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.
September 15, 2015

Technical Difficulties

Please accept my apologies, but I’m having technical difficulties on the blog. Suddenly, all of my posts have turned into “excerpts” and the “Read…
August 4, 2015

Tips for Writers: Using the Possessive with a Gerund

I’m currently working on revisions to my novel manuscript. I’ve been over the draft numerous times, so I’m not finding a lot of typos…
August 3, 2015

Virginia Writers’ Club Symposium 2015

On Saturday, August 1, I had the pleasure of being a presenter at the annual symposium of the Virginia Writers’ Club. This is the…
July 23, 2015

Heifetz International Music Institute

I live in Staunton, Virginia, which was already a pretty great place before the Heifetz International Music Institute landed here (in large part because…
July 22, 2015

2 New Book Reviews

I recently read and reviewed two very different memoirs, both excellent. The first is Barefoot to Avalon by David Payne. Novelist Payne’s brother was…
July 16, 2015

Emerging Author Finalist, Indiana Authors Award

I’m thrilled and honored to share with you that I have been selected by The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation as an Emerging Author finalist for…
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’…