Witness.” Maybe. In the…
December 20, 2006

>VCCA Day 6

> All the visual artists left today. Very strange. In the morning I worked on two new stories for the collection: “The Developer’s Dilemma”…
December 19, 2006

>VCCA Day 5

>For the first time, VCCA is shutting down for the Christmas holiday. Which means that by the 22nd, when I leave, the place will…
December 18, 2006

>VCCA Day 4

> Sunday was quiet here as a number of fellows headed off to visit local sights–Charlottesville to the north, Lynchburg to the south (some…
December 17, 2006

>VCCA Day 3

> Day 3 already? Because it was Saturday, breakfast was a half hour later, so I was late getting out to my studio this…
December 16, 2006

>VCCA Day 2

>I got a fair amount of work done today, especially in the morning. In the late afternoon I took a walk in the woods…