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.
June 25, 2015

“Shut up!” he explained.

Invariably in a fiction workshop the subject of dialogue tags will come up. A dialogue tag is the bit that’s slapped onto the end…
May 26, 2015

2015 Reading: Driving the King by Ravi Howard

Driving the King: A Novel by Ravi Howard I had the pleasure of hearing Ravi Howard read from and discuss this novel at the Virginia…
May 22, 2015

Residency at Rivendell Writers’ Colony

Part of me would like to keep this place a secret, but I have a lot of writer friends who would love Rivendell Writers’…
May 22, 2015

Everywhere Stories Named International Book Award Finalist

I am very pleased to say that Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet has been named a finalist for the International Book Award…
May 12, 2015

2015 Reading: What is Visible by Kimberly Elkins

What Is Visible: A Novel by Kimberly Elkins My review of this excellent novel is posted at Best New Fiction: Review of What is Visible
April 24, 2015

Prime Number Magazine Issue #71

We published the latest issue of Prime Number Magazine this week. Issue #71 includes fiction by Kevin Winchester and Jeffery Hess, an essay by…
April 24, 2015

Reflections on the Literary Magazine Rankings

At AWP in Minneapolis, several people came up to me at the Press 53/Prime Number Magazine booth to tell me how much they appreciated…
April 21, 2015

2015 Reading: The Dark Will End the Dark by Darrin Doyle

The Dark Will End The Dark by Darrin Doyle Dark stories with twists, sort of like George Saunders. See my full review at Best New…
April 20, 2015

2015 Reading: The Half Has Never Been Told by Edward E. Baptist

The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist This is the book we’re discussing this month…
April 15, 2015

AWP — Press 53 Booth

This year at AWP, instead of overwhelming myself with panels, I went to only one each day (because, frankly, I didn’t see a lot…