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, 2016

The Biggest Thing That Happened to Me in 2015

At the new year, I saw a few people posting lists of the 100 things that made their years, following the example of Austin Kleon who…
January 20, 2016

Cementville by Paulette Livers

Cementville by Paulette Livers This is a touching story about a community that suffers a terrible tragedy–several of its young men serving in the National…
January 19, 2016

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie This stunning novel was published in 20o5, and somewhere along the way I acquired a signed…
January 18, 2016

Virginia Festival of the Book 2016

One of the many excellent things about living in this area is the Virginia Festival of the Book, held every March in Charlottesville. I…
January 17, 2016

Forgetting English by Midge Raymond

Forgetting English by Midge Raymond This is another book I read last year but didn’t have time to write about. This story collection won The…
January 16, 2016

The Big Smoke by Adrian Matejka

The Big Smoke  by Adrian Matejka A finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this powerful poetry collection examines the life of…
January 16, 2016

On Stage: Measure for Measure at the American Shakespeare Center

Last night I saw the opening performance of the American Shakespeare Center‘s Actors’ Renaissance Season production of Measure for Measure. Although the play isn’t…
January 11, 2016

2016 Reading: Phoning Home by Jacob M. Appel

Phoning Home: Essays by Jacob M. Appel The University of South Carolina Press, 2014 This is an excellent, entertaining, and provocative  short collection of essays…
January 10, 2016

On Stage: The Tempest at The American Shakespeare Center

I feel very fortunate to have such an amazing theater right here in this small town. The American Shakespeare Center provides an endless source…
January 8, 2016

2015 Reading: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Justifiably, this book won the 2015 National Book Award for non-fiction. In my estimation, this is one…